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Septate hymen
So I am 16 and have recently discovered that I have a septate hymen. I've read about many options on how to get rid of it, but I don't know which is the best option. I don't want to tell my mom about it, but I want to go to my gyno. Can I still see my gyno without my mom finding out?
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You really don't have anything to be embarrassed about. Your mother has changed your diapers and bathed you so in all likelihood she is aware of you having a septate hymen. However, she may not have been aware of the way to correct it.
I would talk to her about it and explain that it's difficult with menstruation and having what appears to be two vaginal openings. Let her know that a doctor can fix it and that you feel self-conscious and want to at least discuss medical options.
However, as the columnist below me mentioned at 14 you can see any doctor below in the U.S. to my understanding and ask them about this and get treatment. That said, it's a whole lot easier to deal with this kind of thing with a parent, guardian or adult you trust ie: older sibling, aunt, grandma who knows what this is like and feeling embarrassed.
Nobody you don't want to tell will ever know. Unless you are dying, delusional or of harm to self/others all is confidential between you and the doctor.
I would make the appointment with the gyno and either go with someone you trust to be in room to discuss or with mom knowing. She has the same anatomy as you do and believe me would understand what you are feeling and not judge. You would have an ally in her.
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As adviceman said, this is a biological issue and is not caused by using tampons or sex toys or having sex. You were born this way and it is an easy fix from what I've heard. I wouldn't know about lots of methods as the issue is a strip of tough skin going down the center of the vaginal opening causing it to become two much smaller ones.
And the only thing I've heard is that it entails a day visit to dr. who would numb the area and snip the strip of skin away. In reports I've read, girls say it wasn't uncomfortable and they didn't felt any pain after. It is often discovered because there is a painful difficulty getting a tampon in and back out. So it is nothing to feel embarasssed by and talking over with mom. But you can have the privacy by law if you wish to go that way.
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Short answer is Yes.
Since you are over the age of 14 you come under the protection of a law called HIPPA. This is a bill covering Health Insurance privacy protection, passed by Congress, within it Congress put a section covering teenagers 14 and older and covering their reproductive systems.
In short what it says is that any question, concern or need for a doctor's care concerning their reproductive system; anyone 14 years or older may seek a doctor's care or assistance without parental permission. That person may make an appointment with, see the doctor and be treated all without parental permission. Parents may not be told what treat was sought or what treatment rendered without written authorization from the patient.
This also means a parent cannot force a medical exam on a child 14 years of age of their reproductive system. A parent must remain in the waiting room during any consensual exam of the reproductive system if the patient requests and once again the doctor may not tell a parent what was found during the exam. This clause covers both male and females 14 and over.
While your concern is not something you really need to hide from you mom as it is not sexual in nature and is more biological. If you are more comfortable discussing this with your GYN then by all means make an appointment. You mom will never know unless you tell her.
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