Principles of adolescent gynecology

Most of the gynecologic problems presented by adolescent girls are dysfunctional. They include, in order of frequency: dysfunctional uterine bleeding, dysmenorrhea, and amenorrhea. Leukorrhea is also very likely to be dysfunctional, in that in many cases it is not a true vaginal discharge but an increase in vaginal secretion. For the most part, gynecologic disorders in adolescent girls are diagnosed and treated in the same fashion as similar conditions in adult women. Genital tumors are managed in accordance with accepted gynecologic principles. Inasmuch as the gynecologic disorders encountered in adolescent patients are similar to comparable ones in adult women, these problems properly belong in the realm of the gynecologist, who is best equipped to diagnose and treat them.