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 either get a prescription online or at a clinic. If you want to get a prescription online, you can check out websites like Lemonaid Health, nurx, Planned Parenthood CARE and PRJKT RUBY. You can also visit local clinics, many of which provide low-cost, confidential and LGBTQ-sensitive services. Here are some options below:
  • 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.
  • Planned Parenthood: As the leading reproductive and sexual health provider in the US, Planned Parenthood has been providing low-cost services to men, women and teens for decades. They have trained professionals who understand LGBTQ-sensitive services, and they can provide a variety of birth control methods, including birth control implant, birth control patch, birth control pill, birth control shot, birth control vaginal ring (NuvaRing), diaphragm, condom, female condom, fertility awareness method, IUD (hormonal), IUD (copper), spermicide and sterilization for men (vasectomy). Medicaid accepted. There are multiple PP locations in Seattle, including the following:
    • Location 1 -Seattle Health Center: Address: 2001 E Madison, Seattle, WA 98122. Phone: 800-769-0045.
    • Location 2 - First Hill Health Center: Address: 1229 Madison Street, Suite 1040, Seattle, WA, 98104. Phone: (800) 769-0045
  • Neighborcare Health: They're the largest provider of medical care to uninsured and low-income families and individuals in the Seattle area, and they have multiple locations in the Seattle area. Aside from general and women's health services, Neighborcare also has a Homeless Youth Clinic (HYC), free Nurse Advice Line for all patients and midwifery services. Click here to see their clinic locations. To learn about free or low-cost insurance, call 206-548-3013 or email enrollment@neighborcare.org
  • Swedish Family Medicine: This clinic has been open since 1910, and they aim to help people of "all ethnic backgrounds and financial situations." The clinic has many birth control options available, including IUDs and implants. They have multiple locations in places like Ballard, Cherry Hill, Edmonds and First Hall, so visit their website to find all of their locations.
  • Country Doctor Youth Clinic: This is a walk-in clinic for youth (ages 12-23) who have unstable housing situations and need medical help. They provide medications, including contraception, for no cost at their clinic, which is open certain nights of the week. The hours and location of their walk-in clinic sometimes changes, so you should check their website for the most updates information. For general information, call this number: (206) 299-1636.

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.

Testing Facilities

There are many places to get STI tests in Seattle, and the list below only includes some of the places (with a focus on cheap or free testing). For a more extensive list of low-cost or free STI testing facilities in the Seattle area, click here.

• U-TEST: You can get free, anonymous HIV rapid tests from the medical students from the University of Washington. This service is a collaboration between the UW School of Medicine, Seattle Area Support Groups, & King County Public Health. Hours & Location: Tuesdays & Thursdays 6:00-8:00. Walk-Ins Welcome. Address: 115 15th Ave E. Suite 201, Seattle WA, 98112
• Lifelong: You can get a free HIV rapid test. Call ahead number for free testing at Lifelong: (206) 957-1690. They have two testing locations: Location 1 is Lifelong Office - Capitol Hill1016 E. Pike Street, 3rd Floor, Seattle, WA 98122. Location 2 - Lifelong Thrift Store - 312 Broadway Avenue E., Seattle WA 98102.
• Public Health-Seattle and King County - STD Clinic at Harborview Medical Center: You can get low-cost STI testing and vaccination services, including Hepatitis B Vaccine, Chlamydia Test, Conventional HIV Blood Test, HPV Vaccine, Rapid HIV Blood Test, Syphilis Test, Gonorrhea Test, Herpes Test, Hepatitis A Vaccine, Hepatitis B Test and Hepatitis C Test. No person will be denied service for inability to pay. They also distribute free condoms. Address: 908 Jefferson St, 11th Floor, Seattle, WA 98104. Phone Number: 206-744-3590
• Planned Parenthood: You can get low-cost STI testing and vaccination services, including Chlamydia Test, Gonorrhea Test, HPV, Vaccine, Herpes Test, Rapid HIV Blood Test, Syphilis Test. If you're low-income, you may qualify for a state-funded program or a lower fee scale. Your fees are based on your income. They have multiple locations in the Seattle area, including the primary Seattle city location (1229 Madison St, Seattle, WA 98104), so check the website for location details. There are no walk-ins, so you'll need to schedule an appointment in advance. Call 800-230-7526.
• 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.
• Center for Multicultural Health: This organization provides testing for gay/bisexual/same gender loving African American men. To find out more info, contact @ (206) 461-6910 ext 212, email: austin@cschc.org
• Entre Hermanos: Free testing with a focus on the Latino community. "Every Monday from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m. we offer testing that is quick, easy and confidential. Our testing is offered by bilingual staff that is culturally friendly to Latinos. We offer a $20 cash incentive to Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) to encourage them to receive an HIV test. We also offer the Ora-Quick In Home Test Kit that you can take, and use in the privacy of your home." Phone: (206) 322-7700. Email: info@entrehermanos.org. Address: 1105 23rd Ave., Seattle, WA 98122.

Support

• Lifelong: Lifelong provides meals, community support and resources for people living with HIV/AIDS.
• Gay City: Seattle's LGBTQ Center: This community center provides HIV testing, support and resources.
• Bailey-Boushay House: "Bailey-Boushay was founded as a way to address the housing and health care needs of people living with AIDS. Today, Bailey-Boushay continues to serve AIDS/HIV patients as well as those with other chronic illnesses s ch as ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease."
• Hepatitis Education Project (HEP): "The Hepatitis Education Project (HEP) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending the epidemics of hepatitis C and hepatitis B. Founded in 1993, HEP works with patients, medical providers, public health and policymakers, and provides direct services and advocacy for some of the community’s most underserved and marginalized populations." Address: 1621 South Jackson Street, Suite 201, Seattle, WA 98144. Phone: (206) 732-0311 or (800) 218-6932.
• Hepatitis and Liver Clinic at Harborview: The Hepatitis and Liver Clinic at Harborview specializes in the evaluation and treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis B and C infections and other chronic liver diseases.
• Seattle H Scene: "Seattle H Scene is a social group for people with genital herpes (HSV1, HSV2) and HPV who live in Western Washington."
• HPV Information from Washington Department of Health: This website provides information on HPV for Washington residents, including basic HPV information, vaccination information, etc.
• Syphilis in Seattle: This is an informational website on syphilis (testing, cure, etc) for residents of Seattle.

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 can access Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) in the Seattle area, including at Bellevue Family Medicine, Planned Parenthood, Country Doctor CHC, Downtown Public Health Center and many more locations. For a complete list of PrEP providers in Seattle, click here or here. You can also view a map with PrEP providers in Seattle here.
• You can access Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) in Seattle at many locations, including Harborview Medical Center (Address: 325 9th Ave, Seattle, WA 98104) during business hours (M-F, 8am-5pm); call 206-744- 4377. After hours, go to Harborview Emergency Department. For more details, 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. To learn more about menstrual underwear, click here.

What to Get & Where to Get It

• You can get the Lunette Menstrual Cup through Planned Parenthood in Seattle. Click here for more details.

Gynecological Exams

What to Get & Where to Get It

• Seattle Indian Health Board: This clinic focuses on helping urban American Indian and Alaska Native population in the greater Seattle/King County area. They provide women's health examinations and screenings. Services are available by appointment by calling (206) 324-9360. For more immediate care, services are available on a walk-in basis. Clinic hours are 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. A walk-in clinic is also available Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Address: 611 - 12th Avenue South, Seattle, WA 98144.

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."
• The [Seattle Indian Health Board] works on addressing domestic violence issues in the urban American Indian and Alaska Native community. They can help you with safety planning, locating shelters, obtaining restraining orders and emergency help. Services are available by calling (206) 324-9360 or by walk-in. For emergencies and 24-hour phone crisis intervention for sexual assault victims, the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center can be reached at 1-888-998-6423.
• 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!"
• Trans Resource Center at Nova: This is a community resource to provide clothing, resources and support to transgender students, including students who do and don't attend Nova High School.

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."