Family Planning

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Crook County Health Department offers family planning services to men and women that include: Education regarding birth control methods (including abstinence), relationship safety, nutrition, vaccinations, STD/HIV risk reduction, smoking cessation, self breast examination and general health information. Well women exams, including pap smears and STD exams are provided at Crook County Health Department.

Birth control options available include:

Here is a brief overview of methods that reduce your chances of getting pregnant or causing a pregnancy. Choose the method that's right for you and use it the correct way every time.

Abstinence: Abstinence means not having sexual intercourse. There are many ways to be close to your partner without the risk of getting pregnant or getting HIV or an STI (sexually transmitted infection). Remember, regardless of what you've said in the past, it's OK to say "not now" to sex.

Male Condoms: Male condoms must be put on the erect penis before touching the vagina to keep semen from entering the vagina. For the best protection against pregnancy, use a latex condom and a spermicide too. Spermicides kill sperm. Remember that you must use a new condom each time you have sex. You can get free condoms at the Crook County Health Department.

Female Condoms: These have a ring at each end and are larger than condoms for men. The ring in the closed end must be put in the vagina. The other ring, in the open end, stays outside the woman's body. They work best when used with a spermicide.

Spermicides: Spermicides come in foams, jellies, creams, sponges and contraceptive film. Spermicides must be put into the vagina before each time you have sex. Spermicides kill sperm and work best if used with a condom. Spermicides do not protect against STDs or HIV.

Birth Control Pills: The pill contains hormones that prevent pregnancy. Pills must be taken by the woman every day at the same time. Women must see a doctor or nurse to get a prescription. Birth control pills do not protect against STDs or HIV.

Depo-Provera: A doctor or nurse gives the woman a shot (injection) of a hormone to prevent pregnancy for 13 weeks. Depo-Provera does not protect against STDs or HIV.

Emergency Contraceptive Pills: If you have unprotected sex or if your birth control method has failed, you may be able to take these pills to prevent pregnancy. They are a type of birth control pill that you take in a different way. You have up to 120 hours (or 5 days) to take these pills after having unprotected sex or they won't work.

NuvaRing®: NuvaRing® is a slender, flexible and clear ring that contains hormones and is used to prevent pregnancy. A woman puts the ring into the vagina and leaves it there for three weeks. NuvaRing® does not protect against STDs or HIV.

Ortho Evra® (The Patch): Ortho Evra® is similar to a large BandAid®, that a woman puts on her skin to prevent pregnancy. The patch contains hormones that are released through the skin and into the bloodstream. Three patches are used during one cycle. Change the patch every 7 days for three weeks. The 4th week is patch-free. It is available by prescription only. The Patch does not protect against STDs or HIV.

Diaphragm: The diaphragm is a round rubber cap that covers a woman's cervix. An exam is needed to prescribe the right size diaphragm. You must put it in the vagina with spermicide before having sex and leave it in for 6 hours. A diaphragm does not protect against STDs or HIV.

IUD: An IUD (intra-uterine device) is a small piece of plastic with a short string. A doctor or nurse must put the IUD into a woman's uterus. It may be left in place for several years. The IUD does not protect against STDs or HIV.

Natural Family Planning: This is a method that couples use to plan or prevent pregnancy. You must get special training from a healthcare provider to use this method. Natural family planning does not protect against STDs or HIV.

Whatever method you choose, use latex condoms for the best protection against pregnancy, STDs and HIV.

These methods don't work at all to prevent pregnancy, STDs or HIV:

Having sex just once or not that often (it only takes one time to get pregnant or get an infection.)
Douching
Feminine hygiene sprays
Having sex in different positions

What if?

A condom broke or slipped
You didn't use any birth control
You had sex when you didn't expect to?
You were forced to have sex?
You forgot to take your pills?

Timing is everything!

Emergency Contraception is available to any women who has had an episode of unprotected intercourse, method failure or sexual assault up to 5 days from intercourse. Emergency Contraception should be taken as soon after sex as possible to prevent an unintended pregnancy. Emergency Contraception is a method of preventing pregnancy- it does not protect against sexually transmitted infections.

Facts about Emergency Contraceptive Pills What are they?

Emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) are available through a Family Planning Clinic or a doctor. They are two progesterone (hormone) tablets which should be taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex and must be taken within five days of unprotected sex or may not work.

How do they work?

ECPs give you body a sudden dose of hormones. This changes the hormone levels that are necessary for pregnancy to happen. After several days your hormones return to normal levels.

What are the side effects?

No serious health problems have been reported. Some women using ECPs experience nausea or vomiting. You may have headaches, breast tenderness, dizziness or fluid retention.

What are the benefits?

For most women ECPs are a simple, safe way to lower the chances of getting pregnant after unprotected sex. ECPs are not 100% effective. You can still get pregnant using them. If you are already pregnant, ECPs will not cause an abortion.

You should talk with you clinician BEFORE using ECPs if:

You think you may be pregnant
You are allergic to progesterone

Planning for the future

You should talk with your nurse or doctor about getting on a regular method of birth control. ECPs are only for emergencies.

Who will know?

All services at the Family Planning Clinic are confidential. Everything we talk about and do is private between you and the nurse.