Not your mom’s gynecologist: Mary Bridge Children’s opens new gynecology clinic

MultiCare Mary Bridge Children’s specializes in patient-first health care designed with kids and their unique needs in mind. This approach spans all services and clinics at Mary Bridge Children’s — including our new pediatric-adolescent gynecology clinic.

Not many girls* want to see their mom’s gynecologist. We don’t blame them. Just the thought of visiting a doctor who specializes in all things “down there” can be awkward enough for adolescents to never bring up gynecological concerns to their parents or other trusted adults.

Pediatric-adolescent gynecology isn’t only for prepubescent and pubescent girls — it’s also a necessary medical specialty for girls born with rare conditions and disorders that affect the female reproductive tract, which can be diagnosed and treated from infancy.

“Just because you have to see the gynecologist doesn’t mean you have a problem,” says Angie Hamouie, MD, pediatric-adolescent gynecologist at Mary Bridge Children’s. “I want my patients to feel welcomed and at ease from the moment I walk through the door. From the very beginning, I reassure them that I’m not their mother’s gynecologist, and that in our clinic, we focus only on pediatric and adolescent care.

“Our visits include minimal physical exams — only external for most pediatric and adolescent issues — and shouldn’t be awkward or uncomfortable,” she continues.

Destigmatizing issues “down there”

Dr. Hamouie prioritizes giving her patients the space to talk about things that might feel awkward.

“Sometimes I’ll joke before we start talking that I’m about to ask them a bunch of really nosy questions,” she says.

Dr. Hamouie adds that nothing she talks about with any patient ever leaves that room unless there’s a concern for that patient’s safety, and she often reminds patients that nothing they talk about is forbidden or taboo.

What can parents and caregivers do to help kids feel less anxious or embarrassed about seeing a gynecologist?

“One thing that can make going to the gynecologist less awkward is if patients know and use the correct anatomical names of our girl parts,” Dr. Hamouie says. “Another good thing to know is the difference between the labia majora and labia minora, or the outer and inner lips of the vulva. It’s also important to understand how many holes are down there — the urethra, vagina and anus.”

In addition to knowing and using correct terminology, Dr. Hamouie says that worrying about shaving or waxing, smells, or whether they’re on their period are things patients often get anxious about, but that gynecologists rarely notice.

“We’re focused on something much more important, which is your health,” she says.

Gynecologists help with more than periods

Whether patients have congenital issues, are concerned about rare conditions and disorders of the female reproductive tract, or experience problems with puberty, periods or pelvic pain, Dr. Hamouie provides compassionate care for all.

Every problem has an answer, she says. She encourages patients and their families to not stop advocating for themselves until they get the answers needed to feel better, physically and emotionally.

“Your doctor should be able to work with you to address your issues, even if it takes a few visits or trying different types of treatment,” Dr. Hamouie says. “I want all of my patients to feel empowered to tell me which options they’re comfortable with and which ones they aren’t.

“If we try a treatment and it’s not working, say something,” she continues. “I want to know so that I can do everything I can to find something that will help.”

At Mary Bridge Children’s pediatric-adolescent gynecology clinic, Dr. Hamouie sees patients from infancy through adolescence for all issues affecting the female reproductive tract, including preventive care and management of chronic conditions, as well as treatment and surgery for rare congenital conditions.

With Mary Bridge Children’s multidisciplinary approach to care, patients have seamless access to other related clinics and specialists, including endocrinology, urology and oncology.

Learn more about Dr. Hamouie and the Mary Bridge Children’s pediatric-adolescent gynecology clinic or ask your child’s primary care provider for a referral to the clinic.

*Children assigned female at birth and patients who identify as female