Any experience with STDs?
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Any experience with STDs?
| Thu, 06-28-2007 - 7:29pm |
As I've been posting here, my 15 y.o. DD is still hoping to get back together with the bf who dumped her a few months ago. I mentioned last week that I found out she was considering doing something "nasty" (his words), although I have no idea if any such sexual activity has ever occurred between them. Now I find out that this boy has a urological condition which is caused primarily by STDs. Needless to say, I was a little freaked out to learn about this. I intend to have a frank discussion with my DD about exactly what has gone on. I will use this as another opportunity to discuss the consequences of this type of behavior. But in the meantime--if I find out that she was sexually active with him in some way, do I need to take her to a doctor? What do they do to check for STDs?? I don't want to overreact, but I want to keep her safe and healthy. Thanks.

Not that I have a lot of experience or knowledge on STDs, but I'm guessing the tests would vary with the type of STD that is of concern. There may be some sort of universal tests of some sort, I have no idea.
I have to admit, I would be torn over how to handle this, especially since there is nothing definite, ya know? If you know the name of the STD you can always contact your family doctor and speak to someone who actually *knows* something. If you find out that she *did* have sex of any kind with him then I think you really *must* have her examined. I believe many STDs, especially in females, can go a long time without showing any symptoms. And, as awful as it sounds, if she has contracted something that can't be cured (genital warts, herpes, etc) then she must be extra, extra careful in her life not to spread it.
I am curious, how did you come to find out about his condition? Did dd tell you?
At any rate, this is an opportunity to *really* discuss sex and STDs with your dd, just like you said, and that becoming sexually active means she has to become sexually responsible--not only by using condoms, but refraining from sexual activity when she or her b/f is having an outbreak (such as herpes) and having regular gynecological exams.
My heart goes out to you. Here's hoping it's nothing.
I think that you need to take your dd to a gynecologist for an evaluation.
What a worry.
By all means, try to talk with her, but you must take her to the family doctor now. Describe your worries to the doc, but then let her have a private consultation with the doc. She may be more willing to discuss things with the doc than with you. The doc can then do any necessary tests. Have you considered getting her vaccinated for HPV? That is useful for both genital warts and cervical cancer.
Good luck.
I do agree that letting DD have a private conversation with the doc (preferrably a female one) is the route to go.