Importance of Visiting an OB/GYN Before Age 21

By Shevonda Sherrow
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25 Jun, 2019

Many females are familiar with the routine yearly visit to their gynecologist, but for most, the annual exam did not begin until their mid-twenties. There are numerous reasons for encouraging women to keep their yearly gynecological exam, but these do not just apply to older women. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that female teens and young adults who have not yet reached their 21st birthday should follow a routine exam schedule as there are plenty of benefits from early attention to gynecological health. For mothers of teenage girls, it is helpful to know why these visits are necessary.

There are five primary reasons for females between the ages of 13-21 to visit an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB/GYN). Although the first visit may simply involve a talk covering family history, menstrual history, sexual activities, and what to expect during exams, future appointments will proactively address health, periods, sexuality and relationships, pregnancy, and sexually transmitted d