The best way to prevent chlamydia is by abstaining from oral, anal, and vaginal sex. If you do choose to be sexually active, using barrier methods like condoms and dental dams can reduce the risk of transmission. Asking your partner to get tested before you become sexually active is also a great idea! Chlamydia testing is free and confidential at Teen Clinic, and you can get tested on a walk-in basis.

For more information, see this page dedicated to the infection, or this page dedicated to questions teens have asked about chlamydia.

Great question! Unfortunately, there’s no easy answer to this question. Everyone’s body is different. While some immune systems are able to keep a chlamydial infection at bay for some time, others may struggle.

In females, infertility can occur when the infection spreads from the vaginal canal into the uterus (pelvic inflammatory disease) and chlamydia bacteria inflame the uterine lining (endometrium), causing scarring.  This scar tissue can prevent a fertilized egg from implanting in the endometrium. It can also cause ectopic pregnancy, or pregnancy in the fallopian tubes, by blocking a fertilized egg from leaving the tubes.

In males, infertility occurs when chlamydia bacteria cause inflammation in the epididymis, a little sac in the testicles where sperm mature.  While this inflammation is occurring, sperm cannot appropriately mature, and will not form a pregnancy. However, males will likely become fertile again once the chlamydia has been treated.

Because it’s hard to predict how a person’s body will respond to chlamydia, it’s important to get tested once a year or after new partners. It’s a great idea to use condoms and bring your partners in to get tested before you become sexually active with them! Remember, chlamydia and gonorrhea don’t have symptoms about 70% of the time.  Once a person tests positive for chlamydia, we treat them as soon as possible to prevent permanent damage and further spread of the infection.

At Teen Clinic, you can get tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea on a walk-in basis!  Stop by anytime we’re open or give us a call for more details.

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!

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Teen Clinic can be a great place to brainstorm how to talk to your parents about sexual health. Feel free to share your concerns about confidentiality with our medical professionals. At the end of the day, getting tested is a healthy, responsible decision if you’re already sexually active! We recommend getting tested after new partners, unprotected sex, or at least once a year.

We know transportation can be tough for teens. Thankfully, both of our clinics are located near easy-to-use bus routes. This website can help you figure out how to get to us if you don’t have access to a car. You might also want to consider talking to a trusted adult. We know it can be scary to discuss sexual health, but many adults—whether a parent, uncle, friend’s parent, or teacher—support youth who make responsible health decisions, like choosing to get tested for STIs.  You may have someone in your life who is willing to help you get to the clinic! (Once you’re here, our nurses can brainstorm with you on how to talk to your parents in the future.)

Curious about which tests you should ask for? Check out this guide on what to get tested for after sex.

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.

We also offer free, walk-in HIV testing the first Tuesday of the month in Boulder and the third Wednesday of the month in Longmont.  We do not offer HIV testing at Teen Clinic besides these dates, so plan your birth control visit accordingly if you’d like to get tested for HIV on the same day. (Boulder County Public Health is offering FREE HIV testing in honor of World AIDS Day during the month of December—give them a call at 303-413-7500 to schedule your confidential appointment!)

Sometimes, our patients request take-home pregnancy tests.  Unfortunately, we do not offer these; however, patients are welcome to come in for pregnancy tests as often as they need!  A great way to worry less about pregnancy is to begin a reliable birth control method that works for your medical history and lifestyle.  Stop by Teen Clinic to find out more!