40 Saw Mill River Road
Suite LL4
Hawthorne, NY 10532
United States
Adolescents and young adults have different needs and different gynecologic issues compared to older adults. Our Adolescent and Young Adult Specialists have vast expertise in gynecologic conditions specific to this age group. Most adolescents and young adults may not even need a routine pelvic (internal) exam.
We understand the confidential needs of this age group, and the potential role for parents to be involved in the young person’s care.
Our specialists have experience in helping adolescents and young adults with conditions like:
Adolescents and young adults have unique menstrual conditions and need different care compared to adults. Our specialists in Adolescent and Young Adult Health are experts in these issues. We provide confidential care when appropriate and help the young adult with the gradual independence from their family that they may need as they get older.
Adolescents and Young Adults often don’t need a pelvic or internal exam when they come for their visit. Often testing for most conditions can be done through blood or urine tests. Pelvic exams can be done in our offices when needed.
UDs (Intrauterine Devices) and Contraceptive Implants are safe and effective for adolescents and young adults. Currently available IUDs are much safer than the IUDs available decades ago. In fact, IUDs and contraceptive implants are recommended as first line contraceptive methods for young people. IUDs are also often used in the treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding and painful periods as well. Our Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine Specialists are experts in the care of IUDs and contraceptive implants.
When you come for an appointment, we can review your options for all available IUDs and contraceptive implants, how they affect your body, what the insertion is like, and any potential risks. We will discuss any issues or concerns that you have confidentially, as well as with any caregiver that you would like to bring.
We are experienced in a gentle, reassuring method of gynecologic exams that are often needed for adolescents and young adults. Pelvic exams are performed at the insertion procedure for IUDs. There is no minimum age to get an IUD or contraceptive implant. IUDs can also be inserted when a patient is having her menstrual period.
Adolescents and young adults may need regular sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment. Our Adolescent and Young Adult Specialists have expertise in these issues and the developmentally appropriate approach to treatment and prevention in this age group. We understand the confidential needs specific to this age group, and can support the adolescent and young adult in navigating their health care.
Gender identity and sexual orientation can be a confusing and difficult topic for adolescents, young adults and their families. Gender identity is not the same as sexual orientation. Sexual orientation is a physical, romantic or sexual attraction to other people. No matter the gender identity, a person could be attracted to people of the same sex, people of a different sex, neither, or both. Gender identity is the innermost sense of self as male, female, both or something else. Transgender describes when gender identity is different from the sex assigned at birth.
Gender affirming care includes helping a person align their body with their gender identity. There is not one or a correct way to do this. Gender affirming care can include therapy, changing the way someone dresses or their name, medicines, hormones and/or surgery. Different people choose different treatments, and over different periods of time.
Children and adolescents who are in puberty may choose to pause puberty using puberty blockers. These are temporary medicines that are completely reversible, they do not cause any permanent changes. Pausing puberty can give the child, adolescent and their family time to figure out what course they want to pursue, and also stop the progression of the birth assigned sex characteristics if they choose to proceed with a transition to a transgender body. If a child or adolescent chooses, they can stop taking puberty blockers and go through puberty in the usual fashion. Alternatively, they can instead choose to start hormone therapy to pursue a physical transgender transition.
Our providers can give hormones and medicines that block sex hormones to cause changes in the body that help someone pursue a physical transgender transition in order to look and feel more like a male or a female.
Not all transgender people choose to have surgery. But some do. Different people choose different surgeries based on what changes they want. Most surgeons prefer to wait until someone is an older adolescent or young adult before performing these surgeries. Surgical options include: surgery to the breast area and genital surgery.
Transgender people need specific health care to screen for issues that arise from taking transgender hormones, in addition to checking hormone levels and regular health screenings based on their existing body parts (like Pap smear screening to detect cervical lesions for trans male young adults).
Our Adolescent and Young Adult Specialists are specially trained in providing guidance, education, support and gender affirming care to adolescents, young adults, and their families. We understand the need for confidential care and routinely provide confidentiality to the adolescent or young adult while also providing support to parents as needed.
Many people with eating disorders have mixed feelings about getting rid of their eating disorder. Many families with adolescents or young adults who have eating disorders can feel lost, overwhelmed and frustrated. Our adolescent and young adult specialists have extensive experience in the treatment of eating disorders on an outpatient basis, as well as for those needing residential care, intensive outpatient care, and inpatient medical management. We always work as a team with eating disorder therapists and nutritionists if needed, as well as with the family in a web of support. We are experts in evidence-based medical care as well as the mental health support needed to address this challenging condition.
Our Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine Specialists are specifically trained in the medical management of:
Our Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine Specialists are specifically trained in the medical management of:
We work collaboratively with therapists and psychologists to provide a web of support for all of our patients' needs and wellbeing. We take time to provide confidential care for adolescents and young adults, and to support the young adult in their evolving independence from their family as they get older. We also provide education and support to the parents of our adolescents and young adults as needed.
Pre- Exposure HIV prophylaxis (PrEP) is medicine taken daily for people who do not have HIV, in order to prevent getting HIV if someone is at risk. PrEP is highly effective if taken as prescribed. Since PrEP only helps prevent HIV, condom use is still important to prevent other STIs. Our specialists in Adolescent and Young Adult Health are specifically trained to provide PrEP in a confidential manner and screen and treat STIs as well.
Our adolescent and young adult specialists are experts at up to date evidence based medical and developmentally appropriate care. We take the time needed to provide confidential care for adolescents and young adults, and to support the young adult in their evolving independence from their family as they get older. Our providers are skilled at:
40 Saw Mill River Road
Suite LL4
Hawthorne, NY 10532
United States