Tips For Female Teenagers To Prevent Sexual Misconduct By Doctors

Most adolescent girls don't feel comfortable letting their male pediatricians see certain parts of their body. Many girls don't even like to discuss personal matters such as periods and breast growth with their male doctors. There is usually no need for teenage girls to have pap smears if they are virgins who have never engaged in any kind of sexual activity. See more information on pap smears for virgins. If you have been sexually active or were raped, it is probably a good idea to have a pap smear when you are a teenager. Sometimes, virgin girls have problems such as abnormal heavy menstrual periods, severe cramps, or large ovarian cysts that need to be taken care of.

Many teenage girls have been traumatized by having intimate examinations by male doctors even if there was no sexual misconduct. Many teenage girls are uncomfortable with strange men including doctors touching certain parts of their bodies. Some teenage girls have made a commitment to save sex until marriage and they also feel that their future husband should be the only man in the world who can see and touch certain parts of their body.

1.) It is best for a female patient to never go to a male gynecologist if possible. There are so many good female ob/gyns you could choose from. If your area doesn't have any female ob/gyns, you should check into having a female Nurse Practitioner or Physician's Assistant do your women's health examinations. You are in a very vulnerable position when you let a male gynecologist do intimate procedures on you. Having a nurse or an assistant present in the room with the doctor doesn't guarantee that nothing inappropriate would happen to you. Remember that the nurse or assistant is present to "protect" the doctor and will often be on the doctor's side. There have been cases where female patients felt the male doctor went too far, but the nurse or assistant felt he was simply doing thorough examinations. It is certainly not worth the risk to let a male doctor do intimate female procedures or examinations on you. If there are no good female gynecologists in your area, ask your mom or someone else to drive you to the closest city with a female gynecologist no matter how far it is away.

2.) Even with female ob/gyns, you have to take some precautions. It is very rare for female ob/gyns to commit sexual misconduct, but it is possible. Some female doctors are very coercive when it comes to doing things. You need to speak up about things you don't want to be done to you. For example, if you don't want any male anesthesiologists, nurses, or students/residents present for your procedure (ex: ovarian cyst removal surgery) you should be sure to make it clear to your female gynecologist and have all of your wishes in writing. It might be good to have someone who can help you advocate for what you want. You should ask the female ob/gyn to tell you in details about what exactly what she will be doing and if there is anything you don't like, you should speak up.

3.) Don't allow yourself to be pressured into having a pelvic exam, pap smear, or breast exam at any doctor appointments. Some female patients have gone to the doctor for other health concerns and were pressured into having unnecessary examinations. For instance if you go in for a sore throat and you think you may have strep throat, don't spend time listening to a lecture by the doctor about how important it is to have a pap smear and that you need one today. If something like that happens, tell the doctor you are not interested and you only want to talk about the reason you came in (ex: your throat is sore).

4.) Don't undress or put on a medical gown when it is unnecessary and/or you feel uncomfortable. There are so many procedures and tests that doctors can do on you without you having to change your clothes. For example, there's no need to change into a medical gown for a strep throat test.

5.) Keep in mind that it is unnecessary for you to take your shirt off for the doctor to listen to your heart. You should wear a thin shirt and not a sweatshirt. It is strange, but many doctors don't even ask men to take their shirts off to listen to their hearts, but they ask women to. That tells you something is wrong.

6.) You should think in advance about what parts of your body the doctor should examine and dress accordingly. For instance if you have a knee problem that you want the doctor to check out, you should put shorts instead of pants on so you would not have to take any of your clothes off in the doctor's office.

7.) Never let anyone even your mother or friends pressure you into going to a male gynecologist no matter how good or well-respected he may be. Many people thought that the male gynecologists who have sexually abused some of their patients were wonderful doctors.

8.) Make a firm decision that you will not let a male doctor or nurse touch any parts of your body that are covered by a two piece bathing suit. This is a good way to prevent you from being sexually abused by a male doctor.

9.) If you are going to be put under anesthesia, you should insist that you have a family member or a friend present for your procedure.

10.) Do research on procedures or surgeries that your doctor may have recommended for you to have done before you submit to them. Find out what parts of your body would be exposed for this procedure.

11.) If you must be hospitalized, it would be best if you could have someone not employed by the hospital present with you at least most of the time especially when you are asleep or drowsy.

12.) Insist that no male nurse give you a bath or do intimate procedures on you such as urinary catheterizations. Many unnecessary urinary catheterizations are done. If you must be catheterized, ask that a female nurse insert your catheter.

13.) Insist on a female technician for EKG, transvaginal ultrasound (if needed), etc.

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