Reproductive health care enables women and men to decide whether or when to become parents, to avoid STD’s, and to protect their fertility so that they may have
healthy pregnancies, favorable
birth experiences, and welcome healthy children. These decisions are some of the most personal and private decisions that individuals and families may make. Lack of access to timely and confidential reproductive health information and services takes a toll on individual, family, and community health typified by other problems such as unintended pregnancy, mistimed pregnancy, infant morbidity and mortality, and too early childbearing. These problems are costly both in human condition and in terms of programs needed to address them.
Sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s) are the most commonly reported infectious diseases in Kansas.
Chlamydia is the most common
bacterial STD in the United States and in Kansas. STD morbidity is driven by very complex social conditions, including poverty, racism, substance abuse, crime, family disruption, and media influences.
A woman's sexual
behavior affects her chances of developing cervical cancer because Human
Papilloma Virus (HPV), the sexually transmitted disease that causes genital
warts, is the number one cervical cancer risk factor. For this reason, by
avoiding sexual encounters that can lead to HPV exposure, women can help lower
their cervical cancer risk.
To protect themselves against developing pre-cancers, women of all ages should
practice smart sex to avoid contracting sexually transmitted diseases known to
cause cervical cancer. Some smart-sex strategies include:
- Waiting until they are older to become sexually active
- Limiting their number of sexual partners
- Abstaining from sex with people who have had multiple partners
(Cancer
Research Foundation of America)
The Sedgwick County Health Department offers:
-
Diagnosis, treatment and counseling are available for anyone,
regardless of age or income.
-
Available by appointment.
-
Parental consent is not required.
Resource Link:
Sexually Transmitted
Diseases Facts & Information
The Sedgwick County Health Department offers:
-
Various medically recommended methods of birth control
-
Available by appointment.
-
Parental consent is not required.
Eighty-five percent of women who use no contraceptives during
vaginal intercourse become pregnant each year. The only guarantee
against pregnancy is not having vaginal intercourse. Other
contraceptive methods can greatly reduce your pregnancy risk during
vaginal intercourse. (Planned
Parenthood)
In addition to reducing the chance of pregnancy, certain types of
Birth Control such as condoms can reduce sexually transmitted
diseases.
Resource Link:
Natural Family Planning
Planned Parenthood
The Sedgwick County Health Department offers pregnancy tests:
- No appointment necessary during clinic hours.
- Results available immediately.
©, Copyright, 2002 Sedgwick County Health Department
last update:
04/30/08
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