The right to confident- iality in matters of birth control has been the subject of some controversy in Congress in the last couple of years, but no state has yet passed a law requiring parental notification for birth control. Some states leave it up to the discretion of the doctor, so you might want to make sure that you and your doctor are on the same page when it comes to informing your parents. Buy the book!

Q: Will you tell my parents things I tell you (if I'm under 18)?

A: These issues are kept between the doctor and patient. The doctor and the patient have a confidential relationship and privacy is a very important issue, especially for a gynecologist.

I want my patients to feel they can be frank with me about their sexual activity and their possible exposure to different STDs. I also encourage patients to talk freely with their parents about their sexual activity and contraception.