Pro-Choice Wyoming believes people should have choices about whether and when to become pregnant. Preventing unintended pregnancy is critically important, both for the individual who can get pregnant and for the partner whose life and future would also be financially, legally, and emotionally impacted. 

The following websites provide unbiased information about the various available birth control methods, their rates of effectiveness, and possible side effects:

• Reproductive Health Access Project:                                            https://www.reproductiveaccess.org/contraception/ 

• Planned Parenthood:                                                                   https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/birth-control

• Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):                       https://www.cdc.gov/contraception/about/index.html

Please know that the safety and effectiveness of different birth control methods may depend on whether you have a personal or family history of certain medical conditions or take any medications that could interfere with contraceptives. That is why most contraceptives still require an in person or telehealth visit with a medical professional. The more effective long-term methods, such as the shot, arm implant, or intrauterine device (IUD) are only available through an in-person visit.

HOW TO OBTAIN CONTRACEPTION

• Birth control can be prescribed or obtained by making an appointment at most primary care or gynecologist offices. Under the Affordable Care Act, most private insurance plans are required to cover FDA-approved methods of contraception without needing to pay a deductible or copayment. 

• The Wyoming Health Council hosts a website (https://www.wyhc.org/clinics) with links to the various Title X clinics located throughout the state of Wyoming. These are family planning clinics that receive federal funding so that they are able to provide birth control for free or at a reduced cost (depending on income) for those who do not have insurance or who do not wish to use their insurance. While adolescents are always encouraged to talk with their parents, guardians, or other trusted adults about their decision to seek family planning services, young people seeking reproductive health care (including contraception) can visit these clinics with or without parental consent. Title X clinics typically also offer testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and emergency contraception. 

• University of Wyoming students can obtain reproductive health services (including contraception, emergency contraception, STI screening, and Pap smears) through the Student Health Service.

• The Wellspring Health Access clinic in Casper (https://wellspringaccess.org/family-planning/) provides family planning services.

• Planned Parenthood has no clinics in Wyoming but does in many surrounding states. They also offer virtual services to obtain some methods of birth control:                                          https://www.plannedparenthood.org/get-care/get-care-online 

• Opill is the first FDA approved birth control available without a prescription at pharmacies and online. However, these progesterone-only pills are less effective than other hormonal birth control methods and can cause irregular bleeding. 

• There are many online services where people can have prescription birth control methods (such as the pill, ring, or patch) mailed to them after a telehealth visit. These providers may or may not be able to bill insurance.  Examples include Just the Pill, Nurx (https://www.nurx.com/birthcontrol/) GoodRx, and Planned Parenthood (https://www.plannedparenthood.org/get-care/get-care-online).

• The Wyoming Department of Health’s Knowyo program provides free condoms in dispensers throughout the state but will also mail free condoms to your home: https://knowyo.org/get-free-condoms/. The knowyo.org website also provides excellent information about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and locations throughout the state where testing can be obtained at no or low cost.