I am often asked reproductive health questions. As a physician, I am always happy to help my patients, and I stress to them the importance of taking control of their health. At Eskenazi Health and elsewhere, family planning resources are available for patients to utilize to get answers to important health questions.
The first question I am almost always asked when I refer someone to family planning services is, “What is family planning?” Family planning specializes in reproductive health. It offers routine reproductive health care services. At Eskenazi Health, the family planning team assists women and men in the Indianapolis area at little or no cost through federal and state funding. Eskenazi Health Family Planning ensures that uninsured, underinsured and low-income women, men and youth are able to access quality, affordable health care. Medicaid and private insurance patients are also welcome.
Eskenazi Health Family Planning provides the following services:
• Important medical exams, such as an annual gynecological exam, pap smear and breast exam
• Contraceptive and birth control information
• Breast and cervical cancer screenings
• Pregnancy testing and counseling
• Testing, treatment and counseling for sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Urinary tract and vaginal infections testing and treatment
One of the services my patients find most helpful is the counseling offered. Patients, many whom are young and afraid, are able to talk with a qualified medical team about important issues. They are able to find answers to important sexual health questions in a confidential setting.
A majority of the patients Eskenazi Health Family Planning sees are young adults. Often, the most important thing we can do to help them is to provide information to questions they have or address concerns. The team is led by Dr. Jane Lau, an OBGYN physician at Eskenazi Health.
It is important for patients to be aware of their reproductive risks and be educated on the types of contraception. In addition, family planning helps to educate patients on protection against STIs, including HIV/AIDS, and provide other health benefits. Condoms protect against both unintended pregnancy and STIs, and their use should be encouraged. Both men and women should be counseled about using condoms at every act of sexual intercourse when not in a long-term, mutually monogamous sexual relationship.
While abstinence from sexual activity is the only 100-percent effective way to avoid unintended pregnancy, for individuals who are sexually active and do not want to become pregnant or cause a pregnancy, correct and consistent contraceptive use is highly effective.
Especially for young people, family planning might seem like an uncomfortable discussion. But, it is important to not be embarrassed and understand that talking with qualified health professionals about these important issues will help in making informed decisions down the road.
Evidence shows that family planning has been successful. The teen birth rate in the United States has fallen dramatically during the past two decades, plummeting 57 percent. At the same time family planning services have increased.
Eskenazi Health provides family planning services at several locations. Patients are referred by their primary care physician or can call 317-880-2276.
Nydia Nuñez-Estrada, M.D.
Family Medicine
Eskenazi Health Center North Arlington