Hey uterus owners! College is a super exciting time, full of new experiences: good and bad. That’s why it is so important to know your options when it comes to reproductive care! This can include anything from physical contraception (condoms, female condoms, spermicide, etc.) to hormonal contraception (i.e. birth control) and even UTI and STD treatment.
A great place to start is your school’s health center. Here at UMass, our University Health Services (UHS) offers all sorts of care. You can find physical contraception and the “morning after” pill in their onsite pharmacy at a reduced price. As far as medical care for reproductive health, they prescribe and manage birth control, test for pregnancy, and perform pap smears. In addition, they test and diagnose sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and urinary tract infections (UTIs). STDs and UTIs both require prescription medication to treat so it’s important to get tested if you think you might have acquired one. If you aren’t comfortable with getting your reproductive care in person, there are also several online resources. Sites like Hey Favor, Nurx, Simple Health, and Lemonaid Health all offer access to birth control online. While each site offers a slightly different menu of birth control options, there are six main options:
- The Pill
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We all know it, we love it, the ol’ reliable. The pill is 93% effective on average. This is the most popular option because it is non-invasive and the power is completely in your hands. This is also typically the cheapest option for birth control.
- IUD
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An Intrauterine Device (IUD) is a small, flexible piece of plastic that is shaped like a T and basically lives in your uterus for 3 to 12 years depending on the type and brand. There are two types of IUDs: hormonal and copper. Both of them work in basically the same way — they inhibit sperm mobility to prevent pregnancy.
- the ring
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No, not the accessory. There are two types of rings: NuvaRing and Annovera. NuvaRing is inserted and replaced by a new ring every 5 weeks. Annovera works differently by inserting for 28 days and removing for 7, replacing with the same ring for up to 13 cycles. Both rings use a combination of hormones to prevent pregnancy.
- The Implant
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The implant is a small, matchstick-sized device that gets inserted into your upper arm by a medical professional and stays there for about 5 years. It releases the hormone progestin to prevent pregnancy.
- The Depo-Shot
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The shot is about administered by a medical professional every 12-13 weeks and requires an appointment at a health center. The shot contains the hormone progestin which stops ovulation to prevent pregnancy.
- The Patch
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The patch has a slow release of a combination of hormones that is absorbed across the barrier of your skin in order to prevent pregnancy. The patch is replaced weekly and can be worn either on your arm, buttocks, or belly.
Most websites also have promo codes that make birth control cheaper and more accessible. It is important to remember that birth control alone can’t prevent STDs so when having sex with an unfamiliar partner for the first time, you should still use a physical protective barrier.
Speaking of STDs, there are plenty of ways to get STD treatments online as well. Sites like DrAlexa and CallonDoc both use a system in which you fill out a form with your symptoms, that form gets sent to a doctor, the doctor reviews the symptoms, and then they send your prescription to whatever pharmacy you choose.
CallonDoc also has resources for women to get treated for yeast infections, UTIs, and more. K Health has also made UTI care easy and accessible. You can text a doctor about your symptoms and within the same day, they send the care you need to a local pharmacy.
You should feel comfortable and informed when making medical decisions for yourself. At the end of the day, it is always best to see a doctor when you need a change or if things aren’t feeling right. Unfortunately, that isn’t everyone’s reality. Whether anxiety or finances are your reasons for not having access to in-person medical care, that doesn’t mean you should have to suffer. You have options to be able to get the care that you need at an affordable price and in an environment that you feel safe in. Lots of things change when you get to college, but your health care shouldn’t have to.
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