While many teens worry about being overweight, a sizable minority worry about being too skinny. What can your teen do if this is a problem for him or her? 1. Consider your teen’s age, state of development and body type. If your teenager is in the rapid growth stage of development, he may fill out […]
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Testicular Torsion: What You Need to Know
If your teenage son began complaining of pain in the groin what would you do? Assume the causes were minor unless other symptoms developed? This could be a terrible mistake. While it’s true that pain in the groin may signal only a minor problem, it can also be a symptom of testicular torsion, a medical
When Your Daughter Has Irregular Menstrual Periods
Many parents of teens worry about skipped periods that occur after a girl has started having a regular cycle of menstrual periods. There are a number of reasons why this can happen. Pregnancy, of course, is one reason, but other very common contributing factors are stringent dieting or frequent strenuous exercise. This can deplete the
Helping Your Daughter Cope With Menstrual Cramps
In the past, cramps were considered part of the menstrual “curse” — an affliction to be suffered as part of being a woman. Today, we know that cramps, medically termed “dysmenorrhea”, are caused by contraction of the uterine muscles resulting in mild to great discomfort, and can be helped with a variety of drugs. These
Talking To Your Daughter About Menstruation
Girls need to know about menstruation well before “menarche”, the first menstrual period, occurs. Too many parents wait until a girl is a certain age, say twelve, to discuss the subject, not realizing that many normal girls may begin menstrual periods as early as the age of nine or ten. Signs that your daughter may
Toxic Shock Update for Parents of Teens
It was not quite ten years ago that Toxic Shock Syndrome was first connected with tampon use. In the years since, fear and uncertainty about tampon use have lingered. Can your daughter safely use tampons today? Unless she has already had Toxic Shock Syndrome, she can use tampons safely with these guidelines: 1. Be aware
Superfluous Hair: What Does It Mean? Safe Removal Tips
Teen girls are most likely to worry about superfluous hair, especially on the face or around the nipples of the breast. Most often, this hair growth has genetic causes. If your ethnic origin is Mediterranean, your daughter may have a greater tendency to have more body or facial hair than someone of Oriental origin. For
Testicular Self Exam
While most women know that breast self-examination is a good health habit, most teenage boys and young adult men don’t know that testicular self-examination is a health saving routine they need to establish during adolescence. Testicular cancer is one of the most common cancers in men between the ages of 15 and 35, affecting some
Does Your Teen Have A Substance Problem?
Could your teen be using or abusing drugs or alcohol? Ask yourself the following questions: 1. Have my teen’s group of friends changed suddenly? 2. Does my teen receive phone calls from people I’ve never heard of before? 3. Is he irritable? 4. Is he having trouble concentrating? 5. Is he getting into fights at
Talking With Your Teen About Sex
The excruciating big talk about the facts of life, or an embarrassed silence? This is a problem many parents share. And, while sex education ideally starts with honest answers to a child’s first questions at a very young age, it is not too late to start talking now. Forget about the “big talk.” This is