Send an anonymous question!

The company who hosted our text line just went out of business—with very little notice! Don’t worry, we’ll have a new text line up and running soon.  In the meantime, keep using this Q&A to get your questions answered. You can also friend “SHAPE Ers” on Facebook and chat up one of our peer educators. They’ll keep your information totally confidential. And call Teen Clinic if anything serious is going on!  Thanks for checking in, and we hope to have concrete answers soon.

Update:  Our new text line is up and running! Text all your sexual health questions with “ToTC” to 66746. We’ll get back to you within 24 hours!

 … I’m scared. I don’t want to tell my parents I masturbate.

Herpes is a virus that transmits through skin-to-skin contact.  It does not transmit through semen, vaginal fluid, or blood—so no, it’s not possible to accidentally give yourself herpes by touching semen and then touching the mouth. In rare cases, it is possible to spread herpes by touching a genital sore and then quickly touching the mouth (or vice versa); however, herpes is fragile and this is unlikely.

It’s good to remember that in order to get herpes, you must come into contact with the mouth or genitals of someone who already has herpes.  For this reason, masturbating alone does not carry a risk of STIs. Although you may not feel comfortable with your parents knowing that you masturbate, rest assured that masturbation is a healthy and normal way to explore your sexuality, and will not damage the body in any way. Thanks for asking!

Great question! The answer is yes: after a male becomes aroused, a liquid called pre-ejaculate can seep out the tip of the penis. Although pre-ejaculate itself doesn’t contain sperm, it travels through the urethra in the process of leaving the body, and can pick up sperm left over from previous ejaculations.  That means pregnancy is possible even before ejaculation has occurred. Teen Clinic recommends wearing condoms 100%, for the duration of sexual activity, to best reduce the risk. Remember, your partner may not have complete control over when ejaculation occurs; it’s better to be safe if you’re not ready for pregnancy.

To learn more about pregnancy, using condoms, or other birth control methods, make an appointment at Teen Clinic. And thanks for asking!

Nope! In Colorado, minors have the right to access birth control and STI-related services without parental consent and notification. You can start a birth control method or get tested on your own at Teen Clinic even if you’re under 18. It’s actually illegal for us to share your information (even with your parents) unless you specifically tell us we can!

At Teen Clinic, we think it’s important to talk to your parents about sex—but we also understand how difficult these conversations can be. You might not be sure where to start, and your parents may feel uncomfortable with the topic. Teen Clinic is a safe place you can go to ask questions, learn about your body, and get advice. We can help you brainstorm how to talk to your parents, or just keep you safe and healthy until you’re ready.  Your parents are also welcome to give us a call if they have questions or need support.

Thanks for asking this important question! If you’re ready to come in, give us a call to make an appointment.

Great question! In Colorado, you need to be 17 to pick up emergency contraception without a prescription. It costs $30-$50 at pharmacies, and they will check your ID.  However, you can access Plan B under 17 if you have a prescription. If you don’t already see a doctor you trust, consider coming to Teen Clinic. We offer Plan B free of charge to anyone under 20, and our nurses can write prescriptions for patients under 20.  You can walk in any time we’re open. Give us a call if you have further questions, and thanks for asking.  It’s responsible to know your options for preventing unplanned pregnancy!

Hormonal birth control methods work by preventing ovulation—in other words, by keeping the ovaries from releasing an egg.  When someone starts a method for the first time, we don’t know for sure whether or not she has already ovulated, so we recommend she use back-up birth control for the first week.  If she has already ovulated and the egg is still in the uterine tubes, there could be a high risk of pregnancy from unprotected sex.

Unfortunately, that means you’re not protected immediately on the shot.  Take Plan B if the unprotected sex occurred less than five days ago to reduce your risk of pregnancy. If it’s too late for Plan B, consider taking a pregnancy test two weeks after the unprotected sex. Teen Clinic offers free pregnancy tests on a walk-in basis.

In the future, getting your shots on time will keep you 99% protected from pregnancy, even the first week after the shot. If you get a shot late, however, you’ll need backup birth control again.  Talk to your medical provider to make sure you understand your method—it’s an important part of being sexually active!

It’s really smart! Getting tested regularly is a great way to make sure you’re still healthy. Many STIs can be asymptomatic; it’s better to know for sure!  When you call Teen Clinic for an appointment, let them know you’d like an exam. While we can test for some STIs through a urine sample (chlamydia and gonorrhea) and some through a blood test (syphilis and HIV), others may require a sample from the vagina or penis, or a visual examination. (For a full break-down of what we can test for and what we can’t, check out this question.)

To make an appointment, give us a call the day before you’d like to come in.  We only test for HIV once a month at each location, so you might want to coordinate with these dates. (HIV testing is available on the 3rd Wednesday of the month in Longmont and the first Tuesday of the month in Boulder.)

Thanks for making a healthy choice!

Great question! There is a risk of pregnancy any time semen enters the vagina. Most hormonal birth control methods are known to be at least 99% effective with perfect use. However, this means there are rare cases—less than 1%—when a hormonal method fails to prevent pregnancy.

It’s also important to realize that many people don’t use their hormonal methods perfectly. They take their pills late or forget to change their NuvaRing on the right day. When this happens, hormonal methods become less effective. With typical use, they prevent pregnancy about 92% of the time.

The risk of pregnancy from sex without a condom depends on which method your girlfriend is using and how well she is using it. Teen Clinic recommends using condoms 100% as a backup and to reduce the risk of infection. However, it’s your health!  Talk your partner about what will work best for the two of you. Consider visiting Teen Clinic to chat with a nurse if you’re not sure how to weigh the risks. Being sexually active requires a lot of responsibility; thanks for asking this important question!

Yes! Teen Clinic has free condoms available in both its Boulder and Longmont waiting rooms. Feel free to stop by and grab a handful any time we’re open! We can also give you a bag if you’re feeling self-conscious about carrying them.

If you come during adult hours, you may have to ask for condoms, but we will still be able to offer them free of charge. Consider leaving a donation from time to time if you appreciate this service.

Using condoms can help reduce the risk of STI transmission and unintended pregnancy during sexual activity—thanks for being responsible!

Great question!  Here’s what you need to know about mandatory reporting laws in Colorado:

1. If a Teen Clinic patient is under 18, we are obligated by law to report instances of rape, abuse, neglect, molestation or other non-consensual sexual activity.

2. We are also required to report statutory rape.  In Colorado, it is considered statutory rape when:

• A person under 15 engages in sexual activity with a person 4 or more years older than them.
• A person 15 or 16 engages in sexual activity with a person 10 or more years older than them.
• A person of any age has sexual contact with a person in a position of direct authority (i.e. a teacher, coach, doctor, therapist, etc.).

If a patient is over 17 and she reports an incident from the past that has not already been reported which falls into these categories, Teen Clinic will still have to notify the authorities, by law.

It’s important to note that there is no age of consent for youth outside these categories.  Consensual sex is considered legal, for instance, between two people who are 15, or a couple 15 & 17 years old.  That means it’s a myth that people under 18 can’t give consent; in Colorado, they can, as long as the age and power differences don’t fall under the above guidelines.  And don’t forget that non-consensual sex is always illegal, regardless of age difference.

Curious about why statutory rape laws exist? Check out this great article by the Guttmacher Institute.  And feel free to ask away if you have more questions. Teen Clinic wants to make sure its patients know up front what they do and don’t need to report. Thanks for checking!