Question:
My daughter is incredibly self-conscious about her period and is always saying her cramps are so bad she can't do anything--go to school, visit grandparents, etc.--at that time of the month. She has been checked out by our family doctor and he can't find anything that would cause her so much discomfort. What do you think is going on?Answer:
ParentingTeensOnline expert Bonnie Parker, R.N. discusses "things about teen sex I don't understand". Bonnie is former Director of Hi-Tops, Princeton, NJ. She answers:
I would suggest that this young woman be seen by a health care provider other than her family doctor, with whom she may have issues - e.g. it's her mother's doctor, confidentiality concerns, she may even feel that he/she still sees her as a child. There are adolescent specialists, very often Nurse Practitioners, with whom the young woman might be more comfortable. Certainly there are emotional aspects regarding her menstrual cycle going on here, but I would not want to undermine the degree to which she claims discomfort. There are likely to be some very physical reasons for her situation. Try seeking help at a teen health center if there is one in your area, or ask for references for a female gynecologist who works with adolescents.