For your sexual & reproductive health, a doctor or health care provider can help you…
- Understand changes that happen to you during puberty
- Get the best forms of birth control for you and your partner to prevent from getting pregnant
- Screen you for STDs including an HIV test
- Understand how to prevent from getting STDs/HIV
- Address any issues you have related to your sexual function or performance
- Learn how to have sex that is pleasurable
- Learn how to take care of your fertility (ability to have children)
- Plan for a healthy pregnancy when you and your partner are ready to get pregnant
- Address your health so you can be the best father you can be
- With relationship issues including how to stay safe in your relationships
- Prevent from getting any reproductive-related cancers
What should you expect a doctor to do, how often & what’s the reason why?
| A doctor should | How often? | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Take your sexual health history | Each visit | Helps your doctor address your sexual & reproductive health needs |
| Conduct a full body exam | Each year for adolescents | Helps your doctor know that you are developing right & identify any physical exam findings you may not be aware of |
| Screen you for the following STDs: | ||
| Chlamydia | Each year if you are under 25 or every 3 months if you’ve tested positive in the past | STDs are very common in Baltimore & you may not even know you have an STD. |
| Gonorrhea | ||
| Syphilis | Each year if you are having sex | |
| HIV | Each year if you are having sex or more frequently if you’ve tested positive for other STDs | |
| Get HPV (Human Papillomavirus) & HBV (Hepatitis B) vaccines to protect against STDs | If under 25 years old & never got or not sure you ever got the vaccine | Vaccines can help you prevent from getting these STDs that can result in serious problems |
| Get counseling to help you learn how to reduce your risk for getting STDs/HIV | If you are having sex | Your doctor or their staff can help you learn skills that you can use in your relationships to reduce your risk |