GP raised safeguarding concerns over daughter’s periods, itching and distress at appointment

[MyDearLeader]

DD age 10 under assessment for potential adhd (emotional dysregulation, sensory issues, sleep issues) has been showing signs of puberty for a few years (breast puds, hair etc) she is tall for her age. Anyway.. she started on what I believed to be her period on the 4th of July... we had been preparing for it but she is extremely private e.g when we went shopping for her first bra was extremely embarrassed and upset.. when she asked me to shave her armpits then got upset when I said she couldn't do it herself as needs supervision. She has big meltdowns shouting no no no over and over, i still sleep in her bed as she cannot sleep. Anyway the bleeding was very light lasted only a few days then went, it returned on the 19th unexpectedly.. 4 days very light. Anyway on the 1st it started again but this time heavier and bright red, she has also had intermittent itching on and off relieved by sudocrem. Due to all this I booked a gp appointment 1. To be sure this is actually start of period and not something else.

1. To investigate the itching and see if this was related to the bleeding.

My daughter initially refused to go crying hysterically (she wont even let me tell any family what is happening including her dad) I got her there i asked her should I speak or her she said me.

We saw a female dr, I explained everything she kept asking my daughter questions to which she kept hysterically crying shouting no no no.. the dr told me she was concerned at her distressed reaction I explained her history (which is all documented on her record including a diagnosis of anxiety disorder and camhs involvement) she said she was worried it was a trauma response? I informed her periods have been very much normalised in my house I have endometriosis and that she has emotional regulation problems never mind now with new hormones and she feels embarrassed.. she asked me to step out to talk to her alone, my daughter refused did not want to.. she wanted to swab her vagina.. my daughter went into meltdown screaming no no no, the dr said this was a concern?

She agreed it is likely period and the light bleeding were "test runs" gave me a swab to try at home but blindsided me by saying she has safeguarding concerns!!? I was absolutely blown away, I asked why she said the abnormal bleeding and itching.. said if her swab comes back as having thrush she will be formally reporting it? I said due to sensory issues she vigorously Wipes on repeat and I suffer with thrush frequently could she catch it from me? She said no.

Honestly i feel sick to my stomach. My daughter refused the swab by me and has let me supervise her doing it (very traumatic for her)

I just cannot believe it, i am an nhs professional and feel sick that I might need to report this to my line manager that I am being investigated.. my husband is distraught. I was just trying to ensure my daughter is definitely starting periods as mine did not do this and investigate the itching, she doesnt stay out and I sleep with her every night...

I understand processes need to be followed i am just so upset😥

I know it’s upsetting but it’s actually reassuring that GPs are now more aware of abuse.
I knew someone who was abused as a child. They were taken to the GP at age five for constant UTIs, bleeding and pain. GP did nothing. This was thirty odd years ago.

Id rather a GP refer than not, even if they overreact

I don’t understand why it will be a safeguarding referral if it turns out she has thrush. Can someone explain that?

I was going to mention this. I've always used pads, but I have to be careful because so many have perfumed bullshit in them which makes me itch like crazy.

I now make sure I get Always Sensitive as they're fragrance free, although I have no idea why someone thought that giving pads a chemical floral smell was a good idea. It's so unnecessary.

In regards to the OP's question though, it's good that they're looking into it. I'd rather health practitioners and teachers erred on the side of caution than overlooked genuine abuse.

As upsetting as this is OP, I agree with the above- there are red flags here that the GP has a duty to voice concerns about and report.

FWIW I know that the idea of social services involvement is scary and upsetting but their presence doesn’t have to be. I had social workers after moving into a refuge with my kids due to DV. They actually helped us a lot, including advocating for keeping my ND children in their then current schools instead of moving them.

Maybe the 10 year old doesn’t want to be the only one in her class with armpit hair? Surely it’s not such a reach to understand why she might want it removed? This thread is baffling in parts

Oh for goodness sake

It will be fine. The GP doesn't know you and doesn't know your child. Try to find a regular GP you can build a relationship with. Very unlikely to be investigated given the circumstances. The GP was reacting to your daughter's distress and being cautious. If child services do get involved (very unlikely) but if they do get immediate legal advice.

Even a ND girl with sensory issues can be abused. Of course doctors should follow up if they have a concern. The Dr in Op's situation could also have picked up on other issues, which together formed her concerns. Let them do their job.

Are you going to educate yourself on the needs of ND children ? Do you know the first thing about neurodiversity and associated sleep problems ? If not, commenting is only highlighting your own ignorance.

I do have to say I wouldn't have taken my 10 year old to the GP for some on and off bleeding as what are they going to do about it? Just wait and see a few months where it's going it's most likely hormonal. GPs don't know much about Gynaecology and would have to refer for full investigations if there were health concerns.

I just cannot believe it, i am an nhs professional and feel sick that I might need to report this to my line manager that I am being investigated.. my husband is distraught. I was just trying to ensure my daughter is definitely starting periods as mine did not do this and investigate the itching, she doesnt stay out and I sleep with her every night...

While you re not screaming no no no, you response is extreme. Do you also have autism?

You need to learn to advocate for your child and support your dd to overcome her reluctance to accept help and support otherwise it can impact her health and well-being in the longer run.

Autism can be so hard sympathies.

Surely thrush isnt related to sexual activity? That
Doesnt make sense

I don't really see why she would want it removed- or why she would be so distressed when it is removed, if that was her wish.

I’ve suffered from thrush since I was around 9. I didn’t have sex until I was 19.
Sanitary towels give me intense vulval itching, even the non scented ones.

If you read the op properly you will see did asked for it to be removed but was upset when the op said the dd couldn’t to it herself.
and to not understand why a 10 year old girl wouldn’t want armpit hair?? I despair

Abdolutely. We agree.

We have a gp on this thread who has let it be known she is a gp. So I was wondering about her thought process. I thought she may answer as she is keen to use her expertise to explain how a gp approaches this kind of appointment. Would abuse be her only go-to answer? Would she have considered worms? Or scented pads as a potential cause of the itchiness. Its a valid question. Lots of non medical people have suggested these as options. Would a gp consider these things? And would a gp expect to speak to a child on their own? I know lots of professions who wouldn't be in a room alone with a minor. Is it different for a gp? Genuinely curious.

if you are too young to get rid of it yourself maybe it's not a good idea- you are not the only one to despair at the narrowness of thinking- what a 10 year old wants this moment is not the only is not thde only consideration when considering action.

I don't know why you took her to the doctors to check if her period was her period and for a slight itch. Imagine if every parent of a girl did that.

Oh for goodness sake, you would really tell an ND 10 year old child that she has to have armpit hair even though she doesn’t want it, because she’s too young to get rid of it herself? And when they’re changing for pe at school or she goes swimming, she has to deal with that? I really hope you don’t have a child in this situation

I am not ND as far as I know, never SA, started my periods at 10 and would have been terrifyingly embarassed and would have screamed hysterically at an intimate examination (or better I wouldn't have, but only because my mum would have beaten me afterwards).

GPs need better training.

These are red flags for a pre-pubertal child - not for a child who has likely started their periods. If she was 5 this would be a concern, but for a tall ten year old with clear signs of puberty, not so much

DD is ten. Thrush would be very unusual in a girl of this age, having not yet reached puberty, due to the lack of oestrogen and other factors needed for the overgrowth of candida. Its symptoms can closely mimic or mask signs of CSA, physical abuse, or severe neglect and a GP would consider its presence a clinical red flag. HCP’s are required to follow strict GMC/NICE safeguarding guidelines where the presence of thrush is confirmed - hence the need for a swab. DD’s behaviour with the GP would also be a potential red flag - extreme distress, fear of examination - and the GP will be trained to look beyond the physical complaint.

There are other reasons thrush may be diagnosed, such as antibiotic use, immune issues , or the fact that she has started her periods as confirming this was the reason for the GP visit. It’s understandably distressing for OP, but if the GP didn’t raise these concerns they wouldn’t be doing their job, and it doesn’t automatically mean there has been CSA.

It would still be a red flag at the age of ten if DD is pre pubertal - from what OP has posted it’s not clear that DD has actually started her periods, and her distress and fear of examination would also be a clear red flag for further investigation, despite ND. GP would be failing in their duty if they didn’t initiate safeguarding as the guidelines are clear.

GP’s are following strict guidelines laid down by the GMC and NICE for the safeguarding of children. Many children will have a similar reaction to your own to being examined, simply because they are embarrassed or scared. But for others, coupled with physical signs, those reactions can be a red flag for abuse. What do you suggest ? That GP’s just ignore their training and allow vulnerable children to fall through the safety net ?

It’s also been explained on the thread that there are strict safeguarding guidelines laid down by GMC and NICE and if the GP identifies red flags for those they really don’t have a choice other than following those guidelines. DD has a number of red flags - she has irritation and itching, it’s not clear whether the bleeding is down to periods or other factors, and she is distressed at the thought of being examined.

I echo PPs in trying different sanitary pads to see if that is the cause of the itching.

I had a really bad case of irritation and itching and it turned out to be because I had changed from Always to Boots own brand.