No teenager needs gynecological exams, know when they are needed

At what age should the first gynecological examination be administered to a teenager and what type of specialist should he do? Here's how Dr. Sally Ann Pantin, Family Medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville Florida

There is no need to perform gynecological exams or Pap smears in healthy teens who n & # 39; 39, have no sexual activity and have no symptoms.

Previously, they recommended that adolescents undergo gynecological exams at 16 or 18 years of age, but the American Medical College does not recommend performing a routine gynecological examination in adolescents at low infectious risk.

recommended to start with Pap tests in young women who have never had this analysis, at age 21, from this age, there is an increased risk of contracting the human papillomavirus (HPV ) or other sexually transmitted infections. The examination can be performed by the specialist gynecologist, who can also answer your questions and guide the treatment to follow, if an infectious risk is detected.

The Pap smear test is a procedure that is done to collect cells from the cervix, to check for changes that might be a sign of cancer and to look for the presence of known high-risk HPV types. to cause cancer of the cervix of the uterus.

HPV is sexual transmission transmission of sexual activity in the United States. Although most HPV cases do not cause symptoms or cause problems, some strains of sexually transmitted HPV are considered high risk and can lead to cancer; In addition, when they are not treated, they can have a deadly potential.

This virus has two strains, which cause 70% of all cancers of the cervix of the uterus. The HPV vaccine can significantly reduce the risk of infection with this virus and cervical cancer and is very effective at creating immunity when it is administered between 9 and 14 years of age.

Traditionally, before prescribing contraceptive methods, some physicians required a gynecological examination or evaluation of abnormalities of the vulva, vagina, cervix, ovaries, uterus and pelvis to prescribe the patient; but this is no longer the case, it is no longer necessary to do a test to ask for contraceptive methods of family planning. In most healthy women, the first pelvic exam can also wait until the age of 21.

E n young women with medical history and a higher percentage of risk of infection or cancer, if recommended Papanicolaou analysis or pelvic examination at the minor. These risk factors include: a weakened immune system due to chemotherapy, organ transplantation or prolonged use of corticosteroids; pre-natal exposure to the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES) and infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Certain symptoms may also lead to gynecological examination, such as painful and painful menstruation, pelvic pain or pressure, abnormal as well as itching, pain or injury to the vulva or vagina. Although a pelvic exam may be necessary in these cases, a Pap test is not required.