Directions (From Middletown & West)

I-84 East Newburgh - Exit 5A/Route 747/Stewart Airport, turn left onto Rt. 747

At end (light), turn left Route 207 / Little Britain Road

Stay straight onto Little Britain Road/NY 300 (2.7 miles)

At 5 corners, Turn left onto Blooming Grove Turnpike / Route 94 (1.5 miles)

MyChoice is 1 1/2 miles on left

Birth Control Q&A

Q. Is there a difference between STI and STD?

A. Yes. Why?.

An STI, or Sexually Transmitted Infection is when someone is infected with a sexually transmitted disease without necessarily showing the signs or symptoms. An STD, or Sexually Transmitted Disease, is when the infected person now shows signs or symptoms.

Q. Can I get a STI if I am using contraceptives?

A. Yes. Why?

“HPV (also known as Genital warts) is not preventable by any contraceptive, including condoms.”
–From a Congressional Report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Did you know?

  • You are at risk for contracting a STI, regardless of which type of contraceptive you use.

Hormonal Contraceptives (i.e. birth control pills, shot, patch, ring):

  • Do not prevent STI’s
  • Actually alter the female genital tract, increasing a woman’s risk of contracting Chlamydia (a bacterial STI) and HIV

Barrier Contraceptives (i.e.condoms, diaphragm, cervical cap):

  • Can increase vaginal infection, increasing STI risk
  • People who use condoms have “safe” sex more often, increasing their risk of STI exposure


Citation: US Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.

http://www.cdc.gov/std/hiv/STDFact-STD-HIV.htm

Q. Am I at a higher risk for contracting STIs if I use condoms or hormonal contraceptives?

A. Yes! Why?

Did you know?

  • Using birth control actually increases your risk of getting a STI by 30%
  • Abstinence is the only 100% effective way in preventing STIs and pregnancy

You are at higher risk for contracting at least three different STIs:

HPV (Human Papillomavirus)

  • A primary cause of cervical cancer
  • No contraceptives protect against it

Chlamydia

  • The most prevalent STI
  • Use of hormonal contraceptives increase risk of contracting Chlamydia

HIV/AIDS

  • Contraceptive use creates a genital environment that makes contracting HIV easier

Information on this page provided by the US Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.

http://www.cdc.gov/std/default.htm

Q. Can I die from having a STI?

A. Yes! Why?

Symptoms of viral STIs can be treated, but they recur and are infectious for life. Men and women who have any STI are up to five times more likely to contract HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

Most STIs have silent symptoms and therefore go untreated, sometimes leading to:

  • Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) in women, which may cause infertility and could cause an Ectopic Pregnancy (a pregnancy growing outside of the uterus)
  • Cancer, which an lead to death is undetected

Information on this page provided by the US Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.

http://www.cdc.gov/std/default.htm

Q. Can I get pregnant while using a contraceptive?

A. Yes! Why?

According to the Guttmacher Institute, up to 57% of unplanned pregnancies are conceived while using a contraceptive. Symptoms of viral STIs can be treated, but they recur and are infectious for life. Men and women who have any STI are up to five times more likely to contract HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

Most STIs have silent symptoms and therefore go untreated, sometimes leading to:

  • Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) in women, which may cause infertility and could cause an Ectopic Pregnancy (a pregnancy growing outside of the uterus)
  • Cancer, which an lead to death is undetected

Information on this page provided by the US Centers For Disease Control and Prevention.

http://www.cdc.gov/std/default.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_23/sr23_019.pdf


and the Guttmacher Institute

http://www.guttmacher.org/pubs/journals/3429402.html