CLEVELAND — Since the Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v Wade, reproductive health care professional Dr. Ashley Brant said she is seeing a significant increase in demand for contraception and permanent sterilization.
“I can tell you anecdotally that I used to have a couple requests per month, and in the last two weeks, I think I’ve booked five or six requests for permanent sterilization,” said Brant.
Brant is an OB-GYN and serves as the Director of Complex Family Planning at the Cleveland Clinic.
She said her team started discussing the need to reduce barriers for patients seeking contraception as soon as the ruling came down from our nation’s highest court.
In response, the Cleveland Clinic is now offering appointments dedicated to providing contraceptive options at several locations across northeast Ohio starting Saturday, July 23.
“About half of pregnancies in the United States are unplanned, and so this is a response to demand from the community that we serve to increase access to contraceptives. People are worried about what will happen if they have an unplanned pregnancy, what options are available to them, and so we want to help people to take control of their reproductive health care and of their future,” said Brant.
The new contraception clinics are for those ages 14 and older. Appointments are required and are available from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. OB-GYN appointments remain available throughout the week.
Brant said this is a proactive effort to meet the needs of the community.
“One of the things that we’re seeing a lot of is that people are anxious and unsure of what their contraception options are. There’s a lot of misinformation out there. The current laws in Ohio do not restrict access to any contraceptive methods,” Brant said. “So, that’s the first thing. We just want to reassure people that all of your options are still available to you and during our discussions with patients, we really make an effort to talk about their values, what’s important to them, their health history to help them choose the method of contraception that’s most appropriate for them.”
Brant said she believes reproductive health decisions are best made between the patient and their health care professional and said these new clinics are a way to improve patient care by increasing access.
To make an appointment for the new contraception clinics, call 216-444-6601.
Locations:
- Avon Pointe Medical Outpatient Center
- Beachwood Family Health and Surgery Center
- Brunswick Family Health Center
- Lakewood Family Health Center
- Main Campus
- Stephanie Tubbs Jones Health Center
- Willoughby Hills Family Health Center
