Family Planning
Starting a Family is no small step.
Whether you are looking for contraception or anticipating a pregnancy, we are here to support you. If you are having trouble achieving pregnancy, we offer a comprehensive fertility evaluation and treatment. We work closely with several infertility centers if another level of care is required. We welcome you to schedule an appointment to discuss fertility struggles or to address any preconception concerns.
Family Planning Q & A
Q: What is family planning?
A: Family planning is the ability to control how many children you have and when you have them. We offer educational resources, physical exams, and advice to help you decide when and if you have a baby.
While family planning is often associated with abortion, it’s far more comprehensive and includes services to prevent unintended pregnancies as well as support for patients struggling with infertility.
Q: What’s included in family planning?
A: Family planning services include an integrated array of services, including:
- Contraception counseling and prescriptions
- Pregnancy testing
- Preconception health services
- Basic infertility treatments
- Breast and pelvic exams
- Breast and cervical cancer screenings
- STD testing and prevention advice
- Counseling for unintended pregnancies
- Abortion
We are committed to helping you control when and if you start or grow your family. You have reproductive rights, and we provide the services that allow you to exercise them.
Q: Why is family planning important?
A: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) state that family planning is one of the 10 most significant public health achievements of the 20th century.
When women and their partners gained the ability to control how many children they have, family sizes decreased, but so did infant and maternal mortality.
Family planning also decreases unintended pregnancies and provides fertility support to couples who struggle to conceive. Additionally, family planning services reduce the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
For example, in 2015, family planning services helped prevent 1.9 million unintended pregnancies. An unintended pregnancy is either mistimed or unwanted. Some of the risks of unintended pregnancies include:
- Delayed prenatal care
- Reduced likelihood of breastfeeding
- Increased risk of maternal depression
- Increased risk of prenatal physical violence
When you can decide when you have a baby, you’re more likely to get the prenatal care you need, resulting in better health for you and your baby. You also reduce your baby’s risk of low birth weight as well as on-going physical and mental challenges.
Family planning can help you protect your health and well-being.
