A father's Guide to the Obgyn
If you are a single father or adult male who is tasked with raising and taking care of a teenage girl, you may not know anything about the OBGYN, but you'll need to. Starting with the basics, it's important to understand this important part of a girl's life.
For a father or other male guardian,
speaking to a young girl about going to the OBGYN can be an extremely sensitive issue. Because of this, it is helpful for men everywhere to understand the basics.
Every girl who begins to experience puberty must begin to regularly see an OBGYN to help maintain her overall health. Yet because men have never had this experience, it is common to not know what to expect, or to not understand how everything works. With this in mind, taking the time to learn about it before discussing the issue can make the entire situation much more easy and comfortable.
First of all, every girl should typically have their first visit with an OBGYN during their teen years, depending on a number of factors. Girls who are sexually active should begin seeing one immediately, and those who are not should schedule their first visit around when they begin their menstrual cycle. If any other health concerns occur during this time that is also a good time to schedule a visit.
Once you realize when it is time to make that first appointment, the next question is 'which doctor is the right one for my daughter?' The answer can depend on a number of factors, but the most important thing to look for is someone who specializes in seeing teenagers.
The issues and needs facing teenage girls can be much different than those facing older women, so it is important to find a doctor who can not only understand what your daughter is going through, but is also comfortable working with her to ensure that the proper steps are taken towards maintaining good overall health.
In many cases an OBGYN that works with adults is also qualified to work with adolescents, or at the very least can make a recommendation for one that does. Because of this, getting a referral from an adult you trust can be a good place to start.
Finally, just because a doctor is recommended to you or has worked with someone you know in the past does not mean that he or she is right for you or your daughter. It is important that you meet your child's doctor and get a sense not only of whether you are comfortable with him or her, but also whether or not your child is as well. Gynecology is a very personal and important area of medicine, and it is extremely important to trust the person working with your child.
For fathers everywhere, focusing on these key points can make establishing a relationship with an OBGYN a simple and comfortable process for all involved, and can keep the situation from becoming an uncomfortable one at home.
