You Ask, We Answer

Mental health is a way to conceptualize how we feel, act, and behave in relation to our mental well-being. This encompasses how we feel and expression emotions, manage stress, and interpersonal relationships, and that is just the surface. Just as we work on our physical health every day, we can also work on our mental health daily. 

There are so many ways to work on our mental health. This can include participating in mental health therapy, it can also look like working on mindfulness in everyday life.

Due to the complexities of testing and the scope of practice of our clinics, we are unable to provide ADHD testing at BTHC. If you are interested in being screened or receiving treatment for ADHD, please notify your healthcare provider at your next visit, and we will provide you with community resources and referrals. 

While therapy and psychiatry are both fields within mental health, they have distinct differences. Therapy is a process to address emotional and behavioral concerns that can be provided by a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Social Worker (LMSW, or LCSW), or any other licensed clinician. Psychiatry is a branch of medicine where mental health issues can be assessed and addressed by medications prescribed by medical doctors. Many people benefit from a combination of therapy and psychiatric medication when working on their mental health. 

At BTHC, we offer free short-term outpatient therapy to all our patients. What does that really mean? Basically, to provide comprehensive care, almost every one of our clinics has a mental health provider on staff who can offer crisis intervention, risk reduction, quick check-ins, or consistent therapy for clients. If you are interested in our mental health services, you can reach out to your home clinic, request an appointment online, or contact the clinician directly. Due to high demand, some of our clinicians may have a waitlist and session limits in place.

We all experience sadness at times; it’s a natural part of the human emotional spectrum. Depression is a step further than simple sadness; it is usually longer lasting, around two weeks in duration. While experiencing a depressive episode can be scary and debilitating, it is important to know that you are not alone. Major Depressive Disorder is the most commonly diagnosed mental health disorder according to the World Health Organization, and subsequently, it is one of the most often treated mental health disorders.  

The short answer is Yes. A person’s chances of becoming pregnant change during different times of the month. The risk of pregnancy is highest right before ovulation and lowest on day one or two of a period. Ovulation typically happens two weeks prior to an expected period. So if you have regular, 28-day cycles, it would be around day 14. However, since the duration of cycles can vary from person to person, ovulation can be hard to predict. Since pregnancy is still possible at other times, if you would like to avoid pregnancy, it is important to consider using a method of birth control. 

No. Birth control does not affect your long-term fertility. After stopping birth control, your fertility will return to what it was prior to being on it. For some methods such as pills, patches, IUDs, rings, and implants, you could get pregnant right away or within a few weeks of stopping it. For Depo-Provera (i.e. the shot), while you could get pregnant as soon as 3 months after your last shot, it may take a few more months. 

Hormonal birth control methods include the pill, patch, ring, shot, and hormonal IUD. These methods contain progesterone. Some of them also contain estrogen. Estrogen and progesterone are hormones normally secreted by your ovaries. However, since the amount and subtype of estrogen/ progesterone in a birth control method can be different from what is normally produced in your body, some people can experience minor side effects when starting a new hormone. For many people however, by having a steady amount of hormone from the birth control (rather than varying amounts through the month), birth control can relieve menstrual symptoms such as PMS, cramps, acne, and heavy periods.

Non hormonal birth control methods include condoms (internal and external ones), pulling out, tracking ovulation through various methods, and the copper IUD. These methods don’t cause any hormone related side effects, but you also will not experience any benefits beyond pregnancy prevention. 

All sexually transmitted infections can be asymptomatic. More than 70- 80% of chlamydia, 55-80% of gonorrhea, 50% of syphilis, 50 – 90% of early HIV, and 70% of herpes infections do not have any symptom. As most people do not know they have an STI, these infections can spread easily from person to person. Ways to protect yourself include – using condoms or dental dams, being tested for STIs, asking your partner to get tested, and decreasing your number of partners.

No. The organisms that cause STIs do not survive well outside the body on toilet seats. As close contact is required to spread an STI, it is very unlikely that someone would get an STI from sitting on a toilet seat. 

First, know that you are not alone. Millions of people get diagnosed with an STI every year in the US. Most infections (such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomonas, and syphilis) can be treated with courses of antibiotics. While HIV and herpes are chronic infections, they can be treated and controlled very well. However, all these infections should be treated early to avoid serious and sometimes life-threatening complications. If you test positive:

• Reach out to your doctor or to our clinic to schedule an appointment
• If you tested positive outside of our clinic, bring all your records with you
• Do not have unprotected sex of any type (i.e. oral/ anal/ vaginal) with anyone until after you (and your partners) have completed treatment. Depending on the infection, you may need to continue to use protection even after completing your treatment
• For some infections, we can send you home with medications for your partner.
• Take all medications as prescribed
• Depending on the infection, your provider may ask you to return to the clinic at later date to get retested.

All of our services are free to low cost. You will not be refused services because you cannot pay. These services include exams, lab work, and medication.

No, you do not need insurance to receive services at the Teen Health Clinic.

The Teen Health Clinic locations see females and males ages 13 to 24 years of age.

All the locations accept walk-ins, but please try to call ahead to makes sure the clinic can fit you in. There may be an extended wait time for walk-ins.

Find the Teen Health Clinic location nearest you and call the clinic directly to make an appointment.

Yes, you may go to any location.

Bring your identification card and social security number, but we will not refuse services if you don’t have an I.D. card or social security number. Please bring your immunization record, if available.

What is Telemedicine?

This is an online appointment that will allow you to connect with your provider either via phone or via video. A video appointment is just like "face-timing" with your provider. For a phone visit, your provider will call you on your preferred phone number. You can participate in this visit from the comfort of your home. You may be able to obtain all the needed treatment without leaving your home. However, be assured that if your provider identifies the need for you to be seen in person - for example, to do a physical examination, to run tests, to give you medications, etc., we will schedule to see you in clinic after the online appointment. This telemedicine visit will make your visit in clinic much shorter and will help keep you safe.

Please Note: The phone calls and video will NOT be recorded, and we have taken all appropriate steps to keep all discussions private and confidential.

How to make the most of Telemedicine care?

• Make sure you have downloaded the required software and your audio/ video connections work for the video appointment.
• Make sure you are in a quiet room where you are comfortable talking to a provider
• Be on time for your scheduled phone call/video
• Speak clearly and talk slower than you would in person
• Create a list of your questions ahead of time and make sure you ask the provider all of the questions you have
• Make sure you understand all the next steps after your telemedicine visit. For example: Do you need tests? Do you need medications?
• When the provider has completed the visit, and you have no more questions, you can hang up the phone call/end the video
• If the provider recommended that you come to the clinic to get tests, medications etc, make sure you do so.

For sexually transmitted infections (STI) testing, treatment, and pregnancy tests, parental consent is not required.

For additional services, parental consent may be required for any minors under the age of 18 years old. A consent form must be filled out.

Please contact the clinics for more information.

We do not administer blood tests, only urine tests.

The STI screen includes tests for HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, genital warts, herpes, bacterial vaginosis, and yeast infections. For more information, see Services and STI Facts.

We will test your urine and if needed, take a blood sample.

We do not offer fertility drugs at any of our locations, but when you come in for an exam, we will check to see if everything is healthy and normal with your reproductive and sexual health. After the nurse practitioner gives you an exam, you will be able to discuss any other questions or concerns including questions about pregnancy and infertility. If it is needed, our staff will refer you to other services that are available through other clinics.

Yes, Spanish-speaking staff are available at all locations. For other languages, please let the clerk know when making your appointment.

BMI stands for Body Mass Index. It is a ratio calculated from your weight and height. If you are younger that 20 years old, this is then plotted on a growth chart to tell you if your number is within the range of other youth your age and sex. In general, BMI of > 30 kg/m2 (in an adult) or > 95th%ile on a growth chart (in children and adolescents) is defined as obesity. If the BMI is < 18 kg/m2 (in an adult) or < 5th %ile (in children and adolescents) it is a low BMI. 

High and low BMI often correlate with health conditions. For example, individuals with a high BMI may be at risk of diabetes, heart disease, or other health conditions. It is concerning if your BMI changes abruptly. Note that normal / abnormal can also vary from person to person. Hence, it is important that you discuss your BMI with your health care provider so they can consider your individual growth and risk factors. 

Prediabetes means that your blood glucose (sugar) is higher than normal but not yet high enough to be considered diabetes. It is often diagnosed by blood testing. Obesity, family history of diabetes, having diabetes during pregnancy, and a dark discoloration of the skin around the neck may all indicate that you are at risk. People with prediabetes usually have no symptoms. Having prediabetes can increase your risk of getting type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Prediabetes can be controlled/ reversed through health nutrition and exercise. 

A sports physical is completed when you plan to participate in a sport. The purpose is to determine if you are physically fit to safely participate in the sport, and hence they are focused exams. It is often required for athletic participation and your institution may need you to have a specific form signed. 

A well visit includes most components of the sports physical but in addition includes a full exam, assessment of development/ behavior, vaccines, labs, among other things. The goal of a well visit is to detect health problems early or prevent them. Adolescents and young adults should have an annual well visit.