Making decisions is always tricky—whether we’re picking a college, quitting a sport, experimenting with substances, or deciding on a career path. At heart, making good decisions is about knowing what will enhance your well-being.  What is important to you? What makes you happy? What support do you have? What information do you need? What risks are you willing to take?  What experiences tend to impact you negatively? These questions can help guide you in decisions of all kinds, but they’re especially important in sexuality.

From watching people around you, you probably know that what’s good for one person isn’t necessarily what’s best for another. Sex is a lot like food: someone else may be able to give you helpful information or share an experience, but in the end, it’s up to you to choose the right kind and amount for your body.

What does this all mean? Simply put, some people find that sex outside love contributes to their well-being. Other people don’t.

There are many places we can turn for guidelines. Some people practice a religion that tells them when it’s okay to have sex. Other people may have ongoing discussions with their parents (or other trusted adults) to explore their readiness for different types of sexual activity.  If you’re not sure who to talk to, consider making an appointment at Teen Clinic. Our practitioners can help you explore what you’re okay with and what you’re not.

At Teen Clinic, we think the most important thing is consent. If you’re thinking about being sexually active, make sure you feel safe and healthy in the relationship. Know that you have the right to change your mind at any moment. And if you’re sexually active, be sure to prevent unplanned pregnancy and STIs by using condoms and choosing a reliable birth control method.  These are an important part of well-being, too.

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!

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.

Thanks for asking this great question!

First of all, good work—it’s great that you’ve chosen a birth control method and are sticking with it! Depo is more than 99% effective when you receive your shot on time.

It’s good to realize that 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. Teen Clinic recommends using condoms 100% as a backup and to prevent STI transmission.

So the answer is yes—allowing a partner to ejaculate inside you does increase the risk of pregnancy (although the risk will be low if you’ve received your Depo shot on time). But more importantly, allowing a partner to ejaculate inside you increases your risk for STIs! Talk to your partner about their past sexual history and whether or not they’ve gotten tested, and consider going to get tested together. (It’s free at Teen Clinic!)  Remember, it’s your health! Even though we all want to trust our partners, using condoms is a great way to keep the risks of sexual activity as low as possible.

If you have more questions, consider talking to your practitioner at your next Depo appointment. Our nurses are non-judmental and here to support you! And thanks for asking this important question!

Call 303-442-5160 to make an appointment during adult hours.  On the phone, they’ll be able to give you an estimation of the cost. We do accept most insurances. You’ll still be able to walk in for birth control pick ups, but remember—you can no longer visit the clinic during teen hours, even for pick-ups. 

Thanks for continuing to take care of your health, and call us with any questions!

Ask away!

Plan B is not an abortion. It prevents pregnancy—it doesn’t end a pregnancy. If a pregnancy has already occurred, Plan B will not harm the pregnancy (or your body) in any way. Plan B can be taken up to five days after unprotected sex, but it is more effective in the first 48 hours.  Walk in to Teen Clinic any time we’re open if you need Plan B; we offer it free of charge to anyone under 20.

Check back for a listing of Teen Clinics by the end of spring—and good luck!