Reproductive Health

Intro Pic - reproductive health

What is reproductive health?

Reproductive health is the condition of someone’s reproductive systems throughout their life.

This matters for everyone – people of all ages, life stages, and genders. It’s not just for women, and it’s much more than just birth control.

Reproductive health includes services like birth control, abortion care, HPV vaccines, breast cancer gene screening, annual well-woman visits, cervical cancer screening, STI /HIV testing and treatment, and more.

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Resource Links

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Printable Resources

  • Accessing Sexual and Reproductive Health Care in Chicago: English (additional languages coming soon)

Sexual Health

If you’re sexually active, it’s important to get tested regularly for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV. Get connected here to low or no-cost testing and treatment near you.

For more information about getting connected to PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), HIV primary care, and more, visit CDPH’s resource page.

Under Illinois law, youth aged 12 and older can self-consent to many sexual health care services without parental notice or consent. This includes birth control,(3) including emergency contraception (you may have heard people call this “Plan B” or “the morning after pill”, STI testing and treatment, and more. Encourage the young people in your life to speak about these topics with a trusted adult – it might be you.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy is calculated from the first day of the last menstrual period. Keeping track of your cycle is part of managing your overall health. Pregnancy tests are either over-the-counter (OTC) urine (pee) test or with your medical provider (urine test, then a blood test).

Did you know? Any OTC (home) pregnancy test sold legally in the U.S. must pass clearance through the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). You may find OTC pregnancy tests at drugstores and other retail stores that sell health and personal care products. Before using any OTC pregnancy test, always check the expiration date and examine the box to make sure it's not damaged or tampered with. Always read the instructions carefully- not all tests have the same instructions and may produce inaccurate results if you do not use them properly.

Pregnancy Test Positive?

There are 3 options: Parenting, Adoption, and Abortion.

The standard of care for any pregnant person is to provide them with comprehensive pregnancy options counseling. This is a discussion between a pregnant person and a healthcare provider, or other support worker. This counseling must be medically accurate, non-biased, and include all 3 options: parenting, adoption, and abortion.

Continuing the pregnancy (Parenting)

  • Prenatal care is vital to a healthy pregnancy
  • The Illinois Moms & Babies program covers the cost of prenatal care, delivery, and health insurance for you 12 months after birth. Your immigration status does not matter.
  • Call 1-866-255-5437 to get insurance and find a provider. Don’t wait – you can start prenatal care before you have insurance.

Continuing the pregnancy (Adoption)

  • See above - don't wait to get prenatal care
  • Call the Illinois Adoption Support Line at: 1-877-746-0829

Ending the pregnancy (Abortion)

Unsure? Call the All-Options Talkline: 1-800-493-0093

Pregnancy Test Negative?

There are lots of birth control options if you want to prevent pregnancy.

Pregnant or not, it’s important to get yourself and your partner(s) regularly tested for STIs and that if positive, you both get treated.

Get connected to free or low-cost birth control and STI testing at onechifam.org, click FIND A RESOURCE.

Don’t have health insurance? Find a clinic that receives federal grants to ensure they provide services regardless of someone’s insurance status or ability to pay:

  • Title X (ten) Family Planning Clinics are funded to provide a broad range of family planning services and related preventive health services. These include STI and HIV testing, HIV counseling, cervical and breast cancer screening, and HPV vaccines. Services are confidential and provided regardless of patients’ ability to pay and clinics charge for services on a sliding fee scale.
  • Federally Qualified Health Centers are community-based organizations that are funded to deliver comprehensive, culturally competent, high-quality primary healthcare services, regardless of patients’ ability to pay, and charge for services on a sliding fee scale.
  • ICAN! (Illinois Contraceptive Access Now) can help connect you with free or low-cost birth control.

See if you qualify for the HFS Family Planning Program.

  • Apply here and check YES next to “Apply for Family Planning Program?”. This is a new program that covers sexual and reproductive health care services for people of all ages and genders.