If your child needs to see a pediatric gynecologist, you probably have lots of questions. The experts in the Boston Children’s Hospital Division of Gynecology specialize in gynecologic care for newborns to young adults. We pride ourselves in providing the answers you seek in simple language that children, teens, and parents can understand — from addressing common concerns such as missed periods, heavy bleeding, pelvic pain, and endometriosis, to managing more complex conditions like congenital anomalies of the reproductive tract.
Our team are world leaders in the care of teens with endometriosis, Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome, complex anomalies of the reproductive tract, and transcare. We also work closely with the Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center’s Fertility Preservation Program to give young girls with cancer a chance to have their own families in the future.
All of our services are available in our main Boston location and new Brookline location, as well as in our sites in Lexington, Weymouth, Peabody, and North Dartmouth.
Why choose the Division of Gynecology?
The Division of Gynecology is one of the premier pediatric and adolescent gynecology centers in the world, drawing patients locally, nationally, and internationally. Our program is one of the busiest and longest standing in the nation. We deliver world-class care with a compassionate approach to ensure that every child or young adult will feel at ease throughout their journey.
Our clinicians recognize that children and adolescents are still growing and developing. This means they have different emotional and physical needs than that of adults. We are trained in meeting those needs by using the tools and diagnostic procedures best suited to your child’s age and comfort level. As a parent, this provides you with peace of mind that your child is in the best hands.
Delivering specialty care
We offer our compassionate care geared to each patient’s diagnosis so they can access the best treatment for their specific symptoms and needs.
Specialty areas include:
- congenital anomalies
- MRKH
- endometriosis
- vulvar and vaginal health
- transgender reproductive health
- fertility preservation
- menstrual irregularities
- Pap smear evaluation
Marc R. Laufer, MD, the chief of gynecology, is the founder and director of the Boston Center for Endometriosis, the largest endometriosis program in the nation, and co-director of the Center for Young Women’s Health, which helps young teens and their parents learn more about sexual and reproductive health and get timely access to resources and support. The website draws over 3 million visitors per year.
We are known nationally as a leader in treating MRKH syndrome. We provide a multispecialty team to provide sensitive and age-appropriate counseling and treatment options. Through the Center for Young Women’s Health, we facilitate monthly online chats on MRKH and we also run an annual conference for MRKH patients and families.
Our Transgender Reproductive Health Service provides inclusive reproductive health for people of all gender identities and anatomies. We recognize that transgender reproductive health spans beyond fertility, and it includes all aspects of gynecologic and sexual health and wellness.
Taking a team approach
Our experts, including physicians, nurse practitioners, social workers, and nurses, work across multiple disciplines, partnering with colleagues in a range of programs at Boston Children’s. Together, we provide the most comprehensive and coordinated strategies to treat the whole person and address their specific situation.
Our clinicians are also involved in a number of multi-specialty programs including: Colorectal and Pelvic Malformation Center, Center for Gender Surgery, BE-U clinic, and Boston Hemophilia Center/Young Women with Bleeding Clinic. Working across disciplines in this way, we are able to provide patient-centered care for every person we treat.
Training the next generation of providers
We are also training the next generation of health care providers. Our fellows and residents bring a high level of energy to our efforts and are helping to advance the field in exciting new directions.
Our research and innovation
Our experts are leading research efforts to advance our understanding of the causes of and treatment options for a variety of pediatric gynecology conditions. Current areas of study include fertility preservation, congenital anomalies of the reproductive tract, and endometriosis, among others.
Additional research includes:
- Women’s Health Study: This comprehensive effort explores health issues affecting women. It is also developing the Alice S. Marriott Biorepository, to store biological samples to use for research projects, and setting up a database to capture protected health information about participants.
- The Progression Study: This study is tracking 100 females scheduled for endometriosis surgery to better understand their condition.
Be ready for your visit
We ask for any adult attending a visit at Boston Children’s please have a photo ID on them. Adults may be asked to show photo ID prior to entering the hospital.
