Teen Reproductive Health

Adolescent reproductive health is now an essential aspect of pediatric primary care.

To be successful and avoid pushback, providers need to implement policies that set the expectation for regular one-on-one discussion between doctor and patient by age 14, and universal STD screening for sexually active patients. Getting kids to open up about their behaviors and concerns isn't always easy, but it is possible when it becomes a natural part of any well-child visit.

Listen to our pediatric gynecologist discuss adolescent reproductive health

Even with strategies in place, talking to teens about reproductive health can be overwhelming in a primary care setting. A teenage patient may also require a pelvic exam or request an IUD insertion. A primary care physician should make a referral whenever they prefer to have a specialist provide care.

In this episode, we hear from Eliza Buyers, MD, about reproductive health in teenagers.

Dr. Buyers is a pediatric and adolescent gynecologist at Children's Hospital Colorado. She is also a senior instructor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

In today's episode, we discuss:

• How to talk to teens and their parents about reproductive health
• Implementing universal screening to address adolescents and STDs
• Responding to pushback from parents
• Benefits of one-on-one time with adolescent patients
• Misconceptions about teen reproductive health
• Teens and long-acting reversible contraception (LARC)
• Non-contraceptive benefits of teens and LARC
• When to consider hormonal therapy
• Reversing long-term hormonal care and contraception
• Talking to teens about STD screening
• When to send a patient to a teen reproductive health specialist

Adolescent reproductive health at Children's Colorado

At Children's Colorado, we understand that comfort is key for patients, providers and families when it comes to teen reproductive health. Depending on the patient's needs, we may see them at our departments for Adolescent Medicine or Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology.