Your health care provider's job is to help you protect your health and well-being. The more honest information he/she has about your sexual history and your current sexual practices, the better equipped he/she will be to make well-informed recommendations about birth control options, STD screening, etc. In other words, being honest is the key to getting good health care.

If you're concerned about confidentiality, ask your health care provider right at the beginning what his or her policy is. Tell your health care provider exactly what you're concerned about; for example, "I have some questions about preventing pregnancy, but I don't want my mom to know the details of our talk." That way you'll know in advance exactly what information is protected, and from whom.

Here's something else to keep in mind: STD testing isn't automatically part of a routine check-up, so don't assume that you're being screened if your doctor doesn't mention it. Also, there is no such thing as a "universal" STD test - you must ask to be tested for each STD by name. STDs, including HIV, are a health risk for everyone who's sexually active (remember: oral sex counts!), so it's a smart idea to discuss your testing needs with your doctor. By talking about your sexual history, including oral, anal and vaginal encounters when you didn't use latex or polyurethane condoms, your health care provider will be able to gauge which STD tests you're likely to need. Ask for a specific test, too, if you're concerned that you might be at risk.

P.S. Don't forget to ask about how to pick up your test results. Often, when STD tests come back negative, you don't get any notification at all. Check the procedure at your doctor's office in advance.

Health care providers are trained birth control experts, so no question will throw them for a loop. If you're unhappy with the method of birth control you're using, or if you're trying to decide on a method for the first time, run your concerns by your doctor. He/she can instruct you in how to use a condom, what the positives and negatives are to the Pill, etc. Even if you're only considering becoming sexually active at some point in the future, it's always smart to be informed and prepared in advance.

We all know that health care providers have some strong opinions about what's healthy behavior and what isn't. That can make it hard to admit to any slip-ups or mistakes you may have made in the past, such as having unprotected sex-especially if you already understand why what you did wasn't so brilliant. But here's the bottom line: your health care provider isn't there to judge you or scold you, he/she's there to help you stay healthy. If you're ashamed or worried about some health-related behavior (including being in an abusive relationship), tell your health care provider so you can get the appropriate advice and care. Share the relevant facts, so you can work together to keep you healthy.

it's your (sex) life is brought to you in partnership with the Kaiser Family Foundation, an independent, non-profit health care philanthropy.The content of this site was prepared by staff of the Foundation. MTV and the Foundation have joined forces to provide information on important sexual health issues to MTV viewers and online users. The Kaiser Family Foundation is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente or any other Kaiser Industries.