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Houston: Difference between revisions

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Houston (view source)

Revision as of 21:17, 25 June 2022

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[[File:Houston night.jpg|400px | thumb|right|]]
{| class="wikitable" style="width:200px; border:1px solid black;float:right"
|-
| colspan="8" style="text-align:center" |[[File:Houston night.jpg|300px | thumb|right]]
|-
|'''Contraception: Over-the-Counter'''
|condoms
|-
|'''Contraception: Prescription/Clinic Required'''
|pills, patch, ring, IUD, implant, shot
|-
|'''Emergency Contraception'''
|no prescription required; available in pharmacies
|-
|'''STIs'''
|no travel restrictions; HIV-positive foreigners not deported
|-
|'''Menstrual Products'''
|pads, tampons, cups
|-
|'''Abortion Law'''
|illegal (see section for options)
|-
|'''LGBTQ Laws'''
| homosexuality legal; gender change legal
|-
|'''Related Pages'''
|[[Dallas]], [[United States of America]]
|-
|}
 


'''OVERVIEW'''  
'''OVERVIEW'''  


As a major American city, Houston has an incredible range of medical facilities and providers. Due to federal regulations, contraception is legal, though a prescription is required. Emergency contraception is also legal and no prescription is required; it can be purchased at pharmacies, drug stores and many clinics. However, there have been reported cases of pharmacists refusing to sell emergency contraception due to personal religious or moral beliefs. In general, Texas as a state is largely conservative with a strong religious Christian base. This heavily impacts the political and social climate of the state, and in particular abortion law. While abortion is legal in Texas, as it was ruled to be a legal right in Roe v. Wade (1973), abortion has been consistently challenged in Texas. There have been many laws passed since 2013 that have limited the ability of abortion clinics to operate as well as the ability of women to obtain abortions. Some of these provisions, most notably HB 2, have been challenged and struck down by the United States Supreme Court. But many other restrictions remain in place, creating frustrating circumstances for women. Overall, Houston is a huge city and Texas is a huge state. This means that, while there are certainly restrictions that impose great difficulty, there are also a wealth of resources that can be sought after.
As a major American city, Houston has an incredible range of medical facilities and providers. While there are certainly restrictions that impose great difficulty, there are also a wealth of resources that can be sought after. Due to federal regulations, contraception is legal, though a prescription is required. Emergency contraception is also legal and no prescription is required; it can be purchased at pharmacies, drug stores and many clinics. However, there have been reported cases of pharmacists refusing to sell emergency contraception due to personal religious or moral beliefs. In general, Texas as a state is largely conservative with a strong religious Christian base. This heavily impacts the political and social climate of the state, and in particular abortion law.
 
Abortion in Texas became illegal in June 2022. That year, the United States Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, a ruling that formerly protected federal abortion rights.<ref name=":0">https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/3535742-read-the-supreme-court-ruling-overturning-roe-v-wade/</ref> This means that states can determine their own abortion laws. In the state of Texas, a "trigger law" was in place, which meant that abortion would be declared illegal if Roe v. Wade was overturned. Immediately after Roe v. Wade was overturned, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton declared that abortion was illegal in the state.<ref name=":1">https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/roe-v-wade-abortion-scotus-supreme-court-ruling-texas-trigger-law-explainer/287-75949629-4a17-4b50-9cea-0810cc5bef69</ref> This total ban was followed after other restrictive measures. For example, in August 2021, a law went into effect in Texas that banned abortion after six weeks of pregnancy.<ref>https://www.businessinsider.com/texas-6-week-abortion-ban-has-officially-become-law-2021-8</ref>


==Contraception==
==Contraception==
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===Costs===
===Costs===
===Before buying a menstrual cup===
There are over 200 menstrual cup brands in the world. Knowing which one to buy can be difficult.
[https://www.menstrualcup.eco menstrualcup.eco] offers a free online menstrual cup finder service. PUSSYFIGURATOR, as their online tool is called, helps you find your perfect menstrual cup match based on 10 menstruation/lifestyle questions. You simply take their quiz, submit your answers, and get your results.
You can then compare, read reviews and learn more about each individual menstrual cup.


==Gynecological Exams==
==Gynecological Exams==
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[[File:Texaswomenprotest.jpg|450px | thumb|left|frame|'''Texas women protest SB 5/HB 2'''.]]
[[File:Texaswomenprotest.jpg|450px | thumb|left|frame|'''Texas women protest SB 5/HB 2'''.]]


Since 1973, abortion has been legal in the United States under the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision. Yet in Texas, abortion has been consistently challenged, where additional restrictions have been placed on clinics, health care providers and women seeking abortions.  
Abortion in Texas became illegal in June 2022. That year, the United States Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade, a ruling that formerly protected federal abortion rights.<ref name=":0" /> This means that states can determine their own abortion laws. In the state of Texas, a "trigger law" was in place, which meant that abortion would be declared illegal if Roe v. Wade was overturned. Immediately after Roe v. Wade was overturned, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton declared that abortion was illegal in the state.<ref name=":1" /> This total ban was followed after other restrictive measures. For example, in August 2021, a law went into effect in Texas that banned abortion after six weeks of pregnancy.<ref name=":0">https://www.businessinsider.com/texas-6-week-abortion-ban-has-officially-become-law-2021-8</ref> 
 
In August 2021, a law went into effect in Texas that banned abortion after six weeks of pregnancy.<ref name=":02">https://www.businessinsider.com/texas-6-week-abortion-ban-has-officially-become-law-2021-8</ref> However, this was soon followed by a temporary restraining order on Texas Right to Life to enforce the ban.<ref>https://sports.yahoo.com/news/texas-judge-sides-abortion-providers-010058708.html</ref> In total, this means that Texas has very restrictive abortion laws, but enforcement of these laws is still being determined.
 
Historically, before the overturning of the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision, abortion was federally legal in the United States. Yet in Texas, abortion was consistently challenged, where additional restrictions have been placed on clinics, health care providers and women seeking abortions.  


One of the most controversial laws came in 2013, when Texas Governor Rick Perry signed House Bill 2 (known as "HB 2"), an anti-abortion bill. According to this law, "Abortion doctors must have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the abortion clinic."<ref>[http://fundtexaschoice.org/what-is-hb2/ What is HB2?]</ref> Furthermore, abortion clinics must align by standards meant for ambulatory surgical centers, which have strict regulations on buildings, equipment and staff. Because nearly all abortion doctors have no admitting privileges to such hospitals in Texas, and because the hospitals have no incentives to provide such access, this forced many clinics to close down. Furthermore, because most abortion clinics don't have the funding or resources to abide by ambulatory standards, this also forced abortion clinics to close down. In the years following HB 2, Texas went from having 40 abortion clinics to only 19.<ref>[https://www.texastribune.org/2016/06/28/texas-abortion-clinics-have-closed-hb2-passed-2013/ Texas Abortion Clinics That Have Closed Since 2013]</ref> This lead to a situation in which many Texas women did not have access to abortion clinics in their areas, and they were forced to travel very long distances, oftentimes out of state, to obtain abortions.  
One of the most controversial laws came in 2013, when Texas Governor Rick Perry signed House Bill 2 (known as "HB 2"), an anti-abortion bill. According to this law, "Abortion doctors must have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the abortion clinic."<ref>[http://fundtexaschoice.org/what-is-hb2/ What is HB2?]</ref> Furthermore, abortion clinics must align by standards meant for ambulatory surgical centers, which have strict regulations on buildings, equipment and staff. Because nearly all abortion doctors have no admitting privileges to such hospitals in Texas, and because the hospitals have no incentives to provide such access, this forced many clinics to close down. Furthermore, because most abortion clinics don't have the funding or resources to abide by ambulatory standards, this also forced abortion clinics to close down. In the years following HB 2, Texas went from having 40 abortion clinics to only 19.<ref>[https://www.texastribune.org/2016/06/28/texas-abortion-clinics-have-closed-hb2-passed-2013/ Texas Abortion Clinics That Have Closed Since 2013]</ref> This lead to a situation in which many Texas women did not have access to abortion clinics in their areas, and they were forced to travel very long distances, oftentimes out of state, to obtain abortions.  
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===What to Get & Where to Get It===
===What to Get & Where to Get It===
 
Abortion has been declared illegal in Texas. If you want to seek out abortion services, here are some options:
* [http://houstonwomensclinic.com/houston-abortion-services/ Houston Women's Abortion Clinic]: They provide surgical abortions and MAYBE medical abortions (we'll need to confirm this). About $100 total for sonogram and pregnancy options counseling. "Since 1976, the Houston Women's Clinic has been the trusted leader in providing safe, compassionate and confidential abortion care." Address: 4820 San Jacinto Street, Houston, TX 77004. Hours: Mon – Fri 7:30 am – 5 pm, Sat 7:30 am – until done. Phone: 713-868-4483, 1-800-646-4483 (Toll Free).
*You may be able to get the abortion pill mailed to you. Check out [https://www.womenonweb.org/en/i-need-an-abortion Women on Web] or contact a local sexual & reproductive health care organization to see what may be available to you.
* [https://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-center/texas/houston/77023/planned-parenthood-center-for-choice-ambulatory-surgical-center-(abortion)-2292-91650/abortion Planned Parenthood Center for Choice Ambulatory Surgical Center (Abortion)- Houston , TX]: Services offered: abortion pill (medication abortion), in-clinic abortion, sedation options (medication to make the abortion more comfortable), pre- and post-abortion patient education, post-abortion follow-up exams, referrals for other abortion services, as needed. About $150 total for sonogram and pregnancy options counseling. "Please contact this health center for abortion services pricing information. They may not perform abortions on minors under 15 or on pregnant minors who are over 11 weeks pregnant. If you are uninsured, you may be eligible to receive financial assistance for your procedure. You can confidentially find out if you qualify by calling us at 713.535.2400." Address: 4600 Gulf Freeway, Ste.300, Houston, TX 77023. p: 713.535.2400 | f: 713.535.2418.
*You can get an abortion in other states, such as New Mexico or California. You can call National Abortion Federation (1-800-772-9100) for potential financial and transportation support in obtaining abortions in another state.
* [http://www.texasabortioninformation.com/ Aaron Family Planning Clinic/Women’s Pavilion]: Provides surgical abortions for up to 20 weeks. May not provide medical abortions (abortion pill), so you should call to confirm. About $100 total for sonogram and pregnancy options counseling. They don't provide medical abortions (the abortion pill). Address: 2505 North Shepherd Dr., Houston, TX 77008. Phone: 713-272-6900.
*You can contact [https://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-center/texas/houston/77081/southwest-health-center-2293-91650 Planned Parenthood Southwest Health Center] to see what options may be available for you.
* [http://www.suburbanwomensclinic.com/houstonabortionservices.shtml Suburban Women’s Medical Center of Northwest Houston]: Provides medical abortions (for up to 7 weeks) and surgical abortions (for up to 15 weeks & 6 days). About $200-$250 for sonogram and pregnancy options counseling. "Some insurance plans cover abortion services and we accept insurance. We must verify this information before your appointment. Please call the office so that we may verify coverage prior to your appointment." They have 2 locations. Address #1: 17070 Red Oak Dr., Ste. 505, Houston, TX 77090. Phone: 800-233-0608, 281-440-1796. Address #2: 3101 Richmond #250, Houston, TX 77098. Phone: 713-222-9832.
 
===Costs===
===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. In Texas, Medicaid does not cover abortion.<ref>[https://fundabortionnow.org/get-help/medicaid Can Medicaid cover my abortion?]</ref>
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.


==Advocacy & Counseling==
==Advocacy & Counseling==
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