Where can I get birth control services?
In addition to your private health care provider, there are free or low-cost clinics that provide family planning services, such as birth control, testing for sexually transmitted infections, and pelvic exams. These are for all women and their partners, regardless of income level. Go to our family planning clinic locator to find a clinic near you.
How can I pay for birth control?
In Iowa there are programs to help women and men pay for birth control and family planning health services. Click here to get more information.
When visiting a family planning clinic, what can I expect at my appointment?
Family planning clinics are like any other health care providers’ office and they all offer affordable women’s health care services such as annual exams, mammograms, pelvic exams, birth control information, prescriptions, and much more. The health care providers who work in these clinics are there to help and support you every step of the way.
In most cases, you will first meet with a health care provider to discuss what brought you to the clinic. If you are interested in birth control, the health care professional will discuss the options available. Depending on the birth control method you choose, you may need to have a pelvic exam.
Here are some tips to help you prepare for your appointment:
- Write down your questions before your appointment. This will help you remember everything you want to talk about. Also, it may help you to write down the answers to your questions during your appointment or to take notes during your visit.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions during your appointment. If you don’t understand something, have your health care provider explain it again. If you are getting your birth control method from a pharmacy make sure you ask the pharmacist any questions you have. Make sure you ask all the questions you need to, and don’t leave without understanding everything he or she told you.
- Be honest. Don’t be embarrassed to talk about your symptoms, health or sexual history with your health care provider. Remember that they have talked with many women and have heard it all before. Being honest also ensures you’ll receive the care that’s best for you.
- Bring a list of your medications to your appointment. Let your health care provider know if you are taking any prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, herbal remedies, and other supplements. Also, don’t forget to mention any allergies you may have.
- Bring someone with you. If you need support or help making decisions, ask your partner, a friend or family member to go with you. He or she can help you remember what your health care provider said during your appointment. If you would rather be alone during your appointment, you can ask somebody to come with you, but wait in the waiting room while you are meeting with a health care provider.
When I go to a family planning clinic, is my information confidential?
Yes. Your information is confidential and protected under both federal and state law. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), a federal law, gives you rights over your health information and sets rules and limits on who can look at and receive your health information. The following information is protected:
- Information your doctors, nurses, and other health care providers put in your medical record
- Conversations your doctor has about your care or treatment with nurses and others
- Information about you in your health insurer’s computer system
- Billing information about you at your clinic
In Iowa, minors, (those under age 18) have the right to confidential birth control services and sexually transmitted infection services, such as testing and treatment.
In addition, staff at family planning clinics can help you receive and pay for services without having to inform anyone else. There are also several kinds of birth control that do not require a prescription. Click here to find a family planning clinic near you
What do I do if I had unprotected sex or my birth control method failed?
Relax. If your regular birth control method fails or if you’ve had sex without a method of birth control you can still prevent pregnancy up 72 hours after sex. You can take Emergency Contraception (EC) to reduce your chances of becoming pregnant. EC contains two pills that contain a higher dose of a hormone found in many birth control pills. Take the first pill as soon as possible (within 72 hours after sex) and the second pill 12 hours later. It works better the sooner you take it and works best when taken within the first 24 hours after sex.
Women and men 17 and older can get EC from pharmacists over the counter. If you’re under 17 you will need a prescription from a health care provider. Click here to find a health care provider near you. You can take EC as a backup method to reduce your chances of becoming pregnant if your regular birth control method failed (the condom broke or slipped), you made a mistake with your regular method (you forgot to take a birth control pill), or if you didn’t use any birth control method.
You should not use EC if you’re already pregnant. It will not harm the fetus, but you shouldn’t take it if you’re pregnant, because it won’t work. You should also not use EC in place of a regular birth control method. It should only be used as a backup. EC does not protect you from sexually transmitted infections.
What do I do if I think I’m pregnant?
Don’t spend another day worrying because you may be compromising your mental and physical health. Your first step should be to go to a family planning clinic or another health care provider. Having support from a friend or someone you trust may be helpful. If you find out you aren’t pregnant, you should think about ways to avoid having another scare in the future, such as finding a birth control method you can use consistently and correctly every time. If you are pregnant, your health care provider can talk to you about the options that are available to you. Your health care provider can tell you about different organizations where you can find help and support for the decision you make.
What do I do if I think I have a sexually transmitted infection?
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are spread through sexual contact, which includes vaginal, anal and oral sex. Some STIs are also spread through close contact by touching an infected part of the body. Often, these infections cause mild symptoms or do not have any symptoms and can result in serious and sometimes life threatening complications if left untreated. Therefore, it is important to get tested regularly if you are sexually active.
If you think you have a sexually transmitted infection (STI), the first thing to do is to make an appointment for a full STI checkup at a family planning clinic near you. When you go to your appointment make sure you tell your healthcare provider the symptoms you are experiencing. This is not something you have to be embarrassed about and it’s important that you’re honest so you can receive the most appropriate treatment. Most STIs are treatable, and it is important for you to get treatment right away. Also, you can use this opportunity to get information about specific STIs and talk about ways to prevent transmission. Your health care provider can also tell you when it is OK to become sexually active again to prevent spreading the infection.
When being tested for a STI, the tests used may take some time to produce a positive or negative result. It’s best to stay abstinent (don’t have any type of sex- vaginal, oral or anal) during that time to prevent spreading an infection.
Also, remember honesty is the best policy when communicating with your sexual partner. If you think you may have an STI it’s important to tell your partner. It may not be easy, but it’s the right thing to do.
