In a time of uncertainty with measures still in place during the pandemic, it’s important to know what resources are out there for you when it comes to health care. If you find yourself in need of birth control, STI/STD screening, and other women’s health services, here are some local and national options to check out.
Clinics and health centers
For any service you might need, from a pregnancy test to a routine check-up, there are clinics and health centers available to you.
Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood clinics offer services like general health care, birth control, emergency contraception, abortion services/referrals, STI/STD testing, and more. You can book appointments online and you can use health insurance to help cover costs. If you do not have health insurance or if you choose not to use health insurance, many centers have a sliding scale payment system and offer financial support resources.
The currently open Planned Parenthood clinics closest to Hudson County include:
Mulberry Health Center – Newark, NJ
Margaret Sanger Center – New York, NY
Elizabeth Health Center – Elizabeth, NJ
Hackensack Health Center – Hackensack, NJ
Englewood Health Center – Englewood, NJ
You can find more information on the Planned Parenthood website. You can also visit the regional sites for Metropolitan New Jersey, Greater New York, and Northern, Central, and Southern New Jersey.
First Choice Women’s Resource Centers
10 Paterson St, Jersey City
First Choice Women’s Resource Centers located in the Heights offers information on pregnancy, abortions, and STIs. In the office, they provide ultrasound services with accurate dating for pregnancies, free pregnancy tests with results provided during the appointment, and STI/STD screening. Their services are free of charge and can be scheduled by phone or online (depending on the service).
Please note that they do not provide birth control or abortions, but they do offer information so anyone interested in those services can at least make an informed decision. You can find more about their services on the First Choice website.
Hoboken Family Planning
Hoboken Family Planning offers a selection of medical services including physical exams, cervical cancer screening, anemia screening, and counseling among other helpful screenings and education. Their services are available to anyone with or without insurance, and they have three locations throughout Hudson County:
124 Grand St – Hoboken, NJ
5305 Hudson Ave – West New York, NJ
1206 Summit Ave – Union City, NJ
You can make an appointment or receive more information by calling the office of your choice.
Jersey Women’s Care Center
435 Central Ave
The OB/GYN providers at Jersey Women’s Care Center offer routine exams, contraception, PCOS treatment, and other helpful services in their office in the Heights. For a full list of their services and accepted insurances, you can visit their website. You can call to book an appointment or request an appointment online.
Birth control services
Now more than ever, people might feel less inclined to visit a doctor’s office for a new prescription of birth control. Whether you need to re-up or it’s your first time, here are apps and services designed to help you get birth control delivered to your door.
Don’t worry if you don’t have health insurance – many birth control apps offer low prices for birth control.
Please note that many apps will ask if you’ve had a recent blood pressure reading. This is important to determine which birth control method would be best for you, as birth control pills can increase blood pressure.
PP Direct
PP Direct is a Planned Parenthood-run app that offers birth control and UTI treatment by mail or by pharmacy. You enter your information, have a video chat with a clinician to determine the right birth control for you, and choose your preferred delivery method as well as how many packs of birth control you want to receive. You can also message the clinician with any questions through the app.
Website: https://plannedparenthooddirect.org/
Nurx
With Nurx, you can get birth control, STI testing and treatment, and emergency contraception delivered to your door. After you fill out their questionnaire and determine which birth control method and brand you’d like, a doctor reviews the request and writes a prescription. The pills are delivered for free in a discreet package.
Website: https://www.nurx.com/
Pill Club
The Pill Club not only sends out your birth control, but they also send some goodies like sweets, stickers, and self-care products. Answer a few questions, a medical team will reach out for an online consultation, and then they’ll select the right birth control to be sent to you. Auto-refills are free, and you can cancel any time.
Website: https://thepillclub.com/
PRJKT RUBY
With PRJKT RUBY, you can get your prescription through a phone call, video chat, or digital consultation. You select your medication, complete a questionnaire, and pay to get it delivered to your door. For every month purchased through PRJKT RUBY, they donate a portion toward the access to contraception via Population Services International and Power to Decide.
Website: https://www.prjktruby.com/
Twentyeight Health
Twentyeight Health offers the birth control pill, patch, and ring with up to 12 packs available for delivery. You fill out a 5-minute questionnaire, schedule a phone call with a doctor, order your birth control, and follow-up with doctors as needed through the app’s messaging system. They are currently offering a free doctor evaluation when you use the code GIVE28.
Website: https://twentyeighthealth.com/
Lemonaid
Lemonaid offers doctor’s office services online and the delivery of medicines including birth control. You can order birth control every 3 months for $15 a pack. Answer health questions, have a video chat with the medical team, and then have the delivery shipped.
Please note they do charge for consultations – one consultation a year for $25.
Website: https://www.lemonaidhealth.com/prescription/birth-control-delivery
HeyDoctor
HeyDoctor provides online medical visits and prescriptions, including birth control prescriptions and refills. You complete an online visit by answering questions, get a prescription sent to your preferred pharmacy, and talk to their doctors before or after your visit as need be. You could also get your birth control sent to your home.
