Hormones and Teen Medical Issues
General Reproductive Health Care
Contraception
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STD)
Eating Disorders
General Teen Health Resources
Health Regulations Regarding Confidentiality and Consent for Minors
College Health
Adolescent Women's Health
Birth Control Pill Instructions
Because the teen years are a time of changing hormone levels, there are a number of adolescent health problems that are related to hormone levels. As an adolescent medicine physician, Dr. Arden frequently prescribes hormone treatment for patients with these issues. Some of these include:
Menstrual Cramps and Irregular Periods: Many adolescent suffer from severe menstrual cramps or irregular periods, sometimes so severe that they miss school and other important activities. Dr. Arden specializes in the evaluation and treatment of these problems with the goal of getting the teen back to school untroubled by her periods. For more information about the use of hormone treatment for menstrual problems, go to:
http://www.contraceptiononline.org/contrareport/pdfs/10_03_pu.pdf
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS): An assortment of bothersome symptoms that occur just before or during the menstrual cycle, PMS can be a real problem for some teens -- but treatment is available. For more information, see:
http://womenshealth.gov/faq/pms.pdf
Acne: Acne is found in most teens. There are a number of good topical (skin) treatments, including over-the-counter benzoyl peroxide creams and prescription retinoids and antibiotics. For young women with acne that is not responding to topical treatment, especially on the back, hormone treatment can be very helpful. For more information, go to:
http://www.contraceptiononline.org/contrareport/pdfs/10_02_pu.pdf
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS): PCOS is a hormone imbalance found in up to 10% of American women. It causes irregular periods, which can be accompanied by significant acne, excess body hair, and weight problems. Over time, it can increase the risk of diabetes and heart disease, but it is treatable. For more information, see:
http://www.contraceptiononline.org/contrareport/pdfs/12_04_pu.pdf
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: This link to the Center for Young Women's Health from the Boston Children's Hospital Division of Adolescent Medicine includes a must-read comprehensive description of polycystic ovary syndrome as well as other pamphlets about nutrition, medication, and other topics.
http://www.youngwomenshealth.org/pcosinfo.html
