Ask us anything. No judgments.
UTI? NBD
Someone asked us:
I had sex for the first time 5 days ago & again 2 days after that but now it really hurts to pee. It stings & I also get really bad urges to pee but either nothing comes out or it’s very little. I looked it up online & everything points to a UTI. It says the only way to fully get rid of it is antibiotics from a doctor but I’m too embarrassed to ask my mom in case she starts asking questions. Is there any other way to get rid of it?
It sounds like a urinary tract infection to us, too. Painful urination and feeling like you have to pee all the time are both signs of a UTI, as is blood in your urine. The good news is that UTIs are really common and easily treatable. The less good news is that the info you’ve heard is right — the only way to get rid of your UTI is with antibiotics, and you have to get those from a doctor. Your local Planned Parenthood health center can help you out, and so can many other health care providers and clinics.
It’s super important to see a nurse or doctor as soon as possible. If you let your UTI go untreated, it can turn into something way more serious, like a kidney infection.
It’s pretty easy to get a UTI, and they don’t happen just to people who are sexually active. They can happen to anyone. So telling your mom about it doesn’t have to be embarrassing. If you’re feeling really squeamish, it’s okay to let her know. You could try saying something like, “This is sort of embarrassing, but I’ve been having these weird symptoms, and I looked them up online and I think I have a UTI.” There’s a good chance your mom has had a UTI herself at one point or another. If you’re still reluctant to tell her about it give your health care provider a call to ask about their privacy policies.
- Alex at Planned Parenthood
I’m on birth control. Does my doctor need to know?
Someone asked us:
I am done with college now, but I am still under my very conservative parents’ insurance. When I go to get checkups, the doctors always ask if I’m on any medications. Should I tell my doctors/dentists that I’m on the Implanon? I know there’s doctor-patient confidentiality, but I’m always worried that someone might let something slip. What to do?
You should always tell your doctor (or any health care provider who asks) what medications you’re on, including hormonal birth control like the implant. It’s information your doctor needs to have to get an accurate sense of what’s going on with your health and body.
In general, health care providers have to keep their patients’ information confidential. Since you’re not a minor, there’s virtually no reason a doctor would tell your parents that you’re using birth control. It’s possible but unlikely that your parents could get this information through your insurance provider. If you’re really worried about it, you could call your insurance provider to ask about their policies.
- Alex at Planned Parenthood
“Is it bad that my parents haven’t talked to me about birth control yet?” Read more.
Someone asked us:
Dear Planned Parenthood- You guys rock. But why can’t my school teach responsibility instead of teaching abstinence? I just think it’s unrealistic. I mean we learn about STD’s and stuff… but I’d rather they teach us how to be street smart and safe instead of just telling us not to have sex. That doesn’t help me. Thank goodness I got you guys. And thank you so much for all the great advice you give.
No, Anonymous, you rock! Thanks for the Tumblr love. We’ll always be here for you!
We totally agree. By providing misinformation and withholding accurate information that young people need in order to make informed choices, abstinence-only programs deny young people life-saving information. Plus they don’t actually reduce unintended pregnancy and STD rates.
We think all young people deserve medically-accurate, age-appropriate, honest information about sex, sexuality, and safe and healthy relationships that can help them make responsible decisions. We think abstinence is a great option, but we also think young people deserve to know about other ways to protect themselves if and when they choose to have sex.
Because so many students don’t have access to comprehensive sexuality education, and because there’s so much misinformation about sex out there, we encourage teens to talk about this stuff with their parents. October is Let’s Talk Month, and we have a bunch of tools and tips for helping families talk. While talking about sex might seem like a really challenging conversation, it’s actually easier than you think.
-Nathan at Planned Parenthood
You might be talking with your teen about sex. But are you really communicating? We’ve got resources and advice that can help.
Getting Birth Control Without Your Parents
Someone asked us:
If I go in to get birth control or something and I’m under 18, do you tell my parents/guardians?
Planned Parenthood’s policy is to protect patient confidentiality as much as state law allows. Most health care providers keep their clients’ information confidential, but specific laws about what health care providers have to tell a minor’s parents can vary from state to state.
In general, you don’t need a parent’s permission to get a prescription for birth control. But for one reason or another, there might be certain situations where you do need a parent’s permission. So we can’t tell you exactly what the situation will be at your local Planned Parenthood health center. But we can tell you with 100% certainty that:
- You can contact your local Planned Parenthood health center to ask about their specific policy before you go.
- You can always get condoms without a parent’s permission, at a health center or most drug stores and grocery stores.
But just because you may not need to talk to your parents about getting birth control, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t. The very idea of talking about sex with your parents might make you cringe, but the chances are actually really good that it’ll be worthwhile — they can help you make the best sexual health decisions, and might be able to offer some great advice, too. October is Let’s Talk Month, which can be a great excuse to bring up the conversation and test the waters. Learn more about how to talk to your parents about sex.
- Alex at Planned Parenthood
October is Let’s Talk Month! Keeping your teens healthy and safe means talking with them about relationships and sex. Here are some handy videos to help you get comfortable with having those conversations.
Pregnant? There’s an app for that!
Predicting ovulation, understanding your fertility, pregnancy pilates, prenatal to-dos, choosing a name, and timing your contractions. There’s an app for that. Any of you parents (or soon-to-be parents) using new technologies to make the pregnancy process a little easier? Let us know in your reblog.
Seen around the office… Robie H. Harris’ Let’s Talk about Sex
