About Us: The Palo Alto Medical Foundation Adolescent Interest Group created the "We're Talking Teen Health" Web site as a resource for Bay Area teens. Our goal was to create a resource teens can use to learn more about issues relating to their physical and emotional health. Along with doctors, psychologists, educators and nutritionists, we count local teens and preteens among our writers.

The teens in our group remind us that there is a broad spectrum of teen behavior — from "abstainers" to "heavy risk takers." All have something to say, so we include all points of view. "We're Talking Teen Health" contains vocabulary that teens can understand and relate to, including current slang.  Come visit us and let us know what you think.

Ask the Expert: View our Most Recent Questions and Answers, or click on a specific topic below to see a list of teens' questions that have been answered by Palo Alto Medical Foundation health care providers.

Emotions and Life: As a teenager, you may be dealing with lots of emotional highs and lows. One minute you might feel great, and the next you feel sad and tearful. This kind of shift in your moods is okay!

General Health: In this section, you’ll find information about dealing with some of the changes associated with puberty, including skin problems, nutrition, fitness and disease.

Tobacco, Drugs & Alcohol: In this section you’ll learn about tobacco, drugs and alcohol and how they affect the body and mind.

Sexual Health and Experience: Sexuality is an important aspect of life, and adolescence is a critical period in the development of sexual values, attitudes and behavior. The advent of puberty, the power of peer-group expectations, and the communication of mixed messages about sex make dealing with sexuality a difficult but exciting challenge for adolescents.