There are many kinds of birth control methods available today so choosing which one to use is easy. The many clinics and pharmacies that sell these methods also solve the problems of availability and accessibility. However, many women are still opting out of using birth control despite the variety of options, ease of availability, and accessibility. The rising cost of birth control is the primary reason more and more women are opting out of birth control use. They risk unintended pregnancies and other problems by using less effective forms of protection rather than spend a lot on birth control pills and other contraceptive methods.

If you are one of the many women tempted to give up on birth control amid its rising cost, there are ways to get cheap but effective contraceptives. One such option is through Planned Parenthood. Here is a guide on how to get birth control through Planned Parenthood:

1. Visit the Planned Parenthood website.

Visiting the Planned Parenthood website can give you several benefits. First, you will get more information about your reproductive health. Second, you can find out where the Planned Parenthood clinic nearest to you is located. Third, you can learn more about the different birth control options available prior to your visit. You can read and print the provided fact sheets and come up with some questions that confuse you. This way, you can clear the confusion with a Planned Parenthood health professional when you come in for a visit.

2. Print information forms that you may need.

Your appointment with a Planned Parenthood clinic will not start until after you have completed filling out the necessary forms. To save you time, Planned Parenthood made these forms available in its website so you can print out the forms you need and fill them out at your convenience prior to your visit. Different forms are available for annual gynecological exam, STD checkups, emergency contraception, birth control, and pregnancy test. Print out all the forms you need.

3. Fill out forms accurately, honestly, and completely.

This step is crucial to getting the right birth control method. A Planned Parenthood clinician will review your medical history through the information you provided on the forms. This is essential since some forms of contraception pose risks to women with certain conditions. Inaccuracy or providing wrong and misleading information can lead to incorrect diagnosis and prescription of inappropriate birth control.

4. Choose and undergo your exam option.

Prior to being given or administered with contraceptives, you have to undergo a gynecological exam. Planned Parenthood offers four options. You can choose to undergo the examination at the Planned Parenthood clinic, at another doctor's office, have delayed exam, or not have one at all. For the last option, a Planned Parenthood clinician will determine if you are at high risk for conditions that may get worse with birth control use. If you are not at risk for any conditions, you may be able to forego the exam.

5. Schedule visits for check ups.

After the exam, you will be given or administered with the right contraception for you at a lower cost. Schedule regular visits so that clinicians at Planned Parenthood can monitor how well the contraception method is working for you.