Teen Clinic

Great question! Yes. At Bridgercare, minors can access sexual healthcare without the consent or notification of their parents. That means they can start a birth control method or get tested for STIs without their parents being involved.

That being said, it’s totally understandable if your parents are worried about you. That’s their job! Be sure to talk to them about your healthcare and choices when you are ready. For your safety, we are required to reach out for help if you tell us you are being sexually abused. Also, by law, we must reach out for help if you are under the age of 16 and you tell us you are having sex.

First, if you are experiencing pain, bleeding, itching, or discharge, make an appointment to see a medical provider soon or come see us during Teen Clinic.

In general, sexually transmitted infections are just that—sexually transmitted! However, there are a few infections considered STIs that can spread non-sexually. For instance, pubic lice (also known as Crabs) can be spread through wet towels, loofahs, bedsheets, and wet clothing. Pubic lice can live outside the body for up to 24 hours in locations that are warm, dark, and moist.

Bloodborne STIs—like HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B & C—can also be spread non-sexually. This most often occurs during IV drug use. Again, it’s important to realize these infections would not be considered STIs in this scenario since they were not spread sexually. (However, if you received them non-sexually, you could still transmit them to others through sexual activity.)

Lastly, it’s important to be specific about what we mean by “sex.” If you are having oral, anal, or vaginal sex, you are at risk for STIs. In particular, HPV, Herpes, Syphilis, and pubic lice can all spread through skin-to-skin contact.

Teen Clinic is here for you! We know it can be scary to learn you’re pregnant. The first step is to connect with someone you trust who will support you. Teen Clinic offers free, unbiased decision counseling to help you learn more about your options. You’re welcome to bring your support person with you. We’re also able to meet with your family or partner if you need help having this discussion.

Whether you decide to pursue parenting, consider adoption, or end your pregnancy, Teen Clinic will give you a safe place to discuss your next steps.

Great question! Unfortunately, STIs will not show up (on either a test or symptomatically) until at least 2 weeks after sexual interaction with an infected person. If you have symptoms of an infection, though, like pain, bleeding, or unusual discharge, you should be seen right away. Teen Clinic always recommends using condoms to help reduce your risk of contracting an STI.

Bridgercare is here for you. We offer services to all people regardless of their age, race, language, ethnicity, sexual orientation, sex or gender. Birth control and STI-related services are available on a sliding scale. How much you pay depends on your income and household size.

Thanks for asking! First, there is no age limit for purchasing a pregnancy test. If there is a pharmacy or grocery store within walking distance, you can buy a pregnancy test over the counter without any trouble. Prices vary from $1-$20. Some teens are most comfortable visiting a store with self-checkout.

At Bridgercare, we offer FREE pregnancy testing appointments with counseling available on ALL options (prenatal care, adoption, and pregnancy termination) during Teen clinic and at any other time.

Teen Clinic is also easily accessible by bus! Check out Streamline’s website to see which bus you’d need to hop on.

Lastly, consider talking to another trusted adult in your life. Do you have a mentor, sibling, teacher, or friend of the family you can turn to? It’s important to feel supported as you make these big choices, and another adult may be able to help you get to Teen Clinic. If your pregnancy test is negative and you still plan on being sexually active and don’t want to get pregnant, you can consider starting a birth control method—so visiting Teen Clinic may be your best option.