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© 2004, Parul Kotdawala, Vinita Salvi, Usha R Krishna

All rights reserved. No part of this publication should be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means: electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the editors and the publisher.

First Edition : 2004

Typeset at JPBMP typesetting unit

Printed at Gopsons Papers Ltd, A-14, Sector 60,

Adolescent girls form a substantial and vital component of our country’s population. The health issues of these young girls often pose a challenge to their caregivers. Over the years there has been an explosion of informa-tions and advances in the fields of obstetrics, gynecology, endocrinology and psychology pertaining to adolescence. “Adolescent Girl-An Update” was born out of the need to address the changing needs of these girls. Proper care and attention to their health needs will ensure the well-being of not just these girls but in the long-term also that of the nation.

The members of the Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecological Society of India constitute a vital component in the health care team that looks after adolescents. The contributors represent a spectrum of consultants from all four corners of our country. We hope that this book will serve as a handy reference manual to both clinicians and postgraduate students.

In the recent years the medical science has expanded in leaps and bounds.

For better management of the patients it is mandatory that the practicing physician should update themselves with the recent developments in their respective field of specialization. Keeping up with this spirit Dr Usha R Krishna, Dr Vinita Salvi and Dr Parul Kotdawala has edited the book “The Adolescent Girl—An Update”.

Different aspects of Adolescent problems has been covered by various authors. I am confident that the book will be a good reference for postgraduates and the practitioners. I congratulate the editors for sparing their valuable time to bring out such a beautiful book.

FOGSI celebrated the academic year 1998–1999 as ‘the year of the Adolescent Girl’. It was my great privilege to work in this year as Senior Vice-President to Dr Mehroo Hansotia, President, FOGSI. Dr Parul Kotdawala was already chairman of the ‘Adolescent Problems Committee’ at that time and he has been eminently successful in carrying on the activities related to the health of Adolescent Girls since that year.

All personnel involved in women’s health in India are now in agreement, that the only way to reduce the maternal mortality and morbidity in our country is, to pay heed to the health and educational aspects of girls in their adolescence. In this context also the present work will provide handy reference work for all of us. I would like to mention at this point that the first person to bring to our attention the academic aspects of Adolescent Management was Dr Usha R Krishna with her preliminary publication in 1991. With this landmark publication FOGSI has now come a full circle. Congratulations to all the authors and the editors, but full marks to the man behind this effort, Dr Parul Kotdawala for successfully completing her job as chairperson of the Adolescent Health Committee with this book.