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!

… 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.

…but he didnt ejaculate in me. Is there a high possibility I am pregnant?

In order for hormonal birth control pills to work correctly, we recommend that patients take them within the same hour every day.  According to these instructions, you are taking your pills the right way.  Good work! Continue to aim for the same time every day to keep your birth control as effective as possible.

It’s impossible to tell if someone is pregnant over the internet. If you are concerned, take a pregnancy test ten days after the unprotected sex. (This is the earliest the test would be effective.) Even though pills are more than 99% effective when used perfectly, we recommend continuing to use condoms 100% as well. Condoms prevent infection and can serve as a backup pregnancy prevention method—so you never have to worry! 

Visit Teen Clinic to learn more about your pills, pick up free condoms, or take a free pregnancy test.

If you have a current prescription on file with Teen Clinic, you do not need to make an appointment. Simply walk in to pick up your birth control anytime we’re open!

Occasionally, patients find their prescription has lapsed because they need to come in for an Annual Exam. This is a once-per-year appointment where the practitioner reviews a patient’s health history, addresses any concerns, and makes sure her birth control method is still a healthy fit. Once you have had an Annual Exam, your prescription will be good for one year.

If your prescription ends and you can’t get in for an Annual right away, sometimes the practitioner can write you an extension on your prescription. But it’s best to make an appointment before you run out of birth control.

See you soon!

This is a fabulous question. The answer is yes—and here’s why.

First, 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.

Second, sometimes people make mistakes with their birth control.  They forget to take a pill, put their next patch on late, or leave the NuvaRing out for more than 2 hours at a time.  While all hormonal birth control methods can be up to 99.9% effective, most are about 92% effective with typical use (97% for the Depo shot).

So why bother at all? Hormonal methods are still the most effective, reversible way to be sexually active without pregnancy. When used correctly, the risk of pregnancy is very small. And there are a few things you can do to help your method be the most effective possible.

First, use a condom every time you have sex. Not only do condoms prevent sexually transmitted infections, they’ll also act as a pregnancy prevention backup.

Second, choose a method that fits your lifestyle. Many females are great at using The Pill—but plenty aren’t! If you have trouble remembering to take a pill at the same time every day or change a patch once a week, consider using longer-term methods like Implanon or IUDs. Once these methods are inserted, they prevent pregnancy for 3-10 years—and you don’t have to remember a thing!

Third, talk to your partner about birth control. When both of you are focused on preventing pregnancy, it’s more likely to happen!

Teen Clinic offers free birth control and consultations. If you’d like to talk to a provider about changing your method, give us a call soon.  Thanks for keeping yourself safe and healthy!

Although it’s most effective to start your next pill pack on time, there’s still an easy way to prevent pregnancy:  use a condom! Condoms are cheap, easy to use, and available at nearly every pharmacy, grocery store, or gas station. (If you’re feeling self-conscious, choose a store with a self check-out option.  There is no age limit on buying condoms.)  Teen Clinic recommends using a condom even when you are on a hormonal birth control method—remember, the pill doesn’t prevent STIs!  Always keep properly-lubricated, non-expired condoms on hand if you are sexually active.

Boulder Teen Clinic will re-open Monday, April 11 at 5pm.  Stop in to pick up your birth control anytime between 5-7. We will also be open Tuesday from 4-7 and Saturday 1-6 next week, just like normal!  Call us at 303-442-5160 if you have any questions.  Thanks for being responsible!

… I don’t want that to happen to me. So, I was wondering what type of birth control and condoms are most effective without personal error to account for?

Thanks for asking! It’s tough to watch your friends face unplanned pregnancies, but we’re glad you’re using this opportunity to tighten up your own birth control methods.  You’re right that human error plays a huge role in birth control failure, so it’s great to think about minimizing this!  Knowing how to use a condom properly—from checking the expiration date to pinching the tip—can reduce your risk significantly. Check your condom knowledge with this great overview, and plan to use a condom every time, even if you’re also using a hormonal method.

While hormonal birth control is more than 99% effective with perfect use, not many of us are perfect! Methods like the Pill, the Patch, and Nuvaring are about 92% with typical use. If you’ve struggled to take your pill on time, you may want to consider a method with less room for error. The birth control shot (Depo Provera) only requires a visit to Teen Clinic once every three months. As long as you come in for your shot on time, there’s no way to mess up!  You may also want to consider the Implanon. This small, flexible rod is placed under the skin in your arm, and prevents pregnancy for three years without requiring you to do anything.

Last, IUDs, or intra-uterine devices, are widely considered the most effective birth control on the market. The Paragard is a copper IUD that can be left in place for ten years, and the Mirena is a hormonal IUD that prevents pregnancy for five years. Once in place, these IUDs are 99% effective.  Learn more about IUDs here.

Make an appointment at Teen Clinic to discuss these methods with a practitioner. And keep in mind that using condoms consistently, correctly, and every time is one of the best ways to improve the effectiveness of any hormonal method—as well as prevent STI transmission.  If you’re choosing to be sexually active, it’s the responsible thing to do!

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.

…What about Implanon?

While some females do experience side effects from birth control pills, many do not. The truth is, side effects often have more to do with an individual’s body than with the actual pill. Birth control pills are usually made of estrogen, progesterone, or a combination of the two; some females’ bodies digest one of these hormones better than the other. Picking a pill with a different hormonal combination may work better for you.  Additionally, the way a hormone enters the body can make a difference. A person who doesn’t find a pill she likes may want to try Implanon, the patch, the shot, Nuva Ring, or an IUD.

Start by making an appointment at Teen Clinic for a birth control consultation. The practitioner will talk with you about why you like and dislike your method. If the weight gain and moodiness seems related to your birth control, she’ll help you pick another method. Keep in mind that it takes the body about three months to get used to any new birth control, so if you haven’t been on your method very long, the provider may ask you to hang in there. In the end, of course, it’s your choice to stay on your pills or to try something new.

Thanks for considering what your next method will be before you stop taking your pills—that’s the responsible way to do it!

Nope, that’s not a bad idea at all!  Many young women choose to use birth control pills for these exact reasons. You’re right that birth control pills contain hormones that can regulate the period, often making it lighter and less crampy. And some pill brands, like Ortho Tricyclen, have actually been approved by the FDA to treat acne! To learn more about why pills can help, see this article from the Mayo Clinic.

Your first step is to make an appointment at Teen Clinic or your family doctor. There are many different types of pills, containing different combinations of hormones, and a medical professional will be able to prescribe a pill that fits your health history and meets your needs.  Once you’re on the pill, be sure to take it at the same time every day for maximum effectiveness. And remember that if you do become sexually active, it’s important to use a condom every time to prevent sexually transmitted infections. Good luck!