Adolescent & Pediatric Care

Adolescent Care

Your teen needs routine and preventative care against diseases, just like they did during childhood. At Tender Care clinic I make sure you get the best care for your child in the growing up years.

Adolencent Care (Question & Answer)

Vaccination Centre
What types of preventative care does my teenager need?

Your teenager continues to grow, experience puberty, and develop throughout teen years. When they have a relationship with a pediatrician, your teen has someone they can trust to help with medical questions or concerns. Beginning at age 12 or 13 we routinely set aside some time for the doctor to speak with the teenager alone at the well visits.

If your adolescent is healthy, plan on bringing them in for a checkup about once a year. Of course, you’re more than welcome to come in more often if needed.

During those visits, your teen’s pediatrician starts looking for any red flags that may become health concerns later on in life and works to prevent any medical issues. Preventative care can include:

  1. Obesity screening
  2. Nutrition counseling
  3. Immunization updates
  4. Behavioral counseling
  5. Sexually transmitted disease (STD) screening
  6. Birth control discussions
  7. Blood or urine lab work
Vaccination Centre
When does my daughter need her first pelvic exam?

Your daughter’s first gynecological exam should occur between the ages of 13 and 15 by a qualified gynecologist . This exam is a chance for your teen to talk with her and the pediatrician about menstruation, cramps, sexual activities, or other health concerns. This teen well visit usually includes a general physical exam and an external genital exam only. Unless your daughter has abnormal circumstances, like a sexually transmitted disease or severe menstrual cramps, she most likely won’t need an internal pelvic exam during her teen years. We recommend establishing routine care with a gynecologist and beginning pap smears and pelvic exams around age 21.

Vaccination Centre
Which immunizations does my teenager need?

It depends on their age, as well as whether or not your teen is up to date on immunizations. By age 13, your adolescent should have the following vaccines and vaccinations:

  1. Hepatitis A and B
  2. Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)
  3. Chickenpox
  4. Meningococcal vaccine
  5. Diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis booster (Tdap)
  6. Human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV)
  7. Flu shot
  8. Pneumococcus
  9. Polio
  10. Hemophilus Influenzae

   As your teen gets older, they need fewer immunizations.