Send an anonymous question!

This is a really, really important question—and there’s no one answer. Each of us has a different sexuality, and we lead different lives.  At the end of the day, it’s your body—and you have the right to make decisions that work for you.

Making decisions is always tricky—whether we’re picking a college, quitting a sport, experimenting with substances, or deciding on a career path. At heart, making good decisions is about knowing what will enhance your well-being.  What is important to you? What makes you happy? What support do you have? What information do you need? What risks are you willing to take?  What experiences tend to impact you negatively? These questions can help guide you in decisions of all kinds, but they’re especially important in sexuality.

From watching people around you, you probably know that what’s good for one person isn’t necessarily what’s best for another. Sex is a lot like food: someone else may be able to give you helpful information or share an experience, but in the end, it’s up to you to choose the right kind and amount for your body.

What does this all mean? Simply put, some people find that sex outside love contributes to their well-being. Other people don’t.

There are many places we can turn for guidelines. Some people practice a religion that tells them when it’s okay to have sex. Other people may have ongoing discussions with their parents (or other trusted adults) to explore their readiness for different types of sexual activity.  If you’re not sure who to talk to, consider making an appointment at Teen Clinic. Our practitioners can help you explore what you’re okay with and what you’re not.

At Teen Clinic, we think the most important thing is consent. If you’re thinking about being sexually active, make sure you feel safe and healthy in the relationship. Know that you have the right to change your mind at any moment. And if you’re sexually active, be sure to prevent unplanned pregnancy and STIs by using condoms and choosing a reliable birth control method.  These are an important part of well-being, too.

Great question! Yeast infections actually aren’t related to birth control pills at all.  Yeast is a natural part of the vaginal flora, existing in balance with different types of bacteria. Sometimes yeast can overgrow—this is what we call a yeast infection. Yeast overgrowth can occur for many reasons, including illness, recent antibiotic use, poor vaginal hygiene, and eating too much sugar. Symptoms of a yeast infection can include itching, burning, bleeding after intercourse, and an increase in white, clumpy discharge.

If you are having repeat yeast infections, it’s a good idea to see a medical provider.  The nurse can help troubleshoot the reoccurring infection. She can also make sure you don’t actually have a different (but similar) infection, like bacterial vaginitis or an STI.  Thanks for being so aware of your body!

It’s hard to say exactly how a medication will work in any one particular body. For many people, taking Acyclovir or other suppressive therapy daily does prevent herpes outbreaks. However, it will ultimately depend upon the strength of your immune system versus the strength of the virus.  You can help keep your immune system strong by getting enough sleep, eating nutritional food, feeling emotionally supported, and exercising regularly. As always, chat with a nurse at Teen Clinic if you have questions about how herpes works. Best of luck!

… I was wondering if this means that all types of hormonal birth control would have the same effect for me.

Great question! Actually, hair loss is not medically related to birth control pills at all!  According to the Mayo Clinic, hair loss can occur for many reasons, including: skin disorders, hormonal imbalance, physical or emotional stress, thyroid problems, tightly-pulled hairstyles, and alopecia. It’s a good idea to see your regular doctor for an evaluation. In the meantime, be sure to keep using a reliable birth control method if you’re sexually active!  Visit Teen Clinic if you’re interested in talking to someone about different birth control options.

Great news!  A herpes outbreak will only occur in the specific area it was transmitted to. If you have oral herpes, it will not randomly appear on your genitals, and vice versa. However, be careful not to touch your genitals directly after you have touched a cold sore on your mouth; it is possible to accidentally transmit the virus in this way (although it is rare). And remember—you are still at risk for genital herpes from a partner’s mouth or genitals. Continue to use condoms 100% and discuss STI prevention openly with your partner.

Thanks for asking this great question!

…Almost every time he ejaculates inside of me, sometimes twice. Could I get pregnant from this? Does this increase my chances of getting pregnant?

First of all, good work—it’s great that you’ve chosen a birth control method and are sticking with it! Depo is more than 99% effective when you receive your shot on time.

It’s good to realize that no hormonal birth control is 100% effective.  Even the most effective methods on the market—like IUDs and Implanon—prevent pregnancy only 99.9% of the time.  In very rare cases, someone becomes pregnant even though they are using a method correctly. Teen Clinic recommends using condoms 100% as a backup and to prevent STI transmission.

So the answer is yes—allowing a partner to ejaculate inside you does increase the risk of pregnancy (although the risk will be low if you’ve received your Depo shot on time). But more importantly, allowing a partner to ejaculate inside you increases your risk for STIs! Talk to your partner about their past sexual history and whether or not they’ve gotten tested, and consider going to get tested together. (It’s free at Teen Clinic!)  Remember, it’s your health! Even though we all want to trust our partners, using condoms is a great way to keep the risks of sexual activity as low as possible.

If you have more questions, consider talking to your practitioner at your next Depo appointment. Our nurses are non-judmental and here to support you! And thanks for asking this important question!

Never fear—Women’s Health is here! The organization that runs Teen Clinic is called the Boulder Valley Women’s Health Center, and we offer services to all people regardless of their age, race, language, ethnicity, sexual orientation, sex or gender. Birth control and STI-related services are available on a sliding scale at both our Boulder and Longmont locations. How much you pay depends on how much you make.  At our lowest-income level, many of our services are free of charge.

Call 303-442-5160 to make an appointment during adult hours.  On the phone, they’ll be able to give you an estimation of the cost. We do accept most insurances. You’ll still be able to walk in for birth control pick ups, but remember—you can no longer visit the clinic during teen hours, even for pick-ups. 

Thanks for continuing to take care of your health, and call us with any questions!

Great question!  Any brand of emergency contraception contains a high level of progesterone—the equivalent of about six birth control pills.  This spike of progesterone in the body can prevent ovulation, or keep the egg from being released from the ovary.  That’s why it’s important to take Plan B as soon as possible after unprotected sex; pregnancy isn’t possible if ovulation is prevented.

Plan B is not an abortion. It prevents pregnancy—it doesn’t end a pregnancy. If a pregnancy has already occurred, Plan B will not harm the pregnancy (or your body) in any way. Plan B can be taken up to five days after unprotected sex, but it is more effective in the first 48 hours.  Walk in to Teen Clinic any time we’re open if you need Plan B; we offer it free of charge to anyone under 20.

Unfortunately, yes!  This Teen Clinic is part of Boulder Valley Women’s Health Center, a small, local organization with locations in Boulder, CO and Longmont, CO.   We’re not connected to Teen Clinics in any other areas.  However, we are working on a project to create a list of Teen Clinics across the country. We hope in the future we’ll be able to connect you with a similar organization in your area.  If you can’t find a clinic just for teens, look for a Title X clinic. These clinics are federally-funded and can often offer cheap or free services, even to patients under 18.

Check back for a listing of Teen Clinics by the end of spring—and good luck!

…and I can’t have my mom or dad or anybody drive me because I don’t want them knowing. What do I do?

Thanks for asking! First, there is no age limit for purchasing a pregnancy test. If there is a pharmacy or grocery store within walking distance, you can buy a pregnancy test over the counter without any trouble.  Pregnancy tests are available at most Dollar Stores for just $1!  Otherwise, most cost $10-$20.  Some teens are most comfortable visiting a store with self-checkout; this is something you might consider.

Teen Clinic is also easily accessible by bus!  Check out this page to see which you’d need to hop on.

Last, consider talking to another trusted adult in your life. Do you have a mentor, sibling, teacher, or friend of the family you can turn to?  It’s important to feel supported as you make these big choices, and another adult may be able to help you get to Teen Clinic. If your pregnancy test is negative and you still plan on being sexually active, it’s a good idea to start a birth control method—so visiting Teen Clinic may be your best option. (At TC, pregnancy tests are free of charge and available on a walk-in basis.)

It’s smart that you’re figuring out your options—it’s important to know for sure whether or not you’re pregnant! Give us a call if we can help in any way.