Growth and Development, Ages 15 to 18 Years

When to Call a Doctor

Call a doctor if your teen has health problems or issues that may need treatment, including:

• A significant delay in physical or sexual development—for example, if sexual development has not begun by age 15.
• Becoming sexually active. Teens who are sexually active need to be educated about birth control and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Also, girls will usually have a Pap test.
• Being overweight. A doctor can help guide weight loss and proper nutrition.
• Severe acne that may be helped by medicine. For more information, see the topic Acne Vulgaris.
• Problems with attention or learning.

Call a doctor or a mental health professional if your teen develops behavioral problems or signs of mental health problems. These may include:

• Expressing a lack of self-worth or talking about suicide.
• Acting physically aggressive.
• Regularly experiencing severe mood swings, such as being happy and excited one minute and sad and depressed the next.
• A significant change in appetite or weight. These may signal an eating disorder.
• Dropping out of school or failing classes.
• Having serious relationship problems with friends and family that affect home or school life.
• Showing a lack of interest in normal activities and withdrawing from other people.
• Seeking and having sex with multiple partners.

For more information, see the topics Depression in Children and Teens, Anorexia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, or Teen Alcohol and Drug Abuse.

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Author:	Debby Golonka, MPH	Last Updated: April 22, 2008
Medical Review:	Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Louis Pellegrino, MD - Developmental Pediatrics
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