Family Planning
Family Planning is a process that lets you decide when you want to have children. We provide Confidential Family Planning for women, men, and teenagers.
Mercer County Health Department receives federal funding from the Title X Population Research and Voluntary Family Planning Programs.
This program enables individuals who want to obtain family planning care to have access to a broad range of acceptable and effective family planning methods and services. The goal of this program is to provide individuals the information and means to exercise personal choice in determining the number and spacing of their children.
We offer a variety of medical services as part of our Family Planning program such as Pap testing/pelvic exams, breast exams, testing/treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy testing, birth control (including free condoms), and emergency contraception. In addition, education and counseling are provided as part of this program on topics such as healthy lifestyle choices, breast and testicular exams, STD/HIV risks, preconception health, etc. See below for more detail.
Our family planning program includes the following confidential services for women, men, and adolescents:
Medical Services:
Height, weight and blood pressure evaluation
Pap testing & pelvic exam
Breast exam
STD Testing and Treatment
Pregnancy Testing & Counseling
Birth Control Methods
Emergency Contraception
Sterilization (male & female)
Other Lab tests, if needed
Immunizations, if needed
Education & Counseling:
Healthy Lifestyle Choices including: good nutrition, exercise, avoiding harmful substances, and tobacco cessation
Self Breast/Testicular Exams
STD/HIV Risks
Preconception Health/Folic Acid
Options Counseling
Infertility
Referrals & linkages with community resources
The results of your check-up and lab tests will be explained to you. Family Planning staff will help you choose the appropriate method of birth control and teach you ways to stay healthy.
Staff members will answer any questions you may have. You will receive birth control method education and counseling, including Natural Family Planning and abstinence education.
Birth Control Methods:
Please Note: We provide education on all of these methods, but do not have them all in stock/ onsite daily.
Abstinence
Cervical Caps
Condoms
Mercer County Health Department offers an array of items regarding Family Planning. We offer condoms that are additionally offered at our location, or they are at the back door as well in the event we are not open.
Contraceptive Patch
Diaphragm (with spermicide)
Emergency Contraception
Hormone Injectable (shot)
Implanon
IUD (intrauterine device)
Natural Family Planning
Avoiding sex during the fertile days in a women’s cycle. Requires instruction from a health care provider to determine days of fertility. Free. No exam needed. Can be used to plan pregnancy as well as avoid pregnancy. (80-99% effective)
Pills
Spermicidal Films, Foams, Creams, Suppositories, and Jellies
Sponge
Sterilization
Vaginal Ring
Breast Cancer & Self Exams
Learn more about Breast Cancer and how to do a self exam at BreastCancer.org
Testicular Cancer & Self Exams
Growing Healthy Babies
Ask your nurse about Folic Acid and other nutritional and behavioral habits that are helpful when planning for a baby.