Health & Relationships - Options for Pregnancy

Throughout our lives, we are involved with many different kinds of relationships. We have friendships, romances, work and school-related connections, families, just to name a few. Each of these situations has the potential to enrich us, adding to our feelings of self-worth, enjoyment, and growth. These relationships are healthy.

On the other hand, in other situations, we may find ourselves feeling uncomfortable. It can be difficult to come to the realization that a friend, colleague, or family member is not treating us with the respect we deserve. This can be even more complicated when it comes to a romantic relationship.

In a healthy relationship you do not feel unsafe or manipulated into doing things you do not want to do (including having sex). In a healthy relationship you know that the other person treats you with respect and listens to what you have to say. There is trust and support.

An unhealthy relationship looks much different. It can be obvious- the other person can be physically abusive or bad tempered. It can also be much more subtle. If your boyfriend constantly criticizes or ridicules you, it’s time to break up. If you feel like your boyfriend is controlling your money, isolating you from friends, or ignoring you when it comes to your body. It may be difficult, but it is time to move on.

We all want to be happy in our relationships. When it comes to romantic or sexual relationships, many of us can also face added outside pressure from family and friends. Often a friend or family member will tell you that “it’s not that bad” or to take mistreatment in order to “keep” your man. They could make you feel that you will be alone or that this treatment is typical in relationships. This is just not true.

Relationships can be healthy and enriching. They can also be miserable experiences.

Understanding more about relationships can help you make decisions that are good for you. Sometimes you need an objective person to listen to you, and if needed, give you advice. We at Free Women’s Clinic can connect you to counselors who will listen and speak with you.

A woman becomes pregnant when an egg is released from her ovary and fertilized by a man’s sperm. The fertilized egg attaches to the woman’s uterus and about nine months later, a baby is delivered. Birth control is used to prevent or stop pregnancy and plan the timing of pregnancies.

Most methods use hormonal contraception. Hormonal contraception contains man-made estrogen and progestin hormones. These hormones inhibit the body’s natural hormones in order to prevent pregnancy or to end a pregnancy in the first days after conception.

Side Effects

Please note that every method of hormone based birth control does have different side effects. It can range from a slight headache and weight gain to blood clots and death.

The list of side effects might be listed on the side of the box but are more likely to be listed in a small booklet inside the box. It is vital that you read through this so you are making an informed decision.

Also know that some of these methods do not help prevent STDs. There is also a success rate with each of these options. The only option that is 100% effective in preventing pregnancy is abstinence from sex.

You may not be aware that there are also hormone-free, natural alternatives to family planning. This requires participation by both the man and woman in a relationship, and works best between married couples.

The staff at Options for Pregnancy can find a clinic or center in your area that provides information on birth control, including natural methods mentioned above, and can offer you resources and encouragement if you have chosen abstinence as your method of preventing pregnancy.

Sex is everywhere. You talk about it, read about it and hear about it in conversations.

There is a lot of information out there about sex and relationships, and often it can be confusing. Your sexuality affects who you are and how you relate to the world. It is much more than the physical act of having sex.

It also includes:
Your biological sex
How you relate to the opposite sex
Your body image
Your values and ideas about love and relationships
And more

Sex can be part of a healthy relationship, but having sex does not mean you have a relationship. It’s normal to have questions about sex and sexuality. And the good news is the more you know about it, the better you’ll be able to take care of yourself physically and emotionally.

If you have more questions or concerns about your sexual health, we can help. We at Options for Pregnancy can connect you with the information and resources that you need.

Each year in the U.S., over 30 million men and women contract an STD, or Sexually Transmitted Disease (also called Sexually Transmitted Infections or STIs). STD testing is important.

Most of the time, these sexually transmitted diseases in women and men are left undetected as patients do not submit to testing for STDs.

If you have been experiencing any of the sexually transmitted disease symptoms below, Contact us to find the nearest free help

STD’s & Pregnancy

When considering your pregnancy options, it is important to know if you have an STD.

Because abortion is invasive, the STD can spread into your reproductive organs and cause permanent damage. In order to protect your reproductive health for the future, Network Medical tests for and treats the two most common STDs: Chlamydia and Gonorrhea.

Women who have an untreated STD are up to 25% more likely to develop Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) following an abortion procedure. So, it is important to be tested for STDs prior to making any decisions about the outcome of your pregnancy.

Citation: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention