The decision to wax your genitals—regardless of style—can be a safe and healthy personal choice. However, waxing does increase your risk for infection.   Removing the hair from your genitals exposes delicate tissue in the pubic area. With little or no hair to protect it, your pubic area is more susceptible to infections spread through skin-to-skin contact, including Herpes and HPV.

Little is known about the risks of waxing in a salon. Some sources suggest that transmission of STIs is possible if the wax applicator is re-used or improperly sterilized between patients. Women can also get non-sexual infections like folliculitis, an inflammation of the hair follicules, after waxing.  If you decide to wax your genitals, be sure to use as sterile an environment as possible.  Wash your genitals regularly, and do not pick at any bumps or boils that may form.  If you experience discomfort or are concerned about infection, come see a nurse at Teen Clinic.

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.

…I am on the pill and take it religiously so it isn’t my period. What could this mean?

First of all, good for you–it sounds like you’re taking charge of your sexual health!  Taking a pill every day can be hard, but at least you know this bleeding isn’t normal.

Bleeding after intercourse can be a sign of infection. Some infections are sexually transmitted, like gonorrhea and chlamydia, but some are not;  it’s possible you’re experiencing bacterial vaginitis or cervicitis.  To be sure,  make an appointment to see a nurse at the next Teen Clinic.

Has your partner been sexually active with others in the past? Even if you are only sexually active with each other now, it’s possible that one of you was carrying an asymptomatic STI from a past partner.  It’s important to get tested every time you become sexually active with a new partner; ask him or her to get tested too!

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) can be transmitted in the following ways:

• Blood
• Semen
• Vaginal fluids
• Skin to skin contact

One person must be infected and either exchange fluids, blood or have skin to skin contact with another person. If two people have unprotected vaginal sex while a woman is on her period, there is a risk of exchanging blood, semen and vaginal fluids. If one person is infected, then yes, there is a risk for transmission. It tends to be a higher risk since there is more blood present. There is also always a risk for pregnancy during unprotected sex, even if she is on her period. Other than STIs and pregnancy, there is no other type of infection that can be transmitted during a woman’s period. Since the risk is high, it’s important to use a condom correctly, consistently and all of the time! Both partners should also get tested for STIs. For free STI screening and free condoms, visit Teen Clinic during our open hours.

The STIs that are not curable include: HIV, HPV, Hepatitis A, B & C and Herpes. You may notice that all these STIs are viruses. Viruses stay in the body forever; however, their symptoms can be treatable. For example, someone infected with Herpes can treat the cold sores caused by the virus even though they cannot get rid of the virus. Other viruses, like HIV, are much harder to treat and affect your health dramatically. To prevent contracting & transmitting STIs, be sure to use a condom or dental dam every time you engage in sexual activity. It’s also important to know your partner. Has your partner been tested for STIs? Be sure to have that conversation before having any type of sexual contact. If you are thinking about having any kind of sex, get tested yourself. For free & confidential STI testing, call Teen Clinic at 303.442.5160, because it’s better to know.

Each STI has a different test. When we receive the results depends on the type of test conducted. Generally, it takes only a few days for results to come in. Here’s the breakdown of testing by each STI:

Chlamydia & Gonorrhea: We test for both of these infections by collecting cells from the vaginal wall or collecting urine from guys and girls. Results are available within a few days.

Hepatitis A, B & C: We do not routinely test for these infections. If you do request a test, we draw blood and receive results in 24-48 hours.

Herpes: We test for Herpes by taking a small sample of skin cells from a lesion or blister, or a blood draw. Results are available within a few days.

HIV: An HIV test is super quick. With just a finger prick of blood a rapid HIV test can show results within 10 minutes.

HPV: There is no direct test for HPV. Genital warts are diagnosed immediately by a visual exam. Cervical abnormalities caused by HPV are detected by a pap test.

Public Lice/Scabies: Both infections are detected immediately through a physical exam. Exams are performed only when someone is experiencing symptoms of the infections.

Syphilis: We test for Syphilis with a blood draw. Results are available within 24-48 hours.

Trichomoniasis: The parasites causing the infection are detected immediately with a physical exam and a sample of vaginal or penile discharge. Exams are performed only when someone is experiencing symptoms of the infection.

All STI testing is free & confidential at Teen Clinic. Call 303.442.5160 to make an appointment.

Pregnancy is a risk if sperm gets in the vagina. Sperm are generally pretty fragile and die when exposed to the air. If someone had semen on his/her hand, it’s likely that the sperm will die quickly, posing no risk for pregnancy. However, there is a slight chance some sperm could swim into the vagina. To avoid this risk, wash the semen off before engaging in further sexual activity.

Another risk to think about is the transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). They are transmitted through skin to skin contact, semen, vaginal fluids and blood. If infected semen were to get inside the vagina, there is a risk of transmission. Getting tested for STIs is a great to know if you or a partner is infected. For free STI testing, contact Teen Clinic.

The tricky thing about Chlamydia is that most people who contract the infection are asymptomatic – they don’t have any symptoms at all! Half of men and one in three women do not experience symptoms. For people who do get symptoms of Chlamydia, it can include

• painful urination
• painful ejaculation
• pelvic pain
• unusual discharge

Like all bacteria, Chlamydia will multiply when left untreated. If an infected person does not get tested and treated, the infection can spread in their bodies causing irreversible damage to their reproductive organs and can lead to infertility. Chlamydia will get worse if untreated even if a person never experiences symptoms. Fortunately, a test for Chlamydia is very easy and straight-forward – a urine test. A person can leave a sample of urine at the clinic and receive results in a few days. Make an appointment for a Chlamydia test or any other STI testing at Teen Clinic by calling 303.442.5160.

Yes, many STIs can be transmitted through unprotected oral sex. Chalmydia & Gonorrhea can infect the throat, causing a sore throat. HPV has been linked to mouth and throat cancer when the virus is transmitted via oral sex. Herpes Type II (genital herpes) can be transmitted to the mouth, leading to cold sores on the outside of the mouth. Herpes Type I (oral herpes) can also cross-transmit, causing cold sore outbreaks on the genitals. Since there is a great risk for transmission it’s very important for you and a partner to get tested for any STIs. Until you’ve ruled out infection, always use a condom or a dental dam every time you engage in oral sex.

With any types of sexual activity, considering risk factors for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and how to prevent transmission is important. Foot play is not high risk for transmitting STIs but it’s worth eliminating any risk. Feet do not transmit STIs. STIs are transmitted through blood, semen, vaginal fluids and skin to skin contact (this only applies to the skin of the pubic area and mouth). Transmission could be possible if your partner(s) is infected with an STI that travels through blood, and a cut on the foot is exposed to the vagina, anus or mouth. The virus that cause genital warts, HPV, also causes other warts on the body. Check your partner(s) for warts on the feet and avoid unprotected contact if any are present. Using a latex glove over the foot or a dental dam over the mouth, vagina or anus will provide an effective barrier against STI transmission.

General hygiene is also worth thinking about, especially if there is foot-vaginal contact. The pH balance of the vaginal fluids is delicate. If the vagina is exposed to foreign bacteria and/or dirt particles from the foot, it could result in an organic infection such as yeast or bacterial infections. Be sure to clean any object that might be inserted into or come in contact with a vagina, anus or mouth.