Teen's First Visit to the Gynecologist

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists now recommends that girls have their first visit to the gynecologist at 13 or 14 years of age. This visit is used to establish a relationship with a physician and to give teenagers another resource for advice or for answers to their questions about puberty, their periods or other things they might feel funny asking you about. Unless there are specific gynecology concerns, a pelvic exam and Pap smear are not typically done at this visit. The purpose of this visit simply is to establish communication and to make girls feel comfortable at the gynecologist.