Adolescent Gynaecology
Going through puberty can be a confusing and challenging time for teenagers. Adolescent gynaecology aims to assess and diagnose rare gynaecological conditions that affect the reproductive health of adolescent teens.
It is recommended for a girl’s first gynaecological visit to occur between the ages of 13 and 15. It is especially important for teenagers to visit the gynaecologist if they have become sexually active.
The first visit will consist of a health exam and a discussion on how their body is changing. Thereafter, Dr Zulu will focus on managing irregular menstrual cycles, yeast infections and urinary tract infections (UTIs). He will also provide contraceptive counselling to prevent unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections and diseases (STIs/STDs).
Dr Zulu will also be able to provide insight on abnormal menstruation concerns. This includes:
- Menstrual cramps that aren’t treatable with painkiller tablets
- Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
- Periods that last longer than 7 days
- Heavy bleeding
Some common problems teenagers face include:
- Sexual development disorders
- Puberty problems
- Abnormal development of the uterus
- Early/late breast development
Although a visit to the gynaecologist can be a bit scary and make you a little nervous, Dr Zulu aims to make you feel comfortable and provide a safe environment to be open and honest about any concerns you may have. If it would make you more comfortable, you could bring a parent, relative or friend for support.