What questions should I be asking my pubescent child’s doctor?
Alison Scott, pediatrician: “Talk to your pediatrician about what you’re observing, including changes in their personality or mood that you’re worried about. Kids 13 and older have the right to some privacy in a medical setting, so your doctor might make you leave the room during the check-ups starting around now. (In some states, it’s a law!) Ask your pediatrician to talk to your child about puberty and have a dialogue about this stage of development with them. Also, with girls, ask when your child should see a gynecologist– your pediatrician can tell you if they are ready. And if your child’s doctor is the opposite gender to your child, make sure your kid is still comfortable seeing them. Doctors appointments are a way for you to tell your child: you have agency over your body.”