Your health. Your goals. Your choice.
Choosing birth control is personal. The right option for you may depend on your health, lifestyle, plans for pregnancy, how often you want to think about birth control and your individual preferences.
Eastern Iowa Health Center’s Women’s Health team provides birth control education and options to help you make an informed decision that works for you.
Whether you’re interested in something you use only when needed, a daily or monthly method, or birth control that can last for several years, our healthcare providers can help you understand your choices.
There isn’t one birth control method that’s right for everyone.
When considering your options, you and your healthcare provider may talk about:
How effective you want your birth control to be
Whether you prefer hormonal or non-hormonal options
How often you want to think about or manage your birth control
Possible side effects
Your medical history
Whether and when you may want to become pregnant
Protection from sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
Your personal preferences and reproductive goals
Our Women’s Health team can explain the benefits, possible risks and considerations for different methods so you can make an informed choice.
Short-acting methods require you to use or remember them regularly. Depending on the method, that might mean every time you have sex, every day, every week, every month or every few months.
Options may include:
Birth control pills
Birth control patch
Vaginal ring
Birth control injection
Condoms
Vaginal contraceptive methods
Fertility-awareness methods
Free condoms are available at Eastern Iowa Health Center locations.
Ask your healthcare provider which options are currently available and may be appropriate for you.
If you want highly effective birth control without having to remember it every day, a long-acting reversible contraceptive may be an option.
LARC methods include:
Intrauterine devices (IUDs) – small devices placed inside the uterus. Hormonal and non-hormonal options are available.
Contraceptive implant – a small, flexible implant placed beneath the skin of the upper arm.
Depending on the method, these options can provide pregnancy prevention for several years and can be removed if you decide you want to become pregnant or change birth control methods.
Talk with your Women’s Health provider about whether a LARC method may be right for you.
Emergency contraception can help prevent pregnancy after sex when birth control wasn’t used or when a birth control method may have failed, such as a condom breaking.
Different emergency contraception options are available, and timing matters. Some emergency contraceptive pills are available without a prescription, while other options require a prescription or healthcare visit.
If you need emergency contraception or aren’t sure which option is appropriate, contact our Women’s Health team as soon as possible.
Most birth control methods help prevent pregnancy but do not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Condoms can help reduce the risk of many STIs and can be used along with another birth control method for additional protection.
Eastern Iowa Health Center also offers STI testing and treatment. Talk with your healthcare provider about testing and prevention based on your individual needs.
Our Women’s Health team provides additional reproductive and preventive healthcare services, including:
Pregnancy testing
Family planning education
STI testing and treatment
HIV testing
Breast and pelvic exams
Cervical cancer screening
Routine women’s health visits
Your provider can help determine which services and screenings are appropriate for you.
Eastern Iowa Health Center participates in the Title X Family Planning Program, which helps provide access to confidential family planning and preventive health services.
Adolescent patients can talk with our healthcare team about confidential family planning services. Our team can explain privacy, consent and confidentiality and answer questions about your individual situation.
As a Title X family planning provider, Eastern Iowa Health Center offers eligible family planning services with costs based on income and ability to pay.
Insurance coverage and costs may vary depending on the birth control method or service you choose. Our team can help you understand available options and potential costs.
You don’t have to choose a birth control method before your appointment.
Come with your questions. Tell us what matters to you, what you’ve tried before and what you’re looking for now. Our Women’s Health team can help you understand your options and choose a method that fits your health, lifestyle and goals.
Call Eastern Iowa Health Center at 319.730.7300 to schedule an appointment with our Women's Health team.
SCHEDULE A WOMEN'S HEALTH APPOINTMENT
