Birth Control

Birth control is legal in California. If you plan to have sex and don’t want to get pregnant, you have a number of options for birth control, including condoms, the pill, the ring, the patch and the IUD. Talk to your doctor, go to a family planning clinic, or check out the websites in this guide to learn more. Find out where to get affordable birth control.

Emergency Contraception

If your condom broke or you didn’t use birth control during sex, you still have an option: emergency contraception. It only works during the first five days after having unprotected sex. The sooner you take it, the more likely it is to work. Learn more about emergency contraception »

The Pharmacist

A pharmacist can’t refuse to give you birth control because you aren’t married or because it conflicts with their personal or religious beliefs. In California, pharmacies that stock birth control must give patients timely access to them. The pharmacy must have rules in place to ensure that, whatever a pharmacist’s personal views, you can get the birth control you need.

Unprotected Sex

If you didn’t use protection or you are worried about having a sexually transmitted infection (STI), you have the right to obtain confidential testing and treatment for STIs and HIV.

Pregnancy Tests

If you think you might be pregnant, you have a right to a confidential pregnancy test. The earlier you know that you’re pregnant, the more options that you have. So you should obtain a pregnancy test right away. If you decide to carry the pregnancy to term, California has many great programs to help you get prenatal care to keep you and your baby healthy. There are also programs available if you decide to end the pregnancy.

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