New Orleans

United States / Louisiana / New Orleans

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 Louisiana, you need a prescription to obtain hormonal birth control. If you're an unmarried minor, you need parental consent to obtain birth control. If you're a married minor, you don't need parental consent to obtain birth control. However, if you're an unmarried minor, you should check out Title X clinics. Title X clinics are available to all people, regardless of their age or if they have parental consent, and they may even be able to give you birth control at a reduced cost or no cost at all depending on your financial situation.

You can buy condoms in Louisiana in drugstores, pharmacies, grocery stores or online. Teenagers can legally buy condoms. You can also get condoms for a reduced cost at health clinics, STI Testing centers and local health departments.

The age of consent in Louisiana is 17 years old. It is not required to teach sex-education in public schools, and local school boards decide whether to teach sex-ed. Furthermore, there is no state requirement to teach students about contraceptives, such as the pill, patch or shots. When sex education is included in public schools, the curriculum often stresses abstinence and saving sex for marriage. This may contribute to the high HIV infection rate in New Orleans, as well as teen pregnancy. Since 2010, over 2500 New Orleans teenagers have participated in sex education programs, funded by new federal grants aimed at reducing teen pregnancy. Unfortunately, however, sex education remains both contentious and overlooked in many public schools.

What to Get & Where to Get It

For a list of clinics that provide free or low-cost birth control in New Orleans, please visit this link. For a full list of recommended women's clinics and health centers in New Orleans, visit the "Gynecological Exams" section. Below, you will find some recommendations of health centers and pharmacies to visit, but there are many more in the New Orleans area.

• Planned Parenthood New Orleans Health Center: You can obtain birth control prescriptions and birth control. If you qualify as low-income, you may even be able to obtain free birth control. Thye have birth control implant, birth control patch, birth control pill, birth control shot, birth control vaginal ring (NuvaRing), diaphragm, condom, female condom, IUD (hormonal), IUD (copper), spermicide. "We are open six days a week and walk-ins are welcome. Next-day appointments are available. We accept all Medicaid plans, Take Charge Plus, and many commercial insurance plans, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, and Humana." Address: 4636 S Claiborne Ave, New Orleans, LA 70125, USA. p: 504.897.9200 | f: 404.494.7435
• St. Vincent De Paul Community Pharmacy - New Orleans: "Since 1998, The Society of Vincent de Paul Community Pharmacy has offered prescription medication to free of charge to the underserved population of the New Orleans Community; namely the homeless, indigent and elderly-this group of individuals on a fixed income and in most cases, cannot afford needed medication prescribed by physicians." Address: New Orleans, LA - 70119, (504) 940-1904. For more information, call 504-940-5031, ext. 15 or ext. 17.
• Tulane Adolescent Drop-in Clinic: Provides birth control, pregnancy tests, STI tests, etc. "For over 15 years the Drop-In Center has filled a void in New Orleans by providing both medical and social services for runaway and homeless youth. The overall mission of the Drop-In Center is to improve the health and quality of life of homeless youths, between the ages of 14 to 23 years, by providing for and broadening the comprehensive network of primary healthcare and substance abuse, mental health, case management and outreach services." Address: 1434 N Rampart St, New Orleans, LA, 70116-1912, (504) 988-1667
• St. Thomas Community Health Center: "Our goal is to keep you and your family healthy, regardless of your insurance status or ability to pay. We accept most insurance plans, Medicaid, Medicare and offer services on a sliding scale for uninsured and underinsured. " Address: 1020 Saint Andrew St., New Orleans, LA, 70130, (504) 529-5558
• Family Care Services Center (Crescent Care): 4640 South Carrollton Avenue, New Orleans, LA, 70119, (504) 378-0427

Costs

If you're interested in obtaining low-cost birth control, visit a women's clinic or Planned Parenthood. A pack of twelve condoms costs about $12. Female condoms are about $2 to $4 per condom.

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 Louisiana, you should be able to purchase emergency contraception (also known as "the morning after pill" or "Plan B") at pharmacies, regardless of age. However, there have been reported cases of women being denied emergency contraception. If this is the case, please visit the facilities we visit below (in the "What to Get & Where to Get It" section).

What to Get & Where to Get It

Note: The longest-lasting EC is currently ellaOne. It lasts up to 5 days (120 hours) after unprotected sex. Check to see if your country carries ellaOne. If your country doesn't carry ellaOne, copper IUDs may also prevent pregnancy up to 5 days after unprotected sex. If none of these options are available, and it's been over 3 days since you had unprotected sex, you can still take EC, which may work up to 5 days. Note that EC pills are not 100% effective and should be taken as soon as possible.

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.

What to Get & Where to Get It

• You can get PrEP in New Orleans. According to We PrEP Together: "Did you know that 1 in 8 Americans with HIV are unaware they are infected? In Louisiana, it’s 1 in 5. PrEP allows those who are at high risk of contracting HIV to take control of their sexual health. Taking PrEP once a day can decrease the risk of contracting HIV by up to 92%! If you are HIV-negative – and we all want to keep it that way – PrEP may be right for you!" Check out this map to see all the locations, which include:
  • St. Thomas Community Health Center: 1020 St Andrew St, New Orleans, LA 70130. 504.529.5558. Open 7:30AM – 5:00PM, M-F.
  • St. Thomas at Mahalia Jackson: Building B, Suite 222, 2405 Jackson Ave, New Orleans, LA 70113, +1 504-359-6950. Open 7:00AM – 3:00PM, M-F.
  • [www.columbiaparc.com/ Columbia Parc Health Center]: 3943 St Bernard Ave, New Orleans, LA 70122, +1 504-529-5558. 504.529.5558. Open 7:30AM – 4:30PM, M-F.
  • L.B. Landry Community Clinic: 1200 L B Landry Ave, New Orleans, LA 70114, +1 504-529-5558. Open 7:30AM – 4:30PM, M-F
  • Donald T. Erwin Center: 1936 Magazine Street, New Orleans, LA 70130, 504.529.5558. Open 7:30AM – 5:00PM, M-F

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.

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.