Family Planning
The mission of the Oklahoma Family Planning Program is "to provide individuals the information and means to exercise personal choice in determining the number and spacing of their children".
Family Planning services may include any or all of the following:
- Information on the use, effectiveness, and known risks of the contraceptive methods available; including oral contraceptives (birth control), Depo-Provera injections, intrauterine devices or intrauterine systems (IUD/IUS), diaphragm, spermicides (foam, jelly, suppositories, and film), condoms, natural family planning, sterilization (vasectomy and tubal ligation), and other methods
- Family and personal health history
- Unclothed physical examination
- Pelvic examination and Pap smear
- Measurement of height and weight
- Temperature, pulse, respiration and blood pressure measurement
- Urine pregnancy test
- Laboratory tests, some collected by taking blood from the arm or finger stick
- Assessment of nutritional status
- Assessment of psychosocial needs
- Education and counseling, and/or prescription, fitting, or insertion of a suitable contraceptive method
- Management of minor contraceptive complications
- Management of certain minor vaginal and urinary tract conditions
- Referral to appropriate resources based on needs
Benefits
Family Planning services provide individuals with the means and opportunity to determine the number and spacing of their children. Protecting against unplanned pregnancy also prevents the complications that may be associated with pregnancy. Health screening, such as breast examinations, blood pressure readings, blood tests, weights, Pap smears, and pelvic examinations, are done while providing Family Planning services. Certain methods of birth control may protect against sexually transmitted diseases and infertility.
Risks
The most common risks are side-effects from the type of contraceptive used. Usually, the side effects are far less than the risks associated with an unplanned pregnancy. These risks will be explained when the specific method of contraception is chosen.
For more information contact the Bryan County Health Department at (580) 924-4285.
