Your child will receive a thorough check-up that may include looking at their eyes, ears and mouth, listening to the heart and lungs, feeling the abdomen and checking reflexes.
Examination of the child’s genital and anal areas involves looking at them to make sure they appear healthy. A special instrument called a colposcope is often used during evaluation. A colposcope is a light attached to a pair of binoculars, which allows the nurse practitioner or doctor to see a child’s genital and anal areas more closely. The colposcope never touches the child’s body and is never felt by the child. While the colposcope does not touch your child, the examiner will touch your child’s genital and anal areas. The colposcope has a camera attached to it and photographs may be taken during the exam to provide an accurate record of what the child’s body looks like. The pictures may also be used for teaching nurses and doctors.
Teenage girls sometimes require a pelvic examination involving insertion of an instrument called a speculum into the vagina. Older girls also may need to provide a urine sample to check for pregnancy. Younger girls do not receive speculum exams at our center.
Your child may also be tested for sexually transmitted infections. This is done by touching your child’s throat, genitals and/or anus with small cotton swabs. A blood test may also be needed.
