Adolescent medicine is a medical subspecialty that deals primarily with the care and treatment of patients who are in the adolescent stage of development. This period typically starts between the ages of nine to 11 for females and 11 to 14 for males. Considered as a primary care subspecialty, adolescent medicine integrates various iatrical aspects including dermatology, endocrinology, gynecology, nutrition, psychology and sports medicine. It is likewise an integral component of internal medicine, family practice, pediatrics, and youth health.

Medical practitioners who delve in the practice of adolescent medicine often address issues and disorders with a high prevalence during adolescence. These include the following:

§ Precocious puberty

§ Birth control

§ Substance abuse

§ Acne vulgaris

§ Unintended pregnancy

§ STDs or sexually transmitted diseases

§ Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia

§ Menstrual disorders like amenorrhea, dysfunctional uterine bleeding and dysmenorrhea

§ Mental illnesses, particularly anxiety disorders, personality disorders, bipolar disorder, major depression, suicidal ideation and certain types of schizophrenia

Healthcare providers who deal with adolescents normally take a holistic approach as they try to gather information relevant to the patient’s well-being. The approach closely resembles the biophysical model which is epitomized in the HEADSS assessment. It is a screening acronym for adolescent patients and stands for Home, Education, Activities, Drugs, Sex, and Suicidality.

Aside from a comprehensive medical history, adolescents ought to undergo a thorough physical examination as well as a mental health status exam at least once a year. The physical exam should include sexually transmitted infections (STI) testing, a neurological assessment, and a reproductive system exam. In addition, developmental progression should be documented on an annual basis, and endocrinological tests should be considered especially among patients who fail to develop in a normal manner.

Young women must be properly educated on how to examine their breast for signs of breast cancer, and young men should know how to examine their penis and testicles for STDs and cancer. Laboratory tests, including a CBC to screen for anemia, and a fasting lipid profile or a spot cholesterol check to screen for hyperlipidemia should be undertaken at least once during the adolescent period.

For those who are sexually active, especially patients who are living in areas of high prevalence, screening tests for STDs should be done, including rapid plasma reagin (RPR) or venereal disease research laboratory (VDRL) test for syphilis, screening for HIV, chlamydia and gonorrhea. Females who are sexually active must have a pelvic exam, including a Pap smear to screen for cervical cancer.

In terms of immunizations, the following are deemed imperative: a meningitis vaccination, a tetanus vaccination or booster shot, the Gardasil vaccine against HPV particularly for sexually active young women, and an annual influenza inoculation.

Teen Addictions

Medical practitioners who delve in the practice of adolescent medicine often address issues and disorders with a high prevalence during adolescence. These include the following:

San Jose std testing

§ Precocious puberty

§ Birth control

§ Substance abuse

§ Acne vulgaris

§ Unintended pregnancy

§ STDs or sexually transmitted diseases

§ Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia

§ Menstrual disorders like amenorrhea, dysfunctional uterine bleeding and dysmenorrhea

§ Mental illnesses, particularly anxiety disorders, personality disorders, bipolar disorder, major depression, suicidal ideation and certain types of schizophrenia

Teen Addictions

Developing penile spots can be quite embarrassing, especially for those in a new sexual relationship. These spots can have a number of causes depending on what they are, and bringing it up can be quite difficult. For men that have noticed that they have developed these penile intruders, getting to the bottom of the cause is a necessity when considering talking to your partner about them.

Marks that develop on the penis could be the result of a sexually transmitted disease (STD). The only way to know for sure if you have an STD is to make an appointment and visit a licensed health care professional. After an examination and some laboratory testing, your provider will be able to tell you if the marks are benign or a sign of a more serious illness like an STD or cancer.

std testing San Jose

Knowing the cause of the penile spots will make discussing this subject with your partner much less complicated. Before engaging in sexual activity, it is necessary both morally and ethically to discuss any potential risk of passing an STD with your partner. Because condoms only provide some protection against STDs, partners have the right to know if they are at risk for contracting an illness.

If the cause of the marks is benign growths that have been diagnosed by a health professional, you may want to mention this to your partner. This will bring the subject up and foster open communication that will promote dialogue about the issue. Also, partners that are told that their prospective sexual partners have been cleared of STDs and other contagious illness may be more at ease with sexual contact with the lesions.

To bring up the subject, tell your partner that you have something that you would like to share. Discuss how you have been to a physician and you are healthy, but you want your partner to know that you do have marks or growths on your penis. If you are in a loving relationship and your partner is satisfied with the emotional stability in your coupledom, you may just find that the apprehension that you were feeling was unnecessary. However, do understand that discussing penile spots with your partner may also end in a way that you do not necessarily want. It is these situations which can prove that a relationship is worth the time and effort put into it.