Pediatricians and periods

Do pediatricians as part of the annual checkup of girls ask about their periods and if they are having any problems with their periods and when their last period was? Or do pediatricians not bother asking teens and pre-teens about their periods during the genital part of the checkup? If the doctor asked you about your periods were you embarrassed to talk to them about it?

My pediatrician did ask, and it was embarrassing. My periods had been very heavy and I told him this. He apparently then told my mother who took me to her GYN.... and the rest is history 😃

Yes our pediatrician asks about their periods, nothing detailed just originally had they started having periods, if regular and did they have any question about it.

They definitely ask when girls enter puberty age.

I stopped seeing a pediatrician before I began menstruating. But the family doctor I saw in my early teens did ask, including the first checkup I had with her at 12. It was always embarrassing during those years, just getting used to my periods myself and then having to answer all those awkward and personal questions about my periods. I got used to it, but always made me blush when having to discuss it with the doctor when I was younger and just starting.

From when I was about 10, every time I saw my pediatrician he used to ask if I had started. It was embarrassing as things like that were not really talked about at home. When I did start, he gave me to his nurse who went through everything and was really reassuring.

Yes our doctor asked me and my sister. I am two years younger so I was ready. But it was still embarrassing even though she was a woman.

Not sure how appropriate this is... Just a bit strange asking underage about their periods. I know that fantasies extend pretty far here but I thought underage was always off limits?

Yup, I got asked about them about 11 when I started to wear a bra and started to grow pubic hair which I shaved off.

My daughter's pediatrician followed her development, including puberty, until she 'graduated' to a family doctor and gynecologist.

Not sure how appropriate this is... Just a bit strange asking underage about their periods. I know that fantasies extend pretty far here but I thought underage was always off limits?

It's the job of the pediatrician to make sure the child is developing properly. Development of secondary sexual characteristics is part of that - no fantasy, nothing untoward. If the patient is a boy, he'll be examined and appropriate questions will be asked.

Even today it is perfectly normal for a ped to ask about periods. The saddest part is that many girls under 10 are not even aware of what menstruation is all about as the average age of menstruation continues to drop and is currently projected at 11 years, 2 months. When I was a kid it was over 13! It is NOT uncommon for a 10 year old girl to receive her first period or at least spotting, and I have seen cases, rare but nonetheless, of girls as young as nine entering full menstruation! Ethnicity does seem to play a factor in this. A general rule for the Moms and Dads out there is that at the first signs of pubic hair growth the hormones have kicked in and you´re about 3 months away, generally as a max. Time to go shopping for pads ... and Hershey bars! :-)

Agree with becca, I think it's terrible how and I include some friends of mine literally just assume / leave it to school to teach about puberty and periods etc.

if you wait till actually starting puberty to have "the talk" you have waited to long.

3 months from first pubic hair seems a bit early both mine were about a year after first developing and think that's pretty normal.

But if a pediatrician doesn't ask about them then they are not doing there job properly. It's the biggest stage of developed other them toddler age for growth having it start early or late can be sign of a whole host of systemic issues.

Also but just Hersey bars Ben and jerries phish food consumption doubles in this house at that time lol.

Yes I was asked about my menstrual periods when I went to the pediatrician. Starting around when I was 10

They did with me, and whilst I can understand now why they did it, trying to talk about such a sensitive subject was so embarrassing.

My pedatrician never did (or at least, I don't recall) but the school doctor would ask that every year starting when we were about 12. It always made me feel awkward especially because I was one of the first in my class to get her period. I also always feared needing to have a school physical when I was on my period but thankfully that never happened.

It's not something that I ever encountered, really. I don't know that I would have had the guts to bring it up if I'd been a late developer, either.

Yes my pediatrician started to ask when I was around 11

Most definitely! It was a routine question for me growing up and is asked of my daughters. It is necessary and nothing to shy away from during the physical. Then, I would be asked question relating to my health and development while dressed and periodically during the exam process.

How would your dr or pediatrician bring up the subject of your periods would the dr just come out and ask and say " have you had any problems or concerns with your periods?" Or what would the dr say to bring up the subject to you? Would the dr bring it up while examing your private area or would the dr ask you about it before or after the exam of your private area?

I saw a family doctor my whole life, and while she never did a genital exam until I was 16 and had my first PAP, she always asked about my periods. I think I started getting the question of if I had started them when I was around nine. I actually started when I was ten, and the question was just always "What was the first day of your last period? Any concerns?" This usually happened with the nurse who took my vitals before my physician walked in.

If I remember correctly, at the yearly visit I had with the pediatrician when I was 11, my mom had come into the room with me and informed the doctor I had started my periods. I don't remember if she asked any specific questions but I know she did the first breast exam I had ever had that year with my mom in the room, I almost died of embarrassment. Pretty sure that was the last time I ever let me mom come back into the exam room with me.

I got my first period a couple of months past my 12th birthday. From about age 10 our pediatrician would routinely ask if I had started. It was a little embarrassing but he made no big deal out of it plus my mom had been very candid about what I was going to experience. Still, when I got my first period it was a bit of surprise and I was happy at the same time because several of my friends had already started so I felt like I was now a member of the club.

Yes, I think around 11 it started. She would ask if I had started, and then if there were any issues.

I'm actually of the rare majority. I got my period way after 10. At age 15 I received my period finally and it was like this weird crampy feeling I had in the morning. Turned out there was blood and I had no pads or anything so we had to get some. We discussed my period, but I was still weirded out. Not much information I remember being given. Luckily my period started because if it didn't they were going to force it. My mom did have hers at 16 I believe so that's our family history of them.

Yes, my pediatrician did ask about it. I was embarrassing (and of course I was with my mother). But she never ask me about issures with period (I'd chronic anaemia)..I'd a lot of exams like blood tests and ulrasound . Once, I'd being examined by male doctor who done tummy ultrasound and he was very accurate. I'd thousand question about cramps and heavy period (and my mother sitting nearby me).

I am a big believer in asking questions. The more questions I ask the more information I have about the patient.an the more information I have the better I will be able to do what needs or what she wants to be done.

Doctors use a formula when diagnosing problems with patients. So by asking questions they are able to come to a better understanding about why you are seeing them.

So you should also be asking questions.

I think it would be remiss if the doctor didn't ask. It's kind of an important thing. And yes MOST girls are a little embarrassed but I was also pretty open with my doctor.

My pediatrician started asking me if I started my periods when I was nine or ten at the summer exams before school started.

They also asked my daughters if they started their periods. My younger daughter, The Voice proudly said she had "entered womanhood" and that she has orgasms too! She was never one to hold back or mince words.

Well there is no better way to banish menstrual cramps then masturbating to orgasm so good for her.

Very routine I would say by the time were starting to bud up top the dr asked if had a period and when the answer was yes did they have concern about it.

They also asked my daughters if they started their periods. My younger daughter, The Voice proudly said she had "entered womanhood" and that she has orgasms too! She was never one to hold back or mince words.

Just another chip off the ole block. They obviously got your genes.