BIRTH CONTROL FAQs

Q. If I'm a minor, can you prescribe birth control for me without parental consent?
A. Absolutely. All of Tapestry Health's services are confidential.

Q. How much will my birth control cost?
A. All of our fees are based on a sliding scale and are determined by your income and family size. If you have Mass Health insurance, all costs will be covered. We also accept Tufts, Blue Cross Blue Shield, BMC, Network Health and Health New England insurance coverage. Condoms are available free to all clients. Birth control pills and the patch usually cost $20 per month. DepoProvera costs approximately $50 for 3 months. The cost of other methods varies.

Q. How will I know what method of birth control to choose?
A. Our counselors and clinicians can give you information about the various forms of birth control we provide. (You can also read about them on our Web site by clicking on the name of the method, above.) Based on your medical history and your lifestyle, our clinicians will help you choose the method best suited to your needs.

Q. Can you fill my prescription for birth control at the clinic or do I have to go to a pharmacy?
A. Tapestry Health provides birth control onsite, but we can also provide you with a prescription for your local pharmacy.

Q. If I'm nervous, can I have a friend come into the exam room with me?
A. Absolutely.

Q. Do I have to have a pelvic exam to get birth control at Tapestry Health?
A. Not necessarily. Our counselors will help determine whether or not an exam is necessary.

Q. I've never had a pelvic exam before. Does it hurt?
A. Because everyone is built differently, every exam is different, but your exam shouldn't hurt. If you are worried, please discuss your concerns with the clinician before your exam begins. Our staff is professional and friendly, and will do their best to put you at ease and answer all of your questions.

Q. Who should have an annual gynecological exam?
A. Any woman who is sexually active, regardless of sexual orientation.

Q. Can I have a gynecological exam during my period?
A. You can, but it would not include a pap smear. For a routine check-up it's better to try to schedule an appointment when you know you won't be menstruating. But if you are worried about having an infection, please come in even if you are bleeding.

For More Information:

www.mayoclinic.com 1

www.mayoclinic.com 2

www.mckinley.uiuc.edu

www.medicinenet.com

www.nlm.nih.gov

kidshealth.org

| Print |

E-mail

Page Photo

Birth Control

Are you sexually active? Are you protecting yourself (and your partner) against unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs)?

Tapestry Health provides family-planning counseling, a wide variety of birth control methods, emergency contraception, and reproductive health services.

Birth Control

Tapestry Health can help you choose from a wide variety of birth control methods, available at all our health services locations

Hormonal Methods

The Pill
The Patch (Ortho Evra)
Depo Provera
Nuva Ring

Barrier Methods

Male Condom
Female Condom
Diaphragm

Other Methods

IUD

Emergency Contraception

We can also provide you with emergency contraception (EC) if your regular method of birth control fails or if you have unprotected intercourse.

Contraception By Mail

Tapestry Health offers oral contraceptive refills by mail for returning clients who have a prescription with us. If you are a Tapestry Health client, you can contact your local clinic to have up to three packs of pills mailed to you. Payment must be received before the pills can be sent. Tapestry Health accepts check or credit card payments. There is a $2 shipping and handling fee.

Reproductive Health Services

Tapestry Health also provides a full range of reproductive health medical services, including annual gynecological exams, Pap smears, breast exams, help with sexually transmitted and other infections, and pregnancy testing.

How to Protect Against STIs and HIV/AIDS

The only way to guard against getting sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is not to have sex or to have sex only with partners who you know are free of infection. If you do have sex, you should use a latex barrier, such as a male condom, afemale condom, or a dental dam, every time. Condoms provide protection against against STIs, including HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Tapestry Health clinicians recommend using such barriers even in combination with other methods of birth control. Latex condoms are preferred to lambskin condoms for the prevention of STIs. Using a spermicide together with a latex barrier can also help keep you from getting an STI.