by Laura K. Grubb, M.D., M.P.H., FAAP
A 16-year-old male presents to your practice to establish care. During the social history, he tells you he is bisexual and has sex with males and females. What do you do with this revealing and challenging information?
A revised AAP clinical report can guide you in addressing male adolescent sexual health, including taking a sexual history and offering anticipatory guidance.
The report, Emerging Issues in Male Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Carefrom the AAP Committee on Adolescence, is available at https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2020/04/23/peds.2020-0627 and is published in the May issue of Pediatrics.
The report aims to inform and empower pediatricians to feel comfortable asking about and providing guidance for sensitive issues, which can enhance the provider-patient relationship and improve overall care for adolescent males.
Several transitions occur for adolescent boys, including the physical, psychological and social changes associated with puberty. Pediatricians and other physicians who care for male adolescents have unique opportunities to incorporate anticipatory guidance around issues such as puberty and sexuality not only at health maintenance visits but also at sick and/or injury visits.
Although pediatricians have long been advocates of providing appropriate sexual and reproductive health services to female teen patients, the needs of many male teens are not addressed in the primary care setting. The 2011 report (https://bit.ly/39ix9hZ) aimed to correct this imbalance and since its publication, resources and delivery of male adolescent sexual and reproductive health care have improved significantly (see resources). Read more via AAP
Abstract: Pediatricians are encouraged to address male adolescent sexual and reproductive health on a regular basis, including taking a sexual history, discussing healthy sexuality, performing an appropriate physical examination, providing patient-centered and age-appropriate anticipatory guidance, and administering appropriate vaccinations. These services can be provided to male adolescent patients in a confidential and culturally appropriate manner, can promote healthy sexual relationships and responsibility, can and involve parents in age-appropriate discussions about sexual health.