Eisenstadt v. Baird gave the legal right to contraception to everyone. But 52 years later, we still have to work to ensure everyone has the human right to bodily autonomy and the resources and freedom to control their sexual and reproductive lives. Today marks a critical anniversary in the long fight for reproductive rights: the landmark Eisenstadt v. Baird Supreme Court decision of 1972 that gave the legal right to obtain and use contraception to everyone in the United States––a right that was previously recognized solely for married, heterosexual couples. The tide began to turn in April of 1 ..read more

It is always a delicate judgement call here in Maine, deciding when to officially call it ‘spring,’ but we’re calling it here at Maine Family Planning. The daffodils and forsythia are in full bloom, and seedlings are going into the ground any day. As we look forward to warmer days and more time outside, as well as summer vacations and a busy tourist season ahead, we wanted to drop a couple of public health tips. First things first, we want to encourage everyone who is able to get themselves vaccinated against COVID-19. You can find a list of vaccination sites here, and MFP patients at our Ells ..read more

Hormonal birth control like the Pill (which has been around for 60 years this month, wow!) is pretty awesome at preventing unplanned pregnancy and has other positive side effects, too. Still, there are lots of reasons you may stop using oral contraception or another hormonal method. Sometimes, it’s because you’re ready and able to start a family or want to try a fertility awareness method. But there are lots of other possibilities. Maybe you can’t get to a clinic and don’t have internet access for a Virtual Visit for birth control. Maybe you’re recently unemployed or uninsured and don’t know h ..read more

During this time of social and economic uncertainty, it’s more important than ever to have the information and supplies you need to avoid unplanned pregnancy. That’s why Maine Family Planning is ramping up its telehealth operations in response to Covid-19, so you can access expert care, including many forms of contraception, without having to visit a clinic. This service is available to new and current patients. All you need is an internet connection and a smartphone or computer with a camera. To find out how we can help you remotely or to schedule a Virtual Visit, call (207) 922-3222 anytime ..read more

We know that even during a health emergency, people still need birth control, abortion care, and other sexual and reproductive health services. And that it may be more difficult to access care during times like these. While we all figure out how to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19, the new coronavirus, Maine Family Planning is doing all it can to ensure continued access to critical care. At this time, we are seeing patients as usual, with adjusted protocols and procedures to keep both patients and providers safe. Call (207) 922-3222 if you have questions about an upcoming appointment at an MFP ..read more

Today at the State House, family planning patients, providers, and advocates will gather in support of LD 1613, Speaker Sara Gideon’s bill to fund the statewide family planning network after the loss of federal Title X funds. This bill would ensure continued access to affordable birth control, STI testing and treatment, cancer screenings, and other sexual and reproductive health services for 23,000 Mainers. Without this funding, tens of thousands of Mainers would face barriers to low-cost, high-quality, non-judgmental health care from trusted providers in their communities. Family planning hea ..read more

We asked Laura Parent, an intern on our Prevention team, to reflect on her time with MFP. We were deeply moved by her response and we are honored to share it with you here. Thank you, Laura, and thanks to all of the sexual and reproductive health rock stars out there making the world a kinder, healthier place for all of us! #SexEdForAll Can you share your name, hometown, school, and graduation date? Hi! My name is Laura Parent and I’m from Manchester, Maine. I graduated from Maranacook High School in 2018, and now I attend Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, and will be finishing my undergr ..read more

It is always a delicate judgement call here in Maine, deciding when to officially call it ‘spring,’ but we’re calling it here at Maine Family Planning. The daffodils and forsythia are in full bloom, and seedlings are going into the ground any day. As we look forward to warmer days and more time outside, as well as summer vacations and a busy tourist season ahead, we wanted to drop a couple of public health tips. First things first, we want to encourage everyone who is able to get themselves vaccinated against COVID-19. You can find a list of vaccination sites here, and MFP patients at our Ells ..read more

Real talk: It’s not easy keeping rural clinics open, but it’s an essential part of our mission because we believe ALL Mainers need access to excellent, evidence-based sexual and reproductive health care, no matter where they live or what they earn. Last year, we faced an unexpected funding gap after the unethical, unlawful Domestic Gag Rule forced Maine Family Planning to reject ideologically tainted Title X dollars. We are still fighting the Domestic Gag Rule in federal court. We spent the early part of 2020 working with state lawmakers and allies to fill that gap with state funding in order ..read more

Hormonal birth control like the Pill (which has been around for 60 years this month, wow!) is pretty awesome at preventing unplanned pregnancy and has other positive side effects, too. Still, there are lots of reasons you may stop using oral contraception or another hormonal method. Sometimes, it’s because you’re ready and able to start a family or want to try a fertility awareness method. But there are lots of other possibilities. Maybe you can’t get to a clinic and don’t have internet access for a Virtual Visit for birth control. Maybe you’re recently unemployed or uninsured and don’t know h ..read more