Most young women do not need to have a Pap test until they are 21 years old. However, there are still many other reasons to visit a gynecologist before you reach this age.
HEALTH
- To maintain a healthy body weight and to feel good with your body.
- To develop habits that will provide you with healthy bones.
- To find out if you have urinary tract infection and, if you do, get treatment.
- To treat unusual secretions, odors or itching in the vaginal area.
PERIOD
- To see if your period is normal.
- To relieve if your period is accompanied by pain.
- To find out why your period is “heavy” (with high blood loss).
- To find out why your periods are long (or short) apart or because you have blood clots between your periods.
- To control the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.
RELATIONSHIPS AND SEXUALITY
- To have safe and healthy relationships.
- To recognize when a relationship is threatening or harmful.
- To talk about issues related to homosexuality, bisexuality, transgender (LGBT).
- To properly weigh your decision before making love for the first time.
- To find out about safe sex.
PREGNANCY
- To find out about contraception so that you become pregnant only when you decide that the time is right.
- To prepare in advance for a safe and healthy pregnancy.
- To have a pregnancy test.
- To know what your options are if you become pregnant.
SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES
- To protect against sexually transmitted diseases and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
- To make the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine.
- To be screened for sexually transmitted diseases and HIV, if you are sexually active.
