Seattle

United States / Washington / Seattle

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 Washington State, you need a prescription to obtain most birth control methods, except for some methods (like condoms and spermicide). You can obtain a birth control prescription regardless of your age and, if you're a minor (under 18 years old), parental or guardian permission is not required.

You can find birth control options at many health care facilities, including private clinics and public clinics. Some people choose to go to Title X clinics. These clinics are completely confidential, which means that your appointment and billing will be confidential. Furthermore, Title X clinics charge on a sliding-scale basis. They may be able to give you a prescription to birth control pills, as well as condoms and sexual health counseling. If you pay for their services with family health insurance and you're a teenager, your parents may see that you visited the clinic in their bills. You should contact the clinic you plan to visit to learn more about billing details.

What to Get & Where to Get It

• You can get condoms in grocery stores, drug stores, convenience stores and online. There are no age restrictions for purchasing condoms. Typically, a 12-pack of condoms costs around $12. Female condoms cost around $2 to $4 per condom. You can also get free condoms at health centers (like Planned Parenthood), HIV testing centers and local health departments. Call 1-800-230-PLAN (7526) to learn where you can get free condoms in your area. In Seattle, you can also find free condoms at Planned Parenthood (multiple locations), NARAL Pro-Choice Washington, Babes Network - YWCA, Eastgate Public Health Center, Seattle Central Community College, Seattle Counseling Services and many other locations. To see a comprehensive map of where free condoms are available in Seattle and surrounding areas, click here.
• If you want hormonal or long-lasting birth control, like pills, IUDS, shots or implants, in Seattle, you'll need to have a prescription. If you don't have a prescription, you'll need to typically schedule an appointment with a health care provider to get a prescription. If you need a low-cost appointment option, you can visit Planned Parenthood or sliding-scale clinics in Seattle. While there are many options in Seattle, here are some clinics to consider:
  • Cedar River Clinics: This is a Title X and LGBTQ-friendly clinic that is run by the Feminist Women’s Health Center (FWHC). They've been providing care for over 30 years. They can typically give you a discounted rate and, if you live in Washington State, you may even qualify to get free care from them through Washington Apple Health Coverage. They provide IUDs, birth control pills and other options. You can walk-in to get emergency contraception (the morning after pill) or refill your birth control. To schedule an appointment, call 800-572-4223. Phones Answered Monday-Friday 8:00AM-5:00PM and Saturdays 9:00AM-2:00PM. Their Seattle location is at 509 Olive Way #1454 509 Olive Way #1454, Seattle, WA 98101. They also have locations in Renton and Tacoma.

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

Females and males, no matter their age, can buy Plan B One-Step, Next Choice, My Way or any other Levonorgestrel emergency contraceptive without a prescription even if the label indicates that the end user should be 17 or older. You do not need to show anyone your ID or have your age verified in order to purchases these products. If you want the ella pill, you'll need a prescription (regardless of age) but pharmacists may be able to directly provide that prescription for you without you needing to go to a clinic. Contact your pharmacy to see if they can prescribe emergency contraception, including ella, for you. Getting a prescription for these products, even if they are normally sold over the counter, may provide 100% insurance coverage - without a copay or deductible.

What to Get & Where to Get It

In the United States, you'll generally be able to find Plan B One-Step, Next Choice One-Dose and My Way in pharmacies. Here's a full breakdown of what you can expect to find, thanks to the Princeton EC Website:

Dedicated Products / Anti-Progestin Take 1 pill within 120 hours after unprotected sex:

• ella

Dedicated Products / Progestin Only Take 1 pill within 120 hours after unprotected sex:

• My Way
• Next Choice One Dose
• Plan B One-Step
• Take Action

Take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex:

• Levonorgestrel Tablets (available from a pharmacist without a prescription)

If you can't access emergency contraception, many oral contraceptives can be used as replacement EC. The list of potential contraceptives that can be used for this purpose is very long, and instructions vary according to the specific brand. So, to find specific instructions based on the brands you may have available, please check out the Princeton EC Website. You can search for EC under "United States" and see recommended pills and dosages on that site.

Important Note: 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 more 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.

Laws & Social Stigmas

The United States has no travel restrictions related to HIV status.

What to Get & Where to Get It

Testing Facilities

• Gay City at Out of the Closet: Anyone is eligible for HIV tests, which are done on a walk-in basis only (no appointments). Hours: Monday - Saturday | 11am - 7pm, Thursday | 3pm - 7pm. Address: 1016 E Pike [Pike and 11th], Seattle, WA 98122
• Gay City Wellness Center: HIV and STI testing for gay men, bi men and transgender individuals. Se habla español. The fees are donation-based (pay what you can). To schedule an appointment, please call (206) 860-6969 or stop by during business hours. Due to high demand, making an appointment is recommended. Hours: Monday – Friday | 3:00pm – 8:00pm, Saturdays | 12:30pm – 5:00pm. Address: Gay City Health Project, 517 E. Pike [Pike & Belmont], Seattle, WA 98122.

Medications & Vaccines

What to Get & Where to Get It

• If you think you have a urinary tract infection (UTI), you'll need to visit a doctor, who will give you a check-up and test to see if you have a UTI. If you do have a UTI, you will be prescribed antibiotics to treat the infection. You cannot get UTI antibiotic medication without a prescription.
• If you have a yeast infection, you can get treatment over-the-counter (no prescription needed). The most common yeast infection treatment in the United States is called "Monistat." There are different treatment plans (for example, 1 day, 3 days and 7 days). It's recommended to do more than 1 day to completely clear the infection.
• You should be able to access the HPV vaccine in the United States.
• You should be able to access PrEP in the United States.
• You should be able to access PEP in the United States.

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

Pregnancy

Laws & Social Stigmas

In the United States, the National Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) guarantees 12 weeks of unpaid maternity leave for women. But the FLMA has loopholes (for example, it doesn't apply to companies with less than 50 employees). So, for this reason, many women don't actually receive 12 weeks of maternity leave, and many women (even if their employers do qualify) can't take off 12 weeks of unpaid work. There is currently no comparable federal paternity leave policy in the United States.

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.

Laws & Social Stigmas

In the United States, abortion has been fully legal since the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision (1973). However, it is continually challenged in many districts and states.

What to Get & Where to Get It

Important Note: Be careful -- there are some places that advertise themselves as abortion clinics, but they're actually anti-abortion clinics, typically run by pro-life Christian conservatives. They're known as crisis pregnancy centers (PRC). The main issues with these centers are that 1) They often falsely advertise themselves as abortion clinics and 2) They don't allow people to make choices for themselves (they only accept one choice). For these reasons, if you're looking for an abortion provider, we urge you to carefully select a trusted service. For more information on PRC, click here.

Costs

Nationwide, the abortion pill can cost $800, but often less. For an in-clinic procedure, abortions can cost $1500, but often less. You can often find cheaper options at Planned Parenthood or some clinics. For low-income women (regardless of citizenship status), there are a variety of programs that may help pay for these costs.

If you need help paying for an abortion, call the National Abortion Federation Hotline at 1-800-772-9100, Monday–Friday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday–Sunday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time). The hotline can tell you where and how to get financial help for an abortion in the U.S.

Advocacy & Counseling

• WithinReach Hotline: 1-800-322-2588.
• Consumer Assistance Line: 1-800-525-0127 (statewide only).
• Washington State HIV/AIDS Message Line 1-800-272-AIDS (2437).
• Washington State Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-562-6025.

What to Get & Where to Get It

• For emergencies, call 911 to get police and an ambulance.
• If you're dealing with domestic abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline Number at 1-800-787-3224. "Our highly-trained advocates are available 24/7 to talk confidentially with anyone experiencing domestic violence, seeking resources or information, or questioning unhealthy aspects of their relationship. "
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 1-800-273-8255. "We can all help prevent suicide. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals."
• If you have been abused and are in need of support, the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) may be able to provide help and counseling. Visit their website call their 24-hour crisis hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE.
• The Trevor Project (Lifeline): Call: 866-488-7386. This is a 24/7 hotline for LGBT youth. "Our trained counselors are here to support you 24/7. If you are a young person in crisis, feeling suicidal, or in need of a safe and judgment-free place to talk, call the Trevor Lifeline now at 866-488-7386."
• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender National Hotline: Toll-free: 1-888-843-4564. HOURS: Monday thru Friday from 1pm to 9pm, pacific time (Monday thru Friday from 4pm to midnight, eastern time). Saturday from 9am to 2pm, pacific time. (Saturday from noon to 5pm, eastern time). "All of our services are free and confidential.We speak with callers of all ages about coming-out issues, relationship concerns, bullying, workplace issues, HIV/AIDS anxiety and safer-sex information, and lots more!"

List of Additional Resources

• Gay City: Seattle's LGBTQ Center: "Gay City: Seattle's LGBTQ Center promotes wellness in LGBTQ communities by providing health services, connecting people to resources, fostering arts, and building community. Gay City is the leading provider of HIV and STI testing in King County."