Pediatric and Adolescent Sexuality and Gynecology: Principles for the Primary Care Clinician (Health and Human Development)

The book is written for practitioners by specialists, who are passionate about improving the future for our children and adolescents. Adolescent sexuality and gynaecologic care of young patients are topics, which make most clinicians uncomfortable. This is due to a lack of knowledge and training in many circumstances. Assumptions based upon knowledge of adult gynaecology alone may be hazardous for paediatric and adolescent patients. These children and young women often do not have access to specialists who are able and willing to care for their gynaecologic issues at an appropriate level. The primary care setting is often the most comfortable venue for a number of these patients. Paediatric and adolescent gynaecologic concerns will need to be addressed, at least to some degree, by all practices that care for these patients. Many primary care practices will recognise the need to provide a significant amount of gynaecology care for this population. Concepts and approaches in this text directly translate to better care for young women and a greater level of comfort for primary care practitioners. The authors of this text are clinicians and scholars who have committed their careers to improving the health of children and adolescents. They are all outstanding teachers in the classroom, at the bedside, and in the clinic. The chapters of this book convey the vibrancy of their clinical teaching to the readers. We hope to transmit the knowledge and produce the comfort that enhances paediatric and adolescent gynaecologic care in primary care practice.