Speculums Are Scary, Guidelines Aren’t: Teen Gyn Without The Drama

Send us a text

A packed hallway at the ACNM Annual Meeting turned into the perfect backdrop for a clear, compassionate deep dive on adolescent gynecology. We talk candidly about what really helps teens feel safe in care: transparent consent, real confidentiality, and avoiding unnecessary pelvic exams. From there, we walk through the high-yield topics every clinician faces with young patients—irregular cycles after menarche, painful periods that derail school days, and the difference between normal discharge and vaginitis that needs treatment.

We spotlight the red flags that can’t be missed, especially ovarian torsion posing as vague lower abdominal pain, and why transabdominal ultrasound often beats transvaginal imaging for adolescents. You’ll hear how we build a thorough menstrual history that captures timing, flow, and impact on daily life; how we normalize the maturing hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis; and where first-line therapies like NSAIDs, combined pills, progestin-only methods, and levonorgestrel IUDs fit. We also lay out a patient-led approach to contraception counseling—centered on goals like bleeding control, privacy, and ease of use—while weaving in emergency contraception, STI screening strategies, and the crucial role of the HPV vaccine in preventing cervical and other cancers.

Throughout, we keep the focus on trauma-informed practice. That means offering safe words like stop and out during exams, letting teens handle instruments to reduce fear, and moving complex conversations to when patients are fully dressed. We include considerations for transgender and gender-diverse adolescents, from menstrual suppression to reputable clinical resources. By combining practical tools with a respectful tone, this episode gives you a roadmap to adolescent gyn that improves comfort, detects danger early, and builds trust that lasts into adulthood.

If this conversation helps you care for teens with more confidence, subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a quick review to help others find the show.