What Every Teen Should Know About Going to the Doctor
- Brycen W
- Jun 30
- 5 min read
Updated: Oct 5
Hi and welcome to The HEAL Blog!
Going to the doctor as a teen can feel awkward and anxiety-inducing. Whether it's a normal checkup or for something more specific it’s normal to feel scared to open up to your doctor. This is especially true for more sensitive topics such as puberty, mental health, and relationships. It's hard to talk about such personal things with someone you don’t know very well.
However, your health matters and it’s essential that you open up to your doctor so you can receive the best care possible. This blog post is going to give you some tips to feel more confident at the doctor, go over your rights as a teen, go over what to expect at a usual checkup, go over how you when you should ask for time alone with your doctor, and go over some questions you shouldn’t feel awkward to ask.
Five Tips For Feeling More Confident At The Doctor.
Write it down beforehand.
If there's anything specific you want to bring up that’s bothering you - physically or mentally - write it down before your appointment. Put down your symptoms and questions.
Don’t worry about how you say things.
You don’t have to sound like a medical textbook. Just try to explain your symptoms and experiences the best you can. Doctors are used to talking to kids your age and younger and you don’t need to sound perfect to communicate properly with them.
Ask for privacy
If at any point in your visit, your doctor asks you a question you don’t feel comfortable answering in front of your parents, ask them to leave the room. It’s incredibly important that you answer your doctor's questions honestly and if you need your parents to leave so you can do that, that's completely ok.
Remind yourself: that this is normal.
No matter what issues you may be facing, doctors have heard and seen it all. Don’t feel weird or gross for asking about your health.
Be honest.
No matter what you're struggling with it's incredibly important to be honest with your doctor so they can properly understand what's going on. Lying or hiding things just makes it harder for you to get the help you need.
Your Rights As a Teen Patient
You can ask for time alone with your doctor.
You are allowed to ask your parents to step out of the room so that you can talk one-on-one with your doctor. Typically doctors will offer one-on-one time but if they don’t it's completely ok to ask for it.
You have the right to confidentiality.
Doctors are not allowed to share what you say in private, the only times they might bring something up to your guardians is if it involves self-harm, suicidal ideation, or abuse.
You are allowed to say no and ask questions.
If you’re uncomfortable with something - an examination, a question, or a test - you’re allowed to voice that. You can ask for more information on why it’s needed and if you don’t want to do it you don’t have to.
You can ask anything without being judged.
There’s no such thing as a “weird” question. Doctors are trained to be there to help and support you and there used to “odd” questions..
What To Expect At A Checkup.
Most teens get a physical once a year. The physical usually includes…
Basic checks: height, weight, and vitals.
Questions about your health and life: doctors will typically ask about things like sleep, stress, school, activity levels, and eating habits
Mental health check-in: many doctors ask about anxiety, depression, or stress.
A physical exam: doctors will typically listen to your heart and lungs, and check your ears, throat, abdomen, and joints. They also might perform a pelvic and breast exam if you were born female and a testicular exam if you were born male.
Private time: at this time doctors typically ask you personal questions—about your body, identity, sex, relationships, etc. This is a good time to speak freely and ask questions without a parent present.
When Should You Ask For Time Alone?
You should ask for time alone with your doctor whenever you feel it would be easier to answer a certain question without your parents in the room.
To ask for this you can say...
“Can I have a few minutes alone with the doctor?
“I have a private question and I’d like to ask it one-on-one”
“I feel more comfortable talking without a parent in the room.”
Doctors are used to this and won’t make it awkward or difficult.
Questions Every Teen Should Feel Comfortable Asking.
You should feel comfortable asking whatever is on your mind, don’t hold back because it's “awkward” or “too much information.”
Here are a few examples of some questions…
Any sort of general questions…
“Why am I tired all the time?”
“How much should I be sleeping?”
“How do I know if I’m done growing?”
Any questions about puberty or body changes…
“My voice is changing - is that normal?”
“I have breast/testicle pain - why is that?”
“I’m not developing as fast as my friends. Is that okay?”
Any sort of questions about mental health…
“I’ve been anxious and I don’t know why - am I ok?”
“I feel sad a lot - could it be depression?”
“Is there any way I can start talking to a therapist?”
Any sort of questions about sexual/gender identity…
“I’m questioning my gender. Who can I talk to?”
“I think I might be gay/bi - what should I know?”
“How do I figure out my sexuality?”
Any sort of questions about sex…
“How do I stay safe if I choose to be sexually active?”
“I want to get on birth control - can we talk about that?”
Any sort of questions about body image and eating...
“How much food should I be eating a day?”
“I’m worried about how I look all the time - is that normal?”
“How do I make sure I’m eating enough?”
If something matters to you it's worth bringing up.
Final Thoughts
Being a teen comes with a lot of changes and navigating them isn’t easy. But seeing a doctor shouldn’t be scary. It can be one of the best ways to understand what's happening with your body and to get the support you need. You deserve a doctor who listens, respects your privacy, and answers your questions without making you feel dumb or uncomfortable. If you don’t feel that way at your current doctor you’re allowed to ask for a change. Talk to your legal guardian about finding someone better.
Remember this is your body and your life.
Written and researched by Brycen W
2025 The HEAL Project
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