What a great question! Teen Clinic offers free, confidential care to everyone under 20, whether male, female, or intersex.

On a walk-in basis, males can get tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea, access our free monthly HIV testing, or pick up Plan B for a female partner. Males should make an appointment if they are experiencing the symptoms of an infection or if they want to receive Gardasil (the HPV vaccine). And, of course, males are always welcome to stop by Teen Clinic to grab a handful of condoms!  Teen Clinic can also be a resource for questions about sexuality, how to use a condom, or talking to your parents about sex.

We often think of females when we think of sexual health, but birth control and STI-related services are just as important for males!  Thanks for taking the initiative to take care of your health, and spread the word!

It’s highly unlikely.  In order to get an infection, a person has to have sexual contact with someone who is already infected.  If you haven’t come into contact with someone who has a sexually transmitted infection, you probably don’t have one!

There are a few exceptions to this rule. Some infections that we consider STIs can be spread non-sexually. Bloodborne diseases like HIV, Hepatitis B & C, and Syphilis are often transmitted through IV drug use. If someone has used needle drugs, it’s possible they have an STI, even if they haven’t been sexually active.

Pubic lice, also known as crabs, can also be transmitted non-sexually. Pubic lice can live for up to twenty-four hours outside the body in warm, dark, moist places like bathtowels, bed sheets, loofahs, or wet bathing suits. If a person shares these items with someone else, lice transmission is possible.

Does that mean it’s a good idea to have sex without a condom? No way. The only 100% effective method of preventing pregnancy is abstinence. Although hormonal methods can be more than 99% effective when used perfectly, it’s still a good idea to use a condom as a backup.  Besides—although we always want to trust our partners, occasionally people do not share the truth about their sexual health history. Staying in the habit of using a condom is a great way to keep yourself safe every time.

On Saturday, June 4th, 2011, Boulder County AIDS Project (BCAP) and Boulder County Public Health (BCPH) offered free and anonymous HIV testing to the public. Between 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the BCAP office at 2118 14th Street in Boulder, 199 PEOPLE WERE TESTED. The tests provided results in just 10 minutes, requiring a simple finger-prick procedure. Special thanks go out to Boulder County AIDS Project (BCAP), Boulder County Public Health, and all the amazing volunteers for making this happen! Next year, let’s hit that 200 mark!

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What a great question! On a chemical level, no: ecstasy, cocaine, and similar drugs have not been found to decrease the effectiveness of hormonal birth control. (Some prescription drugs and herbs do, though, so be sure your healthcare providers know what you’re taking.)  If you’re taking your pills correctly and all the time, they’re more than 99% likely to prevent an unplanned pregnancy, even if you have recreational drugs in your system.

However, drug use can affect your sexual health choices in other ways.  It’s well-documented that those under the influence are more likely to engage in unprotected sex, increasing the risk of STI transmission. Being drunk or high can also negatively affect a person’s communication, decreasing their ability to set boundaries, read a partner’s reactions, and give or withdraw their consent. They may not be able to look out for their friends or themselves. And depending upon when the drug use occurs, it’s possible they’ll forget to take their birth control pill on time after all.

Keep in mind, too, that IV drug users face higher rates of bloodborne STI transmission than the general population. HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B & C are easy to transmit when people share needles.  If you are currently an IV drug user, Teen Clinic recommends getting tested for bloodborne infections regularly.

So will using recreational drugs affect your birth control pill’s effectiveness? Not directly. But it’s important to recognize that drug use can negatively affect your sexual health. Want to learn more?  Make an appointment to talk to a practitioner at Teen Clinic.

Great question!  Some sexually transmitted infections might not have symptoms, so getting tested is an important way to keep your body healthy.

Here’s a guide on when to test for what:

• Chlamydia/Gonorrhea:    At Teen Clinic, we test for chlamydia and gonorrhea with a simple urine sample.  Because chlamydia is the most frequently reported bacterial STI, we recommend testing after unprotected sex or after sex with a new partner.  We also recommend testing when someone is experiencing symptoms, like itching, bleeding with intercourse, painful ejaculation or burning with urination in males, or unusual discharge.  Once sexually active, test for chlamydia and gonorrhea once a year and before each new partner.
• Syphilis: Syphilis is rare among the general population.  However, rates are climbing among certain groups of people. When you come in, talk to a practitioner about your sexual health history to decide if a syphilis test makes sense for you. We test for syphilis with a simple blood draw.
• HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus): We highly recommend everyone gets tested for HIV.  It’s always better to know. Once you’re sexually active, consider getting tested for HIV every year or and before each new partner. An HIV test is a rapid finger prick, so we receive results in just 10 minutes. At Teen Clinic, we offer free HIV testing the first Tuesday of the month in Boulder and the third Wednesday of the month in Longmont. The Boulder County AIDS Project offers free HIV testing for teens anytime! Visit www.bcap.org or call 303.444.6121.
• Herpes: At Teen Clinic, we only test for herpes when someone is experiencing an outbreak. Teens who are concerned about small, itchy red bumps or open lesions on their genitals should make an appointment for an infection check.
• HPV: Detecting HPV in the body can be tricky.  Some people learn they have HPV when they develop genital warts. Others may have a pap, or sample of cells, taken from their cervix or anus. If the cells show abnormal growth, pathology will determine if HPV is present. If HPV is causing the abnormal cells, they can become cancerous over time. Providers recommend annual paps for any female over 21.  We don’t perform paps on females under 21 because many young women with HPV clear the virus in their teenage years.  At this point in time, there is no equivalent test for men. However, men can still be infected and suffer from HPV. What can you do about HPV? Women and men can get the HPV vaccine, Gardasil, for free at Teen Clinic!  Gardasil can prevent some strains of HPV that cause genital warts and cancer.
• Trichomoniasis: Believe it or not, Trich is a common curable STI among young, sexually active women and men. Its symptoms can include painful ejaculation, green-yellow foamy discharge, a fishy smell, and slight irritation or itching. However, it can also be asymptomatic, meaning it has no symptoms. To diagnose Trichomoniasis in both men and women, a provider must perform a physical exam and laboratory tests. Someone concerned about Trich should schedule an Infection Check appointment at Teen Clinic so the provider knows an exam will be necessary.
• Hepatitis A, B &C: First, find out if you received a Hepatitis vaccine when you were a child. Most Americans are vaccinated against Hepatitis B, and some against Hepatitis A.  If you weren’t vaccinated, hepatitis is possible if you have been exposed to someone’s infected blood or sexual fluids. Teen Clinic does not offer hepatitis testing, but our providers would be happy to discuss it with you.  We refer interested patients to Boulder County Public Health. A blood draw is used to test for Hepatitis A, B and C.

Whew! That’s a lot to keep track of! Luckily, our providers are always willing to advise you on which tests are right for you.  And keep in mind that STIs can be prevented through abstinence, consistent & correct condom use, and talking to your partner about their sexual history before becoming active with them.   You can even bring them in to get tested!  To schedule an appointment for an infection check and/or STI test, call 303.442.5160.

…(I don’t think I need one but I want to get one just to be safe.)

Don’t worry—there are no big needles involved!  The HIV testing that’s offered at Teen Clinic is a simple finger-prick procedure. It’s very similar to the prick diabetics use to check their blood sugar levels.

The testing process takes about twenty minutes.  First you’ll complete a little paperwork; then the tester will prick your finger and collect a few drops of blood. The test itself takes 10 minutes to run, so you’ll have your results before you leave. You’re welcome to stay to ask the tester HIV-related questions or to discuss your result.

It’s awesome that you’re getting tested—it’s a healthy and responsible thing to do, even if you don’t think you have an STI!   Remember, Teen Clinic offers free HIV testing through the Boulder County AIDS Project the 1^st Tuesday of each month at Boulder, and the 3^rd Wednesday of each month in Longmont. You can also get tested for other STIs like Chlamydia and Gonorrhea during any Teen Clinic walk-in hours.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the inside of the foreskin contains less keratin—a waxy coating that helps prevent infection—than other parts of the penis.  Because of this, it tears more easily during intercourse, providing an entry into the bloodstream for infections like HIV.  The foreskin also contains more of the cells HIV tends to target (Langerhans cells) and has been more easily infected by HIV than other parts of  the penis in laboratory studies.  Finally, there is evidence that the environment between the unretracted foreskin and the head of the penis allows viruses to survive longer, increasing the likelihood of transmission.

There is still debate among medical professionals as to the extent that circumcision should be used as a prevention method.  After all, plenty of circumcised men still get HIV!  Keep in mind that wearing a condom, talking to your partners, and getting tested will help protect you from HIV transmission whether you’re circumcised or not.

To learn more about the studies being done on circumcision and HIV, check out this fact sheet from the CDC.

No.  Most of the skin covering our bodies is protected by a wax-like coating called keratin.  Sexually transmitted infections like HIV are unable to penetrate intact skin because of this layer—even if a person is sweating.

It’s also helpful to know that HIV doesn’t live very long outside the body.  Exposure to air dries the fluid that contains the virus, which destroys or breaks up the virus very quickly. According to the Center for Disease Control, drying HIV reduces the viral load (amount of the virus present) by 90-99% within a few hours. Many common substances—including hot water, bleach, alcohol, and soap—can kill HIV.  And remember: HIV is not transmitted through saliva, sweat, urine, or tears.

Most HIV transmissions occur through mucous membranes, which are interior parts of the body not covered by keratin.  Body parts used for sexual activity–like the throat, vagina, penis head, urethra, and anus–are all mucous membranes, which is why HIV is considered a sexually transmitted infection.

However, be aware:  HIV and certain other STIs can spread through mucous membranes not traditionally used in sexual activity, like the eyes and nostrils, as well as through cuts or sores on the body.  Be sure to communicate with your partners about their sexual histories to understand the risk of transmission.  And get tested regularly to make sure you’re healthy!  At Teen Clinic, we have free and confidential HIV testing the first Tuesday of the month in Boulder, from 4-7, and the third Wednesday of the month in Longmont, from 3:30-5:30.

Chances are you some sort of flu virus. Contact your doctor to check for other causes of your fatigue and fever. HIV signs and symptoms would not present that rapidly. In fact, many people who contract HIV do not notice symptoms for years. We do offer free HIV testing if you want to be checked for reassurance. The next testing at the Boulder Teen Clinic is on June 1^st at 4pm. The next testing at the Longmont Teen Clinic is on June 16^th at 3pm. Another thing to keep in mind is that there is a slight window period between HIV infection and when a test will detect HIV antibodies. That window period is three months after the time of supposed transmission. In the meantime, be sure to use a condom anytime you are sexually active.

Yes! All of our services are free and confidential. Our HIV testing is provided by the Boulder County AIDS Project (BCAP) once a month at both of our Teen Clinics. HIV testing is done on a first come, first service basis so just walk in during the following hours:

Boulder Teen Clinic: the first Tuesday of the month

Longmont Teen Clinic: the third Wednesday of the month.