"I first came here for emergency contraception when I was 18. I was so happy with the care I received that I stopped seeing my regular gynecologist and became a patient here. When I've been unemployed, in school or in betweeen insurance plans, this place has always been there for me as a constant service of health care. I've had painful urinary infections and my own doctor wouldn't see me, but Planned Parenthood would get me taken care of in a matter of hours. I'll never go anywhere else - and I plan to support this organization to the best of my ability."

Frequently Asked Questions - Clinical/Medical Services

Q: I'm having a medical emergency - what do I do?

A: We recommend that you go to the nearest emergency room or urgent care center, or call 911.

Q: I think I am pregnant - what should I do?

A: Take a home pregnancy test or stop in to any of our locations during business hours to talk to a nurse and have a pregnancy test. Our staff can help you with the next step by providing birth control information if the test is negative, or by discussing your options if the test is positive. For a list of community resources for counseling, prenatal care, abortion, and adoption, click here. If you are under 18, you should talk to your parents or another trusted adult.

Q: How can I get birth control?

A: Birth control (also called contraception), is available in many forms. You can buy both male and female condoms as well as spermicide over the counter at the drug store or supermarket. Condoms are an effective way to prevent pregnancy and reduce the transmission of sexually transmitted infections.

There are many other forms of birth control that are available through a prescription from PPNWO or another medical provider. These include the birth control pill, IUD (intrauterine device), the patch, and the ring. If you are interested in a prescription method of birth control, call ahead for an appointment.

For more information on what choices are available, click here.

Q: Do condoms protect me from pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections?

A: Yes. Condoms are an effective way to prevent pregnancy and reduce the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. However, the only 100% effective way to prevent pregnancy or transmission of sexually transmitted infections is abstinence, or not having sex. For more on condoms, click here.

Q: What should I do if I think I have a sexually transmitted disease (STD)?

If you are having symptoms or think you were exposed to an STD (also called a sexually transmitted infection, or STI), you should call PPNWO or another medical provider for the appropriate screening. It is important that you abstain from having sex until you are seen by a medical provider. Your partner may need to be tested and/or treated. Click here for a list of STD symptoms and frequently asked questions.

At our Jefferson Avenue location, we offer a drop-in clinic for Free Anonymous or Confidential HIV testing on Wednesday Nights from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Q: Do I have to make an appointment?

A: At all locations, you do not need an appointment for a pregnancy test or Emergency Contraception. Otherwise, please call ahead for an appointment. We offer same day appointments on Wednesdays at the Jefferson location.

Q: I thought your services were free - how come I have to pay a fee?

A: At our Jefferson location, you may qualify for a reduction in fees for your services if your income makes you eligible. Each individual is evaluated on their income and family size, and we ask that you bring verification, such as a pay stub, with you to each visit.

Q: I'm under 18 - do I need my parents with me? Will you tell them that I came to Planned Parenthood?

A: All services at Planned Parenthood are confidential, and that includes services to teens. However, we do encourage parental involvement and will talk to you at your appointment about how (and why) to talk to your parents.

Q: How old do I need to be to come to PPNWO? Will I ever be too old to come to PPNWO?

A: There is no age requirement to receive services at PPNWO.

Q: I'm over 40 years old - can I still come to PPNWO? Are there any special services available?

A: You're never too old to receive services at PPNWO! You can continue to receive routine gynecological services, and if you're sexually active, you can always come to PPNWO for confidential STD testing. If you are experiencing menopause or menopausal symptoms, make an appointment today to see one of our Nurse Practitioners. It is also important that women over 40 receive routine mammogram screenings. If you're concerned about the cost of mammography and routine Pap smears, call the Breast and Cervical Cancer Project (BCCP) at 419-891-9200 to see if you qualify for subsidized services.

Q: Can I come to PPNWO if I have insurance?

A: Yes! PPNWO accepts many forms of insurance, including Medicaid, Paramount, and Buckeye Community Health Plan. Please call our offices if you have another type of medical coverage.

Q: What form of payment do you accept?

A: PPNWO accepts cash, checks, money orders, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. PPNWO also accepts insurance and Medicaid - please call ahead if you have any questions about what types of insurance we accept.

Q: Can men come to Planned Parenthood?

A: Yes. PPNWO provides STD testing and treatment, free anonymous or confidential HIV testing, and birth control supplies to males.

Q: What is Emergency Contraception (The Morning After Pill)?

A: Emergency Contraception is a combination of pills containing the same hormones as birth control that, when taken within 5 days of unprotected sex, can prevent an unwanted pregnancy. Emergency contraception is 78-85% effective, and we recommend you take it as soon as you can after unprotected sex. If you use a condom and it breaks, you forget to take your birth control pills, or you didn't use birth control, call us for Emergency Contraception. PPNWO also offers Emergency Contraceptive kits to keep at home for future use - just ask us at your next visit.

Emergency Contraception works in a few ways, depending on where you are in your cycle. It could prevent an egg from being released by your ovary or if an egg is fertilized, it could prevent it from attaching to the wall of the uterus. Emergency Contraception contains different medicine than the abortion pill (or RU-486), and will not stop a pregnancy if it is already started. Emergency Contraception helps prevent a pregnancy, and the abortion pill helps terminate a pregnancy.

To find out more information about emergency contraception, click here; or to find out more about the abortion pill, also called a "medical" abortion (as opposed to a surgical abortion), click here.

Q: I don't want anyone to know that I come to Planned Parenthood - what should I do?

A: All of PPNWO's services are private and confidential. PPNWO will never release information about you, including your name or medical history, without your written consent except where required by law, such as the mandated reporting of some STD's and abuse of minors.

Q: I don't want my parents to know I have called for information. How can I keep the call off my phone bill?

A: Just call toll-free: 866-60-PPNWO (866-607-7696) and there will be no record of your call. This number connects you to the Planned Parenthood clinic nearest you. Please keep in mind that cell phone companies often provide detail lists of calls made, so to insure confidentiality, do not use a cell phone.