The primary care pediatric nurse practitioner is counseling the parents of a 13-year-old female who has Down syndrome about sexual maturation. What will the nurse practitioner tell these parents?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The nurse practitioner should emphasize the importance of discussing and supporting healthy sexuality for young individuals with Down syndrome. It may be important to use appropriate materials and strategies to ensure that the information is provided in a way that is understandable to the child. Additionally, discussing puberty and menstruation with a female patient and her parents is important to prepare for the physiological changes that will occur. Suppressing periods with contraceptives is not recommended unless there is a specific medical reason to do so, and focusing solely on periods and not sexuality may deprive the child of important information and support.

The Primary Care Pediatric Nurse Practitioner Is Counseling the Parents