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Birth Control (Family Planning)

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Planning if, or when, you want to have another child can help you avoid the health and financial concerns associated with an unintended pregnancy. Timing and spacing pregnancies is better for your body. Planning your family helps you take control over your life and health care.

Birth Control Choices

It is possible to become pregnant soon after you have your baby even if you are breastfeeding. When breastfeeding, there are many choices for birth control. Non-hormonal methods should be considered first. If you want to use a hormonal birth control method, it is important to choose a method that contains little or none of the hormone estrogen. The estrogen may decrease your milk supply and lead to early weaning. Talk to a health care provider about what kind of birth control is best for you.

Remember – Birth control services are confidential. The only way others will know if you are using birth control is if you tell them. Remember you don’t need anyone else’s permission to access family planning services.

Need Affordable Birth Control Services or Health Insurance?

Take Charge

You and your partner may be eligible to receive free birth control through a program called Take Charge.

Call the Family Planning/Take Charge Hotline at 1-800-770-4334 to see if you qualify for this program.

Basic Health

You may qualify for low cost health insurance that provides coverage for birth control. Basic Health is the health insurance program offered by Washington State.

Family Planning Clinics

Many family planning clinics offer services and birth control based on a sliding fee scale. Depending on your family’s income, you may be required to pay only a certain portion of the total cost of treatment and medication. Some clinics provide services for free.

To find a clinic that offers a sliding fee scale, call the Family Health Hotline at 1-800-322-2588.

Have Health Insurance?

  • Contact your health insurance plan to find out what methods are covered and if you must pay a co-payment.
  • If you had Medicaid coverage for your pregnancy (also called the medical coupon), you can get free birth control services for 10 months following the birth of your baby. Talk to your health care provider or call the Family Health Hotline at 1-800-322-2588 to learn more.