When you see a doctor, nurse, counselor, or any medical expert, it’s very important that you ask as many questions as possible, so you can learn as much as possible.You’re young. No one expects you to know everything about sex, or anything about birth control. So how do you know what kinds of questions to ask? Here are a few suggestions.

For girls:

• What kinds of birth control are there?
• How do I know what birth control is best for my body?
• What are the side effects?
• Where can I get my prescription filled?
• Do I need to come back for regular checkups?
• If I have a problem with my birth control, who do I call?

For guys:

• How can I convince my girlfriend to go on birth control?
• How often should I get tested for STDs?

By law, doctors must keep your conversations about pregnancy prevention (including birth control) and STDs confidential—meaning that they cannot reveal to your parents or partner what you talked about, what prescriptions they wrote for you, or what tests you took.

Be aware that there are other ways your parents could know about your visit, like through a medical bill or insurance claim. So if that’s something you want to keep private, be sure to ask the doctor’s office what their confidentiality policy is when you make your appointment. Ask questions like:

• How will you contact me to report any test results or to remind me of appointments?
• Can I get services at your office without my parents’ permission?
• Can my parents have access to my records?
• Will my parents see the bill?