My condom broke last night. Will the morning after pill prevent my girlfriend from getting pregnant?

The morning after pill, also called emergency contraception, can prevent pregnancy. It must be taken within 3 days (or 72 hours) after sex, the earlier the better. To get the morning after pill, your partner should go to Planned Parenthood (724-7525, 426-5550) or a local pharmacy right away.

My girlfriend thinks she is pregnant, where can she go to find out?

Check out these places to get a pregnancy test. They also offer counseling about what to do if she is pregnant.

Can she get pregnant if...

If I pull out before I come, can she get pregnant?

Yes, she can still get pregnant. Pulling out rarely works. Even before you come, you might be leaking fluid that can cause pregnancy. Pulling out is better than nothing, but not much.

If she is on her period, can she get pregnant?

Yes, she can still get pregnant.

If it's her first time having sex, can she get pregnant?

Yes, she can still get pregnant.

If she douches (rinses out the vagina) after we have sex, can she get pregnant?

Yes, she can still get pregnant.

If she pees or showers after sex, can she get pregnant?

Yes, she can still get pregnant.

Can I get an STD if my partner only gives me head? What about if I go down on her?

You can get an STD by having oral sex with a girl or guy. Use a condom or dental dam for all types of sex, including oral sex.

I had some sores, but they went away. Do I still have to go to the doctor?

Yes, the symptoms of an STD can come and go, but the disease is still in your body. If you don't get checked, the STD can get worse. You could also give the STD to someone else.

We only play around, and I have never put my penis all the way in, so am I safe?

If your penis touches anywhere near her vagina, you could get an STD. Or you could give her an STD or even get her pregnant.

Am I protected from all STDs if I wear a condom?

You can still get some STDs, such as herpes, even if you are wearing a condom. You could get herpes on your scrotum (balls). Why? Condoms do not cover your scrotum, so your skin could still touch a herpes sore on your partner. This is why it is important to know who you are having sex with. Another way to protect yourself is to decrease how many people you have sex with.

Where can I go to get tested for STDs?

You can go to your doctor or you can go to one of the clinics.

Is there a cure for HIV?

No, there is no cure for HIV. But with new medicine and treatment, many people can live longer, healthier lives if treated early.

Can I have HIV and not know it?

Yes, you can be infected with HIV but live many years without any symptoms. The only way to know for sure that you don't have HIV is to get tested.

Can I get HIV from drinking out of someone else's glass? Can I get it from a toilet seat or bug bite?

No, HIV is not spread by casual contact. HIV is spread through blood, semen (cum), vaginal secretions, and breast milk. If you don't come in contact with these 4 fluids, you will not get HIV.

I want to get an HIV test. Where do I go? Will anyone find out my results?

There are several places in Santa Cruz County that offer anonymous testing. This means that you do not give your name, so no one else will know your result. Check out these test locations.

Is it true that there is a new HIV test?

Yes, the new test is called "OraSure". It's painless and does not involve any blood or needles. The test counselor will place a cotton pad in your mouth for a few minutes. It's 99% accurate. At some test sites, you will get your results in 20 minutes.

If someone is HIV positive, does that mean they have AIDS?

Not necessarily, someone can have the virus in his/her body but not have any symptoms or gotten sick yet. AIDS is the name used by doctors when they diagnose any one of a number of diseases people can get when they are infected with HIV. For information about the difference between HIV and AIDS, check out "What is HIV?".

Can I get HIV from oral sex?

You could get HIV from having oral sex without a condom. However, the chances of getting HIV from oral sex are less than getting HIV from anal or vaginal sex.