CONTACT:        
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nancy Braden, 303-239-7137
Public Information Coordinator
 
 Jefferson County Reproductive Health & Family Planning Services
Did you know that Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) offers confidential, family planning services with little wait time at two convenient locations?  

Lakewood Clinic, 260 South Kipling Street - 303-239-7078
Arvada Clinic, 6303 Wadsworth Bypass - 303-275-7500

Unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection are two good reasons JCPH Family Planning Program urges those who are sexually active to be proactive about their reproductive health.  

Teen birth rates in the U.S. are as much as nine times higher than in most other developed countries. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) only about 50% of teen mothers receive a high school diploma.  In 2008, teen pregnancies cost US tax payers almost $11 billion.  The CDC also states that children of teen mothers are more likely to have more health problems, be incarcerated at some time during adolescence, give birth as a teenager, and face unemployment as a young adult.

According to a recent survey, almost 40% of US high school students said that they did not use a condom during their last sexual encounter.  This increases the chances of getting a Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) like human papillomavirus, which can cause cervical cancer, chlamydia, which often has no symptoms but can lead to infertility, genital herpes, HIV, AIDS and more.  A 2008 CDC report found that as many as 1 out of every 4 American teenage girls has an STI. 

JCPH provides confidential and comprehensive services to support and educate teens around their reproductive health. Prevention efforts work by teaching teens about abstinence and steps they need to take if they choose to be sexually active.  JCPH gives everyone access to effective and affordable birth control.  Parental consent is not required for minors and fees are assessed on a sliding scale bases.  No one is denied services due to the inability to pay. 

Making choices about your body is something that is important to teens and adults alike.  Sexually active adults who have questions or concerns about their reproductive health are also encouraged to call JCPH.  New types of contraception can be confusing and the only way to make sure you are making an informed decision is to have all the facts.

Even couples who have already started a family can benefit from JCPH’s Family Planning Services.  Some studies show that spacing pregnancies too close together or too far apart can pose health risks for both mother and baby. JCPH offers information, counseling and care for couples who are making these decisions.

For more information, visit our website at www.jeffco.us/health or contact our Lakewood Clinic at 303-239-7078 or Arvada Clinic at 303-275-7500 to make an appointment. JCPH has educational materials available on its web site or download the family planning or teen birth control brochures.