United States of America

United States of America

Contraception: Over-the-Counter	condoms, spermicide
Contraception: Prescription required)	pills, IUD, injectable, implant
Emergency Contraception	no prescription required
STIs	testing available; no travel restrictions
Menstrual Products	pads, tampons, cups
Abortion Law	law determined by state; legal in some states & illegal or highly restricted in other states
LGBTQ Laws	homosexuality legal
Related Pages	see Gynopedia Index for full list of state and city pages

OVERVIEW

Contraception (Birth Control)

General Note: There are many types of contraceptives, also known as "birth control," including IUDs, oral contraceptives, patches, shots, and condoms, etc. If you would like to view a full list, click here. It is recommended that you consult with a health practitioner to determine the best contraceptive choice for you. If you want to find which hormonal contraceptives are available by brand, manufacturer or country, click here.

Laws & Social Stigmas

Contraceptives (hormonal and non-hormonal) are available in the United States of America, but many forms require a prescription. Generally, condoms and spermicide are available over-the-counter at drug stores and pharmacies without a prescription. However, for contraceptive pills, injectables, implants, or IUDs a prescription is usually required. Pills can usually be attained in a drug store or pharmacy after receiving a prescription. IUDs, injectables, or implants usually require that the person comes into a clinic or medical facility to receive the contraception.

Emergency Contraception (Morning After Pill)

Important Notes: Emergency contraception may prevent pregnancy for three days (72 hours) and sometimes five days (120 hours) after unprotected sex. Take EC as soon as possible after unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy. If you don't have access to dedicated EC, oral contraceptives can be used as replacement EC, but remember the following: 1) Only some contraceptives work as EC 2) Different contraceptives require different dosages and time schedules to work as EC 3) For combined pills, you must only use the first 21 pills in 28-day packs and 4) They may be less effective than dedicated EC. For general information on emergency contraceptives, click here and here.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs/STDs)

Important Notes - Learn about PEP and PrEP: If you think that you've been recently exposed to HIV (i.e. within 72 hours), seek out PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis). It's a month-long treatment to prevent HIV infection after exposure, and it may be available in your city. Take PEP as soon as possible. For more information, click here. If you are at risk of HIV exposure, seek out PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis). It's a daily oral pill that can prevent HIV infection before exposure. To learn more about PrEP, click here.

Menstruation

Note: In addition to pads and tampons, you can also use menstrual cups and menstrual underwear for your period. To learn more about menstrual cups, click here.

Abortion

Important Note: There are two main types of abortions: medical (also known as the "abortion pill") and surgical (also known as "in-clinic"). For medical abortions, you take a pill to induce abortion. For surgical abortions, a procedure is performed to induce abortion. For general information about medical and surgical abortions, click here.