Birth Control, Family Planning, Health Care
Hormonal birth control like the Pill (which has within 60 years this month, wow!) is very good at preventing unplanned pregnancy and has other positive effectstoo.
However, there are many reasons you might stop using oral contraception or another hormonal method. Sometimes, it’s because you’re ready and able to start a family or you want to try a fertility awareness method. But there are many other possibilities.
Maybe you can’t get to a clinic and don’t have internet access for a Virtual Visit for birth control. Maybe you’ve recently been unemployed or uninsured and don’t know how to pay for your prescription. Perhaps you are having relationship or family issues and are concerned about confidentiality. Maybe you’re worried about birth control side effects you’ve heard about on the news, or from a friend.
Maybe there’s a Covid-19 pandemic going on and everything is a mess and it falls off your list. Understandable.
Here at MFP, we’re here to help you figure out what birth control method works best for your life and circumstances. Before you stop taking your birth control pill, come in for your Depo shot, or use your birth control ring, let’s talk.
Let’s talk about your lifestyle and reproductive life plan:
- Are you hoping to get pregnant in the next 12 months?
- When do you see yourself starting a family?
- What is your daily routine?
- Are you in a healthy relationship?
Let’s talk about finances: At MFP, our goal is to provide affordable, high-quality sexual and reproductive health care to all Mainers, regardless of their ability to pay. We can help you learn about programs and paperwork or point you to helpful resources.
Let’s talk about your body! Your clinician can answer any questions you have about how birth control will interact with your body, your sex life, and any conditions you may be living with.
These conversations become a central part of our work as family planning providers — we want to empower you to pursue your dreams and build the life and family you envision, on your timeline. And we want you to feel it trust about the choices you make for your body and health.
Stopping birth control suddenly can have its own side effects — most notably, an unplanned pregnancy, but also abnormal bleeding and hormone swings.
but we urge all patients to speak with their trusted medical provider before stopping or switching birth control.
In response to Covid-19, MFP is offering many services online, via telehealth – including birth control care. Our Virtual Visits can happen wherever you are, as long as you have internet access and a phone or computer with a camera. We can see new or existing patients through Virtual Visits. Call us at 207-922-3222 or go online to learn more.
