Atlanta

United States / Georgia / Atlanta

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.

Laws & Social Stigmas

In Georgia, you need a prescription to obtain hormonal or long-lasting birth control methods. If you're a minor (under 18 years old), you don't need permission from your parents to get a prescription. This means that you can go to a doctor's office or health clinic yourself, regardless of age, and get a prescription for birth control. If you want to go to a clinic that guarantees completely confidential appointments, billings and records, you can go to a Title X clinic. Title X clinics provide sexual and reproductive health care girls, boys, teens and adults, and they charge on a sliding-scale basis (meaning you pay what you can afford). You can also ask doctor's about their confidentiality rules before scheduling an appointment.

In Georgia, sex education is required in schools but teaching about contraceptive methods (such as the pill, IUDs, etc.) is not required. Abstinence is taught as the only truly effective method and, in 2010, Atlanta received $1,810,331for abstinence-only-until-marriage education.

What to Get & Where to Get It

You don't need a prescription to buy condoms. No matter your age, you can purchase condoms at drugstores, pharmacies, grocery stores or online.

If you want hormonal or long-lasting birth control methods, like pills, shots, implant, IUD, etc, check out this list of recommended clinics:

• The Family Health Centers of Georgia, Inc: This is a Title X clinic, meaning they confidentially help everyone (regardless of age) and charge on a sliding-scale basis. You can consult with them about getting a prescription and getting birth control. Address: 868 York Ave SW, Atlanta, GA 30310, (404) 752-1400.
• Grady Health System - Family Planning Clinic: They have a teen center that's LGBT friendly and a regular family planning center. They accept uninsured people and have sliding-scale fees. Grady can provide birth control, including pills, IUDs (hormonal and non-hormonal) and shots. Grady accepts private health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid and workers’ compensation. We accept cash, checks, traveler’s check, money orders, Discover, Visa, MasterCard and American Express for payment. Address: 80 Jesse Hill Jr Drive SE, South Towers, Atlanta, GA, 30303, (404) 616-3678
• Center for Black Women's Wellness: They accept uninsured people, provide low-cost services and have LGBT-friendly services. They offer birth control, including pills and IUDs (hormonal and non-hormonal). Address: 477 Windsor Street, Suite 309, Atlanta, GA, 30312, (404) 688-9202.
• Feminist Women's Health Center: They have low-cost & LGBT-friendly services. Provide birth control, including pills, implants and IUDs (hormonal and non-hormonal). Open since 1977. Address: 924 Cliff Valley Way NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, (404) 728-7900.
• Emory University Hospital Midtown: They accept health insurance. They can provide birth control, including pills, implants and IUDs (hormonal and non-hormonal). You can get same-day insertions for IUDs and have LGBT-friendly services. You can request a female provider. Address: 550 Peachtree Street Ne, Atlanta, GA, 30308, (404) 778-3401.

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. 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) 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.

Laws & Social Stigmas

In Georgia, if you're over 18 years old, you can buy most emergency contraception (the morning after pill) brands without a prescription over the counter. If you're under 18 years old, you can by one brand of emergency contraception (Plan B Step-One) over the counter without a prescription. For other brands, like Next Choice, Next Choice One Dose and My Way, you will need a prescription (if you're under 18 years old). Also, if you want to buy the ella pill, which is currently considered the most effective EC, you'll need a prescription (regardless of age).

What to Get & Where to Get It

• If you have been raped and want emergency contraception, you can get it at an emergency room or hospital. You can also call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673), which is open 24 hours and will let you know where you can get EC. For ore information, you can also visit the RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) website.

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.

Testing Facilities

• Someone Cares, Inc. of Atlanta: They not only provide HIV and STI tests, but they're also known to be respectful of the trans community. Address: AID Atlanta, 1605 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30309-2955, 404) 870-7700
• Evolution Project Atlanta: They not only provide HIV and STI tests, but they're also known to be respectful of the trans community. Address: 1530 DeKalb Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307, (404) 870-7727
• Grady Health: They do low-cost HIV tests. They accept the uninsured and have sliding-scale fees.
• Center for Black Women's Wellness: They do HIV and other STI tests. They accept uninsured people, provide low-cost services and have LGBT-friendly services. Address: 477 Windsor Street, Suite 309, Atlanta, GA, 30312, (404) 688-9202.

Support

• Grady Health: They accept the uninsured and have sliding-scale fees. "Primary medical care for men, women, adolescents, and children living with HIV/AIDS. Transition centers for HIV-infected individuals with <200 CD4 cells. Subspecialty care in Dermatology, Hepatitis C, Mental Health/Substance Abuse Treatment, Ophthalmology, and Oral Health. Case management, adherence counseling, nutrition, on-site radiology, laboratory, pharmacy, and peer counseling." Grady accepts private health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid and workers’ compensation. We accept cash, checks, traveler’s check, money orders, Discover, Visa, MasterCard and American Express for payment. Address: 80 Jesse Hill Jr Drive SE, South Towers, Atlanta, GA, 30303, (404) 616-3678.

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. To learn more about menstrual underwear, click here.

Gynecological Exams

What to Get & Where to Get It

• Annual Wellness Exam @ Feminist Women's Center: Provides individualized and sensitized care that is low-cost and LGBT friendly. Address: 1924 Cliff Valley Way NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, (404) 728-7900.
• Trans Health Initiative @ Women's Health Center: Specializes in services to FTM, Transmasculine, and Intersex clients. Provides lower and pelvic exams, HPV testing, chest exams (pre and post-surgical), STI screenings, hormone replacement therapy, lab work, and gender marker change letters. Affordable rates with sliding scale discounts available. Available services for MTF as well. " We understand that this may be a stressful experience so we offer private rooms for you and your partner or friend, smaller sized instruments, a relaxant prior to the exam, and anesthesia in some cases."7
• Grady Health: They accept the uninsured and have sliding-scale fees. "Our gynecology services include diagnosis and management of reproductive system disorders such as pelvic pain, menstrual abnormalities, menopause issues benign pelvic and uterine tumors; endometriosis; incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse." Grady accepts private health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid and workers’ compensation. We accept cash, checks, traveler’s check, money orders, Discover, Visa, MasterCard and American Express for payment. Address: 80 Jesse Hill Jr Drive SE, South Towers, Atlanta, GA, 30303, (404) 616-3678.

Pregnancy

What to Get & Where to Get It

• Grady Health: They accept the uninsured and have sliding-scale fees. "Our obstetrics services include complete care for pregnant women is provided in our prenatal clinics, with an emphasis on patient centered care. Innovative group prenatal care is available." Grady accepts private health insurance, Medicare, Medicaid and workers’ compensation. We accept cash, checks, traveler’s check, money orders, Discover, Visa, MasterCard and American Express for payment. Address: 80 Jesse Hill Jr Drive SE, South Towers, Atlanta, GA, 30303, (404) 616-3678.

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.

What to Get & Where to Get It

• Feminist Women's Health Center: Provide medical abortions and, in the first and second trimester, they also perform surgical abortions.They have low-cost & LGBT-friendly services. Open since 1977. "As a non-profit organization, we are able to offer affordable pricing, discounts for students, medicare/medicaid card holders, and those who demonstrate financial need. Each pregnancy, woman, and situation is different. Please call our friendly Health Educators at 404-728-7900 or 800-877-6013 to discuss your situation and to learn about our fees." Address: 924 Cliff Valley Way NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, (404) 728-7900.

Advocacy & Counseling

• Trauma Survivor Care @ Feminist Women's Health Center: They have low-cost services. "Our sensitive care for survivors of physical violence or trauma program seeks to address the specific physical and emotional needs of our clients by offering a unique program for survivors of violence to include domestic or gang violence, sexual assault, abuse, or incest." Address: 1924 Cliff Valley Way NE, Atlanta, GA, 30329, (404) 728-7900.