Western
Maine
Community
Action
Emergency Contraception, Birth Control, STI's
Volunteer Program
Operation
Santa Claus
Gardening
Programs:
Seeds of Life
Grow-a-Row
Gleaning
Farm Shares
Food Pantries
Tax Assistance
Program
Family
Development
Accounts
Energy and Housing
Resources
Fuel Assistance
Weatherization
Home Ownership
Education
Energy
Crisis
Intervention
Low
Income
Assist Program
CMP Line
Extension
Central Heating
Improvement
Above Ground
Storage Tank
Telephone
Lifeline Program
Appliance
Replacement
Elderly Hardship
Grants
Housing
Revolving Loan
Septic System
Loans
Maine
American
Dream
Initiative
Information and
Referal
Western
Maine Community Action
Health Services
Family Planning &
Reproductive
Health
Family Life
Education
Outreach
LGBTQ Youth
Special Projects
Our Locations
Nutrition Services
WIC
Child Care
Food Program
Employment and Training
Business Services
Career
Assessment and
Consultation
Training
Assistance
Workshops
Apprenticeships
On-the-Job
Training
Job Placement
EMERGENCY
CONTRACEPTION (Plan B) can prevent a pregnancy after unplanned or
unprotected sex. You You can take Emergency Contraception up to five days after
unprotected sex, but the sooner you take it, the
more likely it is to work for
you.
PLAN B should be
used only in emergencies.
Emergency contraception is NOT A RELIABLE, LONG-TERM METHOD and will not protect you from sexually transmitted infections. You can get Plan B by prescription from your doctor, at most pharmacies or at your local Family Planning health center. For more information about getting Plan B, contact any of our locations.
NOT Ready to Get
PREGNANT?
If you are having sex, or thinking about having sex, and
you don’t want to get pregnant, you need to know about birth control methods.
What’s Right for YOU?
There are many different kinds of birth control methods. Here are some questions to ask yourself when selecting a method that’s right for you.
- Am I comfortable using this method?
- Is this method safe for me?
- Do I need a method that protects me from STIs?
- How often do I have sex?
- Have I talked to my partner about what will work best for us?
- How much will this method cost?
Not everyone is doing it.
ABSTINENCE means to not have sex.
Abstinence only works if you don’t have sex of any kind.
This commitment requires discipline and communication with your partner.
BARRIER METHODS
- Male Condom
- Female Condom
- Diaphragm
- Sponge
HORMONAL METHODS
·
Patch (Ortho Evra)·
Pill· Shot (Depo Provera)
· Nuva Ring
OTHER METHODS
·
Natural Family Planning·
Sterilization·
IUD
Need more INFORMATION?
Talk to a health care provider to choose a method that will be best for you. Or contact any of our locations.
SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS (STIs)
Think You’re Not At Risk?
Think Again
.
What are STIs?
STIs are serious infections that you can get by having sex
with someone who has an STI. Not all STIs have symptoms. People may not even
know they have one.
There are many kinds of STIs. Some common ones are herpes,
genital warts, gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and HIV (the virus that causes AIDS).
Not having sex is the only sure way to
PROTECT YOURSELF from getting an STI.
YOU can get an STI if you have SEX.
-
You can get an STI by having sexual contact with a penis, vagina, mouth or anus.
-
You can also get an STI when you kiss, touch or rub those parts.
-
You can get an STI from having sex one time.
-
You can get more than one STI at a time.
LIMIT YOUR RISK
Here’s what you can do to reduce your risk of getting an STI.
-
Use a latex or polyurethane condom for each act of oral, vaginal and anal sex.
-
Limit the number of sexual partners you have.
-
Talk with your partner(s) about STIs and using protection.
-
Know your partner’s sexual history.
-
Get tested for STIs before having sex with a new partner. Why not go together and both get tested?
-
Have sex with only one person who only has sex with you.
REMEMBER!
Many STIs have NO symptoms.
Even if you don’t have any symptoms… you could
still have an STI.
WARNING SIGNS
If you or your partner are having any of these signs, get checked:
Pain or burning while peeing
Sores, warts, blisters, swellings, bumps or a rash on or around the penis, vagina, or anus (there may or may not be painful)
Unusual discharge or strange smell coming from the vagina or penis
Burning, pain or itching in or around the vagina, penis or anus
Pain during sex or unexplained bleeding
Have you been exposed to an STI?
Get tested. Get treated.
Make sure your sexual partner(s) get tested and treated.
Don’t have sex again until you
finish treatment and/or your medical provider says it’s ok.
If you don’t GET TREATED:
The symptoms could get worse.
The symptoms could go away – but you still have the STI and can give it to others.
The STI could cause damage that
would make it hard for you to have children in the future. 
WORRIED?
NEED MORE INFORMATION?
Talk to your Health Care Provider or contact any of our locations
Click here to contact Western Maine Community Action Health Services
