At our Teen Health Clinic in San Antonio, we help teens and young adults between the ages of 10 to 24 feel empowered by taking charge of their well-being.
Our patients can expect support from kind, nonjudgmental experts in a safe environment.
Why See a Health Care Provider?
Whether you’re a pre-teen, tween, adolescent or young adult, your body is going through changes. Your life, mood and relationships are evolving, too.
Our specialists can answer questions for teens and young adults about topics such as:
- Puberty
- Your period (menstruation)
- Gender identity
- Sexual orientation
- Birth control (contraception)
- Pregnancy
- Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- Mental and behavioral health, including depression and anxiety
If you have a primary care doctor, we’ll communicate with them to make sure all of your providers stay updated on your health.
Your Privacy
You may not want to talk about your mental or sexual health in front of your parents or other family members. If an adult comes to your Teen Health Clinic appointment, we may ask that person to step out of the room while we ask about your lifestyle and concerns. Your health information is confidential, so only your doctor can see it.
If you wish to share specific information with your parents or other caregivers, we can walk you through that process.
Welcoming, Affirming Environment
Count on us to listen and get to know you so we can provide the care, support and advice you need. Your doctor, nurse and other medical professionals want you to feel comfortable during your visit. No matter who you are or what you’re worried about, we’re here to help.
Health Services for Teen & Young Adults
During your visit to the Teen Health Clinic, tell us if you’d like to receive:
- Behavioral and mental health counseling – Helps you improve your mood and relationships and cope with problems in everyday life
- Birth control – Prevents pregnancy and is available for free or at a low cost thanks to Texas’ Family Planning Program
- Period care – Gives you medicine or advice to make menstruation less painful or heavy
- Pregnancy testing – Uses a quick, simple urine test to tell you if you’re pregnant
- Pap smear test – Checks for cervical cancer; we recommend testing starting at age 21, even if you’re sexually active before then
- STI screening and testing – Checks your body for illnesses that spread through sex, so you find any infections early, when they’re easier to treat
- HPV vaccination – Protect you from illnesses caused by germs, including HPV infections, which can cause cancer and are common among people who’ve had sex
Pelvic Exams
Ask us whether you might need a pelvic exam—a brief procedure to check the female sex organs. You likely don’t need one if you’re visiting us only because you have painful periods or want to get birth control.
If we recommend a pelvic exam and you agree to receive it, someone other than the person performing the exam will also be in the room with you.
Pregnancy Care
If you’re pregnant, rely on University Health to help you and your baby stay well and experience a safe, happy birth. We’ll refer you to a prenatal (pregnancy) doctor who can care for you before, during and after your newborn’s arrival. You can also sign up for CenteringPregnancy classes, where you’ll join other young pregnant patients to learn about childbirth and infant care.
Support for New Parents
After delivery, look forward to support from:
- Lactation consultant (breastfeeding expert) – Shows you how to nurse your baby
- Nurse-family partnership – Provides a nurse to visit your home to teach you how to care for your baby over the first two years
Social Services
You’ll feel at home among our team that cares about your health and you as a whole person. We'll connect you to social services if you need support that a doctor or nurse can’t give. These people and programs help make sure you have:
- Help to pay for your health care if you don’t have insurance
- Enough food to eat
- A safe place to live
- Support to graduate from school or earn your GED
- A job if you’re out of school
Spanish-Speaking Providers
When you make an appointment, let us know if you prefer to speak Spanish. We’ll plan for you to see one of our bilingual health care providers.
Gage Award for Adolescent Health
You can trust us for excellent care because University Health earned the Gage Award from America’s Essential Hospitals for our Teen Health Clinic. We’re one of just a few hospitals nationwide to hold this award. It recognizes our efforts to help give South Texas teens the resources to make healthy choices.
