Nope! The most important part of your healthcare is you!  If your birth control method isn’t working the way you’d like, it’s a great idea to talk to a practitioner about switching.  In particular, we encourage patients to consider a different method if they’re experiencing side effects or if their method isn’t easy to use with their lifestyle.

Be sure to call the clinic to let them know you’d like to change the purpose of your appointment. This ensures we’ll have enough time in the schedule to chat with you about different options, and helps us get your paperwork ready in advance.  See you then!

Yes!  As a Women’s Health patient, you are welcome to walk in for Plan B any time we’re open. The only difference is that you might have to pay a little more when you visit during adult hours.  During Teen Clinic hours, we have special funding that makes it possible for us to offer teens free and very low-cost services. This funding is not available for teens visiting during adult hours.

At the adult clinic, we offer services on a sliding scale. That means the amount you pay depends on how much you make.  If you don’t have an income, it’s likely that your services will be free, but we can’t guarantee it. Bring some extra money just in case there’s a charge. If you want to find out how much it will cost ahead of time, call our main line to get an estimate. And remember— your donations keep Teen Clinic open. Even throwing a dollar or two into the fishbowl makes a big difference.

It’s responsible that you’re planning how to get Plan B ahead of time! Consider using condoms 100% and making an appointment to start a birth control method, too.  We’re here to help you stay healthy and safe.

To view Women’s Health’s hours, click here.

We highly recommend it.  Occasionally, it is possible to walk in at Teen Clinic and start a birth control method; however, walking in often has a longer wait time. We also can’t guarantee that we’ll be able to see you if you’re a walk-in; sometimes we have to turn patients away.  Making an appointment guarantees your slot and gives you priority.

Teen Clinic uses Next-Day Scheduling. Give us a call the day before you’d like to come in. The phone lines open at 9am, so calling first thing in the morning gives you a better chance of getting in. If you have questions about the process, give us a call anytime to learn more.

Great question!  Make an appointment to visit your doctor as soon as possible. If you are experiencing symptoms (like sores, bumps, itching, burning, or a change in discharge) be sure to tell the person on the phone. This will help the office set aside enough time to see you.

In the meantime, it’s a good idea to abstain from sex until you know for sure.  Get plenty of sleep, drink lots of water, and eat a balanced diet.  Help your body stay as healthy as possible! And try not to worry. Seeing a doctor is a great way to find out for sure. You’ll have the chance to ask lots of questions and get any treatment you need.

To make an appointment at Teen Clinic, give us a call the day before you’d like to come in.  All services are free to those under 20.

… Or can she come with me into the room?

At Teen Clinic, our policy is to bring patients back alone. This is for the patient’s protection—we want to make sure each patient feels they can honestly share information about their sexual health, family, relationships, and substance abuse history, without censoring themselves because someone else is in the room. We understand you may feel uncomfortable coming back alone your first time—but we promise we’re very nice!

After we’ve had a chance to talk to you, we’re happy to answer questions your partner or parent might have. If your friend has questions about sexual health, tell them to consider making an appointment, too! Lots of friends support each other by visiting Teen Clinic at the same time.

If you are having a procedure done—such as an Implanon or IUD insertion—feel free to ask the practitioner if your friend can come back. We’ll still want to talk to you alone at the beginning of the visit, but we know it can be nice to have a hand to hold during insertions.

Thanks for asking!

…I am not sexually active. I shower every morning but by mid-day I can smell the odor. It’s not so much a fishy smell but just a strong odor. I use panty liners and wipes. Is there anything else I can try?

First of all, it’s great that you’re paying attention to your body! A change in odor can be a sign of infection, so it’s a good idea to make an appointment at Teen Clinic for a pelvic exam to make sure you’re healthy.  Even though you’re not sexually active, some infections like yeast and bacterial vaginitis can occur organically from imbalances in the body. Some of these infections may resolve themselves, but others require medical treatment.

At Teen Clinic, we recommend washing only the vulva (the outside of the vagina), and only with mild soap and water.  While wipes may seem like they help, they can actually upset the natural balance of the vagina.  Keep in mind that the vagina is a self-cleaning organ. Much like earwax and tears are parts of the normal functioning of the ear and eye, all females secrete moisture from the membranes that line the vagina. These normal secretions help control the growth of organisms—like yeast and certain bacterias—that are normal, healthy parts of the vagina. While everyone’s bodies are different, some amount of discharge can be expected.

Give us a call to make an appointment this week. Teen Clinic uses next-day scheduling, so you’ll want to call the day before you’d like to come in, as close to 9am as possible. Check out our hours here.

…My boyfriend and I tried having sex.  He put it in but I pushed him away after a few minutes.  I didn’t feel it all the way in.  It didn’t hurt me or give me any pleasure. I bled a little but my period had just stopped that day. Am I still a virgin?

Tough question! Virginity is hard to talk about—in part, because it’s so hard to define. Some people define “virginity loss” as having penile-vaginal intercourse for the first time; others include oral or anal sex in this definition, too. Those in same-sex relationships may be sexually active in other ways; what about them? At the end of the day, you’re the only one who can define when you are or aren’t a virgin, and how you feel about it.

At Teen Clinic, we try to talk about specific behaviors rather than concepts like virginity. From the situation you described, it sounds like you had penile-vaginal intercourse. This means it’s time to start a birth control method and make sure you’re preventing STIs. Even if a male doesn’t ejaculate inside the vagina, pre-ejaculate may be present, so use a condom every time for the entire activity to prevent unintended pregnancies and infection.

If you’re not sure how you feel about your first experience, consider talking to a trusted adult. You’re welcome to make an appointment at Teen Clinic if you’re not sure where to go.  And keep in mind that not everyone’s first experience is pleasurable; sometimes it takes a little while for partners to discover what each likes and dislikes. The most important thing is to make sure you’re feeling safe and comfortable. Just because you’ve had vaginal intercourse once doesn’t mean you have to again, or that you have to on any given day, or that you have to with this partner. It’s your health. Communicate with your partner how you’re feeling, and don’t feel pressured into anything you’re not ready for. If you do feel ready for intercourse, be sure to take the steps that will keep you safe and healthy.

To learn more about preparing for vaginal intercourse, check out this question.

Yes!  Unfortunately, you can’t come to Teen Clinic—we only see patients under 20 here—but you’re welcome to visit one of our adult clinics. Teen Clinic is just one small part of Boulder Valley Women’s Health, which offers confidential and comprehensive reproductive healthcare on a sliding scale. That means the amount you’ll pay is based on what you make. Women’s Health’s adult services are located in the same buildings as our Teen Clinics, just at different hours! For more information, visit www.boulderwomenshealth.org or give us a call at 303-442-5160.

… One week? 2 days? One month?

Teen Clinic recommends using a back-up birth control method for seven days after your Implanon insertion. After the first week, Implanon prevents pregnancy 99.9% of the time.

However, Teen Clinic does not recommend having sex without a condom!

Here’s why:  unprotected sex carries a high risk for sexually transmitted infections, which can pass through skin-to-skin contact, sexual fluids, or blood. Some STIs don’t always have symptoms—so it’s possible your partner has an infection without knowing it. Choosing to have sex without a condom could put your health at risk.

Throughout your life, make it a priority to ask your partners about their past sexual experiences. Suggest getting tested at Teen Clinic. And keep in mind that, while it’s ideal to be able to fully trust a partner, sometimes people make decisions they’re not proud of and don’t tell their partners. It’s your health!  Using a condom correctly, consistently, and all the time will help keep you safe and healthy; a partner who doesn’t respect that doesn’t respect you.

Feel free to make an appointment at Teen Clinic if you’d like to talk to a practitioner about real-life condom use.  Discussing condoms and STIs with your partner can be hard, but it’s an essential part of being sexually active in a safe, healthy way.

What a great question!  At Teen Clinic, we require everyone to fill out three forms:

• Our privacy policy. By law, all health professionals must protect the confidentiality of their patients. They must also inform patients of their privacy rights. By signing this form, Teen Clinic patients are acknowledging that they have read the policy and know their information is confidential.

• Our Family Planning consent.  This consent form tells patients more about our services.  We do not ask patients any questions on this form, but we do require that everyone signs it.  Among other things, the form lets patients know we are required by law to report certain medical information; by signing, a patient is consenting to our services.

• Our demographic form. Funding for Teen Clinic comes from a lot of places.  One of these is Title X, a federal family planning program that subsidizes birth control costs for low-income people. In order to receive this funding, we are required to collect information on the income and insurance status of our patients.   Teen Clinic also receives funding from private foundations and local governments, as well as private individuals. Sometimes our funders want to know what types of people we are reaching. Because of this, our demographic form includes questions about your address, disability status, race, ethnicity, language, gender/sex, and sexual orientation. Lastly, it’s important that we know certain important things about our patients! Your name, birthdate, relationship status, emergency contact and whether or not your parents know you are here are all important to your care. We also want to know whether it’s okay to text you, call you, leave you a message, or send mail.

Depending on what you’re here for, you may need to fill out forms about your medical health history. On these forms, we ask questions about your family’s health history, your menstruation (if female), your nutritional and exercise habits, and your drug and alcohol use. You may also be asked to answer questions about the number of partners you’ve had, sexual activities you’re engaging in, and condom use. Please answer these questions honestly!  Having your most up-to-date, accurate information will allow us to fully address your health concerns.

If you have any specific concerns about Teen Clinic paperwork, feel free to ask! Give us a call at the clinic to talk to someone about paperwork. You can also talk to the Front Desk employee when you are filling out your forms.