My kids are adults now, but it was right around 10 or so that the doctor had me leave the room for that part. Would offering that as an option help? It wasn't anything the doctor told me about beforehand; just that first one, she said, okay, mom, I'm going check his genitalia or something similarly clinical, and asked me to step out. Then around 13 I wasn't in the room at all for the exam anymore, just questions after. I think that was when the doctor started asking about sexual activiy, drugs and alcohol, etc.
I dont think they would have you leave the room for that part for legal reasons.
Thanks all. The person we saw last year both pulled his underwear low* (while he was laying on the table) and examined him physically - gently pushing near the testicles. It was over in 5 seconds but DS was so upset. He's a healthy kid so we don't have a "relationship" with the pedi - this is his 1st appt since last year's annual checkup.
*not like down to his knees - she sort of flipped it down at the elastic with one hand while examining with the other.
Do you think he would do better with a male doctor now that he is getting older.
My 12 year old daughter freaked out for several years when they went to peek. Full out refusal. We let her and just skipped that part for 2-3 years. Something changed and she finally let them peek this year at her 12 yr appt. I wasn't going to force the issue. Some kids just get freaked out about it.
Post by ThirdandLong on Jun 7, 2017 8:26:39 GMT -5
After the baby phase was over, my son was only checked for his school physicals at 4 and 5 years old. He hasn't been checked since. We even switched doctors, and he was not checked. I guess I didn't think about it as being odd. I guess after seeing these responses, perhaps it is odd.
S1's Dr did the quick peek up through his last visit. Once he turned 11, she started doing the hernia check. He was extremely embarrassed but primarily because he wasn't expecting it and wearing some old cartoon boxers. However, he flat out refused to have it done for a sports physical a couple months later. Any advice on how to address the "his body and he has say but this is needed" topic?
Post by clairedunphy on Jun 7, 2017 10:04:03 GMT -5
My oldest is 7, but our pedi has done it at every check up. My brother had testicular cancer as a teen, so I am glad the pedi checks. I want my kids to know that all parts of the body need to be checked to make sure they are healthy.
This is interesting...my Ped (through Kaiser) doesn't even want to see my girls annually. They only want to see us when they are due for vaccines and do a quick look/physical then. After the early ones, I only remember needing to come back at 12ish (think they ask about puberty then). My kids are virtually never sick & get flu at a walk-in clinic so that's pretty much the only time they see the Pediatrician. I wonder if the protocol is different for boys.
This is interesting...my Ped (through Kaiser) doesn't even want to see my girls annually. They only want to see us when they are due for vaccines and do a quick look/physical then. After the early ones, I only remember needing to come back at 12ish (think they ask about puberty then). My kids are virtually never sick & get flu at a walk-in clinic so that's pretty much the only time they see the Pediatrician. I wonder if the protocol is different for boys.
An annual well visit should be the norm. It is pretty important to be seen every year, and that is why they were made free through the ACA.
This is interesting...my Ped (through Kaiser) doesn't even want to see my girls annually. They only want to see us when they are due for vaccines and do a quick look/physical then. After the early ones, I only remember needing to come back at 12ish (think they ask about puberty then). My kids are virtually never sick & get flu at a walk-in clinic so that's pretty much the only time they see the Pediatrician. I wonder if the protocol is different for boys.
An annual well visit should be the norm. It is pretty important to be seen every year, and that is why they were made free through the ACA.
They definitely made it clear on several occasions I don't need to bring a child back for X number of years. Kaiser seems stingy with their healthcare in general though...for example often they prefer to have a nurse call you back and go over everything before they'll even schedule an appointment. I had head to toes hives and they didn't want to see me. They suck, I really wish we had different health insurance.
My DS is 12 and had a well visit this morning. He did check his genitals. He had him stand up and have his back to me- but also asked DS if he'd be more comfortable if I stepped out for a moment. He explained that he needs to check to make sure things are ok, look for signs of a hernia. Then he told him the choice was his if I stayed or not, since it's his body/privacy.
Post by definitelyO on Jun 7, 2017 12:24:24 GMT -5
they do check for DS (he's 11) I've told our pediatrician that it's better for us if she talks to DS about what she's going to do - when he was younger she'd just do it w/o telling him and caught him by surprise.
can you have the doctor talk with you both together about what she's going to do and why it's important?
Post by vanillacourage on Jun 7, 2017 13:29:14 GMT -5
Update: DS and I talked about it last night, and turns out what he was most dreading was being in only his underwear and socks. We talked to the doc at the top of the appt and she was fine with him keeping his shorts on, and he understood his shorts/underwear would be briefly flipped down but she'd be as quick as possible. Done and done. Thanks all for the advice!
This is interesting...my Ped (through Kaiser) doesn't even want to see my girls annually. They only want to see us when they are due for vaccines and do a quick look/physical then. After the early ones, I only remember needing to come back at 12ish (think they ask about puberty then). My kids are virtually never sick & get flu at a walk-in clinic so that's pretty much the only time they see the Pediatrician. I wonder if the protocol is different for boys.
We are Kaiser and all of my kids have a well visit each year. I get reminders to schedule it in the message area in upcoming appointments through the online portal. They should be doing annual well visits for a variety of reasons.
share.memebox.com/x/uKhKaZmemebox referal code for 20% off! DD1 "J" born 3/2003 DD2 "G" born 4/2011 DS is here! "H" born 2/2014 m/c#3 1-13-13 @ 9 weeks m/c#2 11-11-12 @ 5w2d I am an extended breastfeeding, cloth diapering, baby wearing, pro marriage equality, birth control lovin', Catholic mama.
An annual well visit should be the norm. It is pretty important to be seen every year, and that is why they were made free through the ACA.
They definitely made it clear on several occasions I don't need to bring a child back for X number of years. Kaiser seems stingy with their healthcare in general though...for example often they prefer to have a nurse call you back and go over everything before they'll even schedule an appointment. I had head to toes hives and they didn't want to see me. They suck, I really wish we had different health insurance.
Have you tried going to a different Kaiser group because this is the opposite of my experience with them. I don't have kids, but I have felt they were more proactive with my well checks than I would be. For example, they want me to schedule 6 month checks for skin cancer because I have had cancer cells removed already. Everyone else is annually. One thing I will consider when i get another job is if I can keep my Kaiser coverage because I love them.
S1's Dr did the quick peek up through his last visit. Once he turned 11, she started doing the hernia check. He was extremely embarrassed but primarily because he wasn't expecting it and wearing some old cartoon boxers. However, he flat out refused to have it done for a sports physical a couple months later. Any advice on how to address the "his body and he has say but this is needed" topic?
I would discuss with him that it is a part of the sports physical. If he wants to play sports he has to have a complete physical done, otherwise he can't participate because the doctor can't fill out the form. If he chooses to not have all of the checks done, than he can't play whatever sport or attend whatever camp.
share.memebox.com/x/uKhKaZmemebox referal code for 20% off! DD1 "J" born 3/2003 DD2 "G" born 4/2011 DS is here! "H" born 2/2014 m/c#3 1-13-13 @ 9 weeks m/c#2 11-11-12 @ 5w2d I am an extended breastfeeding, cloth diapering, baby wearing, pro marriage equality, birth control lovin', Catholic mama.
An annual well visit should be the norm. It is pretty important to be seen every year, and that is why they were made free through the ACA.
They definitely made it clear on several occasions I don't need to bring a child back for X number of years. Kaiser seems stingy with their healthcare in general though...for example often they prefer to have a nurse call you back and go over everything before they'll even schedule an appointment. I had head to toes hives and they didn't want to see me. They suck, I really wish we had different health insurance.
This is the exact opposite of my experiences with Kaiser. I'd try going to a different clinic- maybe yours is too busy/understaffed?
share.memebox.com/x/uKhKaZmemebox referal code for 20% off! DD1 "J" born 3/2003 DD2 "G" born 4/2011 DS is here! "H" born 2/2014 m/c#3 1-13-13 @ 9 weeks m/c#2 11-11-12 @ 5w2d I am an extended breastfeeding, cloth diapering, baby wearing, pro marriage equality, birth control lovin', Catholic mama.
Post by onetruething on Jun 8, 2017 12:49:50 GMT -5
DD is 11 and VERY private, but since it's always been part of his exam he doesn't freak out when the doctor goes to look. I appreciate the doctor checking because that is a part of the body I NEVER see anymore.
This is interesting...my Ped (through Kaiser) doesn't even want to see my girls annually. They only want to see us when they are due for vaccines and do a quick look/physical then. After the early ones, I only remember needing to come back at 12ish (think they ask about puberty then). My kids are virtually never sick & get flu at a walk-in clinic so that's pretty much the only time they see the Pediatrician. I wonder if the protocol is different for boys.
I wonder if there was a recent change back to recommended annual check-ups? Because a few years ago we too were told our kids didn't need to come every year unless there was a concern or they needed a vaccine. But when I called to schedule DS' 8 year well-child visit this year I specifically asked if it was necessary and they said they are once again recommending annual visits.
This is interesting...my Ped (through Kaiser) doesn't even want to see my girls annually. They only want to see us when they are due for vaccines and do a quick look/physical then. After the early ones, I only remember needing to come back at 12ish (think they ask about puberty then). My kids are virtually never sick & get flu at a walk-in clinic so that's pretty much the only time they see the Pediatrician. I wonder if the protocol is different for boys.
I wonder if there was a recent change back to recommended annual check-ups? Because a few years ago we too were told our kids didn't need to come every year unless there was a concern or they needed a vaccine. But when I called to schedule DS' 8 year well-child visit this year I specifically asked if it was necessary and they said they are once again recommending annual visits.
Maybe so--it definitely was at least 3yrs ago when I was told this. I do get reminders for ME to go in for pap smears, Endo appointments due or whatever but I never get letters/calls for the kids unless they have a vaccine needed.
For my son (who just turned 12), the pediatrician is very matter-of-fact about it, which I think really helps reduce embarrassment. She'll say something like "Now I need to check your penis and testicles, all right?". Then she looks, feels each testicle, asks him to cough, and very gently checks that his foreskin retracts (without forcing it, don't worry), going quickly and not treating it any differently than any other part of the body. Another thing she does that reduces embarrassment is she never actually has him take his underpants off, she just uses her left hand to pull the waistband down.
There was always a part of me that worried this was a bit to much, but reading all these responses makes it sound pretty normal.
One thing that I am confused about though, is that when examining my daughter (14), the same pediatrician doesn't do any kind of genital check. When DD was younger, she would pull her waistband out, I'm assuming to check for hair growth, but since DD started her period, she hasn't done any sort of genital check on her. Is that normal? I remember it being something similar when I was growing up, so maybe it's standard for girls to not get checked like boys do. I'm not sure, anyone know?
Post by Captain Catnip on Aug 6, 2017 19:10:20 GMT -5
vivianhh my guess is because generally when a girl gets her period it's aimed she would transition to a gyn, so there's no need for the pedi to check unless they are doing the internals.
vivianhh my guess is because generally when a girl gets her period it's aimed she would transition to a gyn, so there's no need for the pedi to check unless they are doing the internals.
Girls aren't supposed to get regular gyn checkups until they're either adults or sexually active.
vivianhh my guess is because generally when a girl gets her period it's aimed she would transition to a gyn, so there's no need for the pedi to check unless they are doing the internals.
Girls aren't supposed to get regular gyn checkups until they're either adults or sexually active.
It says "The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that teenage girls start seeing a gynecologist between the ages of 13 and 15."
I'd ask the pedi then, though, why there's no check assuming they are the one that told you no to the gyn.
vivianhh my guess is because generally when a girl gets her period it's aimed she would transition to a gyn, so there's no need for the pedi to check unless they are doing the internals.
Girls aren't supposed to get regular gyn checkups until they're either adults or sexually active.
"Aren't supposed to".....uh, why not?
There is plenty that a GYN does for teenage girls that don't require them to already be sexually active.
vivianhh my guess is because generally when a girl gets her period it's aimed she would transition to a gyn, so there's no need for the pedi to check unless they are doing the internals.
Girls aren't supposed to get regular gyn checkups until they're either adults or sexually active.
Lol, no. There are tons of issues that could arise that have nothing to do with being sexually active. Besides, if being sexually active is your benchmark for seeing an OBGYN don't you think they should go to the doctor BEFORE becoming sexually active??
And what constitutes an adult, in this instance? I mean, my DD is almost 15 and has had her period for over a year. She would have just as much need to see GYN as me if she were having an issue with her period, even though she isn't technically an adult.