Girls’ bodies start to change as they become young adults. These changes allow young adult girls to get their periods.
This experience can be different for each young adult girl. Some girls may only have mild symptoms, such as feeling a bit down or having occasional headaches. Others may have more intense symptoms, including:
- Depression.
- Headaches.
- Heavy flows.
In these cases, your young adult’s doctor might suggest that she takes birth control pills to help manage her symptoms. Birth control pills can help with heavy flows and pain caused by her period.
If your young adult is on birth control, her doctor may ask to screen her for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), even if she reports she is not sexually active.
Why young adults should get STD screenings
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), young adults between the ages of 15 and 24 make up almost half of all new STD cases reported. During checkups, doctors may recommend screening for chlamydia and other STDs as part of young adult health care.
Chlamydia is the most common STD. Chlamydia is a kind of infection that you can get from having sex. Chlamydia can be hard to catch because your young adult may not have any symptoms. This means that young adults can be infected with chlamydia without knowing it.
When your young adult gets tested early, it could help stop her from having future health problems. Screening for chlamydia is easy. The doctor will ask to do a urine test to check your young adult’s reproductive health. This test will not cost you anything.
Talk to your young adult
Parents and guardians play an important role in supporting their young adult’s health. It is important for parents to:
- Talk openly with their young adults about their sexual health.
- Encourage them to ask questions and get advice from their doctor.
If you have any questions about your young adult’s health or STD screenings, reach out to your young adult’s doctor. Doctors are there to help support your young adult’s well-being.
For parents who want to learn more about STDs and young adult screenings, visit the CDC website.
