Teen FAQ
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Navigate: FAQ Home Page > Doctor Visits & Confidentiality > 14 -- questions about vagina and anus
Posted on: 04/26/2007
Question
Hi, I am a 14 year old girl who has recently been curious about my vagina and anus. Although I am not sexually active at all, I have come upon a growing somewhat bump around my anus. This brings pain when I make feces. Also, I have seen dry skin below my vagina towards my butt cheeks.. nothing severe i presume.. And last but not least, I have a white sticky, and sometimes flaky discharge everyday. Sometimes it's low amounts, but mostly it's in high amounts. I'm not sure if it's a yeast infection, because this happens everyday. I have no idea what this is nor what shall I do, and quite frankly I am too embarrassed to let my parents or a doctor examine this. Please help me with your best advice!!!!!!
Answer
Hi,
I know it is embarrassing to ask such private questions to a doctor. Yet I?m concerned that this bump around your anus is causing you pain. I really do want you to make an appointment with a doctor. At your age, the doctor should ask if you want to be seen alone. If not, you could try to get up the courage to ask your mom if you could see him or her alone. Maybe you could make up a reason, like saying it?s about acne or something else (even if you don?t have it), and say you?re embarrassed and want to talk to them alone. We see teenagers by themselves all the time. Depending on what state you live in, there are confidentiality laws that prevent the doctor from necessarily telling everything you tell her to your parent. That means we keep what YOU tell us confidential, because YOU are our patient, not your mom. You could even ask for a woman doctor if this makes you more comfortable. When you are alone with the doctor, you can tell them about the bump and the pain it is causing you. Hopefully you will bond with this doctor (I?m assuming she will be a pediatrician), so you can return to her if you get sick again or want a physical. You should be having a physical exam every 2 years at your age.
Regarding your discharge?Have you had your period yet? If you are not sexually active, most likely your discharge is nothing to worry about. If by chance you have not had your period yet, the excess discharge may be a sign that it is coming soon. But even if you do have your periods already, I think your discharge sounds normal. Still, mention it to the doctor when you see her. Please do make an appointment!