Pediatricians and conversations about LGBT and sexual issues

[Used2beSherryG]

Case in point: if you were a doctor and told my child this, I would be speaking with an attorney that specializes in medical lawsuits. You’re confusing your religious beliefs with science, and that’s dangerous, irresponsible, and if passed on to patients as fact, outright dishonest.

Since when has science proven that masturbation is good for you??? I doubt that this could be a successful lawsuit. Litigation is hardly the answer to this scenario.

 

[at9009]

Why would the subject come up?

BTW - I think “normal and healthy” translates to “is pretty common, and won’t generally cause you medical harm”.

But why would it come up with a doctor?

Well, the doctor is probably going to ask the teen if they are sexually active (and should ask in all honesty). Then ask other questions to screen for any possible problems (i.e. with whom, was protection used, any issues down there… etc) and that topic of masturbation may come up. Ideally the physician shouldn’t assume anything so more information than necessarily may come up. Then the physician can determine what is medical relevant or not.

 

[Rau]

I don’t quite understand that the worry is about the Guardasil vaccination (except possibly the fact that the discussion was without the parent).

Where there is firm commitment to no sex outside of one’s future marriage, the argument in favour of the vaccination - for a teenager - is lessened.

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Since when has science proven that masturbation is good for you??? I doubt that this could be a successful lawsuit. Litigation is hardly the answer to this scenario.

Read what I responded to. She wants to tell teens that masturbation can seriously impact their development and spread STDs. Both of those are false. Telling a patient, minor or adult, medical lies to manipulate them into following your religious beliefs is unethical and illegal.

And yes, the medical community has long agreed that masturbation in normal and healthy mentally and physically. If you disagree on moral grounds, that’s on you to impart on your child. See the chicken example.

 

[Rau]

…masturbation is normal and healthy mentally and physically.

What exactly do you understand those words to mean? I gave my interpretation earlier.

 

[heidi_storage]

Where there is firm commitment to no sex outside of one’s future marriage, the argument in favour of the vaccination - for a teenager - is lessened.

Fine, but make sure that your child marries a virgin only, or he/she could get it from his/her spouse. (It isn’t just women and cervical cancer; HPV can cause anal, penile, and mouth throat cancers, according to the CDC.) Also, that child is going to want to avoid being raped, lest the rapist pass on an infection.

Is there any kid–any at all–who says, “Excellent! I’ve been vaccinated against HPV, now I can go out and have mad amounts of sex”? They’ve still got to worry about STDs and pregnancies, and if they’re too feckless to consider those things then the presence or absence of an HPV shot is unlikely to make a behavioral difference.

 

[Rau]

Fine, but make sure that your child marries a virgin only, or he/she could get it from his/her spouse.

The vaccination can be considered at a later date, eg. in 5-10 years when marriage is ahead.

 

[at9009]

Where there is firm commitment to no sex outside of one’s future marriage, the argument in favour of the vaccination - for a teenager - is lessened.

There is the issue that a majority of cases of cervical cancer, urogenital cancers, and other cases are caused by this virus. The vaccine is given at a age and it is prophylatic meaning it will prevent infection. Typically given to girls and boys age around 11 which long before there is any expectation of sexual activity (the major way the virus is spread).

The vaccine isn’t going to encourage a person to have more or less sex. It is just going to make the risk of getting cervical cancer substantially less for women and lower risks for other cancers for both men and women as the HPV prevalence rate is rather high and many people are asymptomatic with the virus persisting for long periods of time.

The vaccine recommendation is not lessened if the teenager promises to have no sex outside of marriage. One, people can make mistakes and end up sinning and having premarital sex. Condoms (which in of itself is also sinful) but doesn’t protect well against HPV. There is no guarantee that the person’s future spouse did not have a sinful mistakes in their past which means they are carrying the virus. So, the advantages of protection (including herd immunity for the population at large) is a good (research has shown a dramatic reduction in certain manifestations of HPV in areas where vaccines have been introduced with no correlated increase in sexual activity; we cannot see the effect on prevalence of cervical cancer as that takes decades to develop). So, I do not understand or accept your premise that the vaccine is less needed nor does getting the vaccine indicate a desired for increase sexual activity or any particular moral connotation.

 

[Rau]

The vaccine recommendation is not lessened if the teenager promises to have no sex outside of marriage.

Not sure why the impassioned responses here. I was merely explaining to another poster why there might be some reticence to receive this vaccination for a young teenager. I only “know” this explanation because a mother of teenage girls told me her thoughts.

 

[at9009]

Not sure why the impassioned responses here. I was merely explaining to another poster why there might be some reticence to receive this vaccination for a young teenager. I only “know” this explanation because a mother of teenage girls told me her thoughts.

I didn’t mean for it to come of as impassioned. This is why communicating on internet boards is difficult (I’m not particularly riled up or anything). Rather just trying to explain the thought process and reasoning about why the vaccine is given and the widely research proven benefits. I do know that many parents don’t have a proper understanding of the vaccine and there is a lot of misinformation out and about (and poor job by physicians and health care professionals at explaining the benefits, reasoning, etc of the vaccines).

 

[ToeInTheWater]

I didn’t mean for it to come of as impassioned. This is why communicating on internet boards is difficult (I’m not particularly riled up or anything). Rather just trying to explain the thought process and reasoning about why the vaccine is given and the widely research proven benefits. I do know that many parents don’t have a proper understanding of the vaccine and there is a lot of misinformation out and about (and poor job by physicians and health care professionals at explaining the benefits, reasoning, etc of the vaccines).

I do think there is room for discussion and negotiation when it comes to the HPV vaccine and vaccines in general - I don’t personally agree with the anti-vax movement in general and I do think that in general, the HPV vaccine is NOT going to make most kids think “now I have a green light for sex”.

However, there probably are individual cases where parental concerns may indeed be justified. Even if they’re not, a top-down, “I’m the doctor and I know best so do what I say” attitude, to me is not a professional one.

(For examples, see the Dr. Amy Skeptical OB blog. I actually agree with much of her scientific medical arguments, but much of her disdain for home birthers and lactivists is also ideologically based, she sees them as anti-feminist, and she can get quite shrill at times. I really doubt this approach has won over too many people.)

 

[mommy_k]

I don’t know where these pediatricians are but in my experience with all of my children, none of these issues ever came up or do now… Up to the age of 18 for our older kids, I was in the room with all of them. Then they go to an adult doctor.

If a vaccine was given , I highly doubt my kids even knew what they were getting, let alone what it was for. They just updated shots…the doctor asked me about whether or not we wanted an extra shot, such as flu and the above without detail.

We talked about age appropriate safety things, such as driving etc, and allergies and affects of medication while doing so, and just common health things…

However, we do have a Catholic pediatrician, but even the other doctors we see there do not discuss morality and sex practices. That’s really not thier job, unless a parent asks.

 

[AClaire11]

I didn’t get the HPV vaccine because it was new and I had heard of safety concerns at the time, but I’d have no problem with my child getting it.

My main concern was the LGBT stuff. Why put these sorts of things in a child’s mind? It’s unnecessary.

 

[Memaw]

I’ve treated a lot of people for sexually transmitted diseases. A lot. Not one of them got it from masturbation.

That aside, you are confusing medical fact and religious absolutes. It is not the role of the physician to discuss the latter.

I don’t believe I ever said masturbation caused STD. I said lack of respect for the body did. Religious morals come first!! What was it Jesus said about leading one of His little ones astray??? God Bless, Memaw

 

[casslean]

I don’t believe I ever said masturbation caused STD. I said lack of respect for the body did. Religious morals come first!! What was it Jesus said about leading one of His little ones astray??? God Bless, Memaw

Again, this is not a doctor’s role. Their role is to give medical advice, and the medical profession has determined there is no physical harm associated with masturbation. As a result, to give information to the contrary would be evidence of negligence and incompetence.

That being said, where doctors are aware that moral issues could arise, they should treat it with the appropriate cultural sensitivity.

 

[AClaire11]

Another article I read (I haven’t been able to find it again) implied that peds were bringing up the topic of masturbation during the appointment without the kid asking at all. I’d have no problem with them assuring kids that they won’t grow hair in odd places or go blind because of it and then encouraging them to go to their parents when it comes to the moral aspect of it. I just don’t see why they’d bring it up without being asked about it. But it seems, based on responses here, that that doesn’t happen much, anyway.

 

[Rosebud77]

I might be wrong, but I think one can get cervical cancer even without having HPV (and there are a lot of strains can be transmitted in several ways - it’s also the virus that causes regular old warts). Some people get lung cancer without being smokers, either.

Yes, We are having ructions here in Ireland re the vaccine which is being given to almost all teenagers and having some devastating long term side effects. That aspect has come up.

 

[Rosebud77]

You could be right. I asked him how one gets it and his response was it is “from your partner.” ** I think if it’s in the cervix it is sexually transmitted.
**
Our neighbor just died of lung cancer last Wednesday. He never smoked - he was Mormon. However, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer and we live in an area with high levels radon. I don’t know if that’s what caused it but I guess it’s possible.

Anally also.

 

[Rosebud77]

at9009;14128771**:

I don’t quite understand that the worry is about the Guardasil vaccination (except possibly the fact that th

e discussion was without the parent). If you don’t mind me asking, how old were your children at this time? I do think the discussion about this vaccine should have included you as the parent and care giver.

Pediatricians ask the kids a lot of questions with the parents not around to assess for lots of various risk factors such as abuse, sexual trauma, sexual activity, substance abuse, overall emotional health that the kids may not answer accurately with a parent around (i.e. 16 yr denies having tried marijuana near parent but may admit it to doctor one on one).

Please read this news item

breakingnews.ie/ireland/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-hpv-vaccine-750576.html

 

[Rosebud77]

Since when has science proven that masturbation is good for you??? I doubt that this could be a successful lawsuit. Litigation is hardly the answer to this scenario.

Apparently releases pheromones…