Barnard College Barnard College

Contraceptives

Primary Care offers a variety of contraceptive options on-site, and can refer students out for options we do not provide. Aetna Student Insurance covers most contraception, and all contraception offered at Barnard Primary Care.

Contraceptives provided by Primary Care:

  • Oral contraceptive pills: both combined estrogen and progestin and progestin only (the "mini pill")
  • The ring, aka the NuvaRing
  • The shot, aka DepoProvera
  • The patch
  • Internal and External Condoms
  • Intrauterine Devices (IUD): Mirena, Kyleena, Skyla and ParaGard
    • Note: Prior to scheduling an IUD insertion, you will need to meet with our Director of Health Promotion and Education, Cristen Kennedy, for an IUD Counseling session, and to order you an IUD. You can do so by calling Primary Care at 1-212-854-2091.
      • Please view our Long Acting Reversible Contraceptive (LARC) Education Section below for more information. 
  • Implant: Nexplanon
    • Note: Prior to scheduling a Nexplanon insertion, you will need to meet with our Director of Health Promotion and Education, Cristen Kennedy, for an Nexplanon Counseling session and to order you an implant. You can do so by calling Primary Care at 1-212-854-2091.
      • Please view our Long Acting Reversible Contraceptive (LARC) Education Section below for more information. 

Contraceptives available by referral:

  • Diaphragm

For information and educational resources about the different forms of contraception offered at Barnard Primary Care, please click through the dropdown menu below. 

Questions about what option may be best for you?

Make an appointment with our health educator to discuss different contraceptive options. Give us a call at 1-212-854-2091 and ask for a health education appointment. You can also learn more about different contraceptives during The Wellness Spot's open hours.

The Reproductive Health Access Project and Bedsider are also great resources to learn more about contraceptive options including information about contraceptives across the gender spectrum.

Insurance and Contraceptives 

Insurance & Cost: The cost of different contraceptives will vary depending on your health insurance coverage. All contraceptives offered at PCHS are completely free of charge for students with the Aetna Student Health Insurance.

If you have outside insurance and are interested in a method like the IUD or implant, we recommend calling your insurance company to learn more about coverage. Most contraceptives are now covered under the Affordable Care Act, but there are exceptions. You can also speak to your insurance provider about making sure that any information related to contraceptives is sent directly to you, rather than to your family. Please call the office at 1-212-854-2091 and ask to speak to our Director of Operations, Elliot Wasserman, with any questions

Need to get Emergency Contraception?

Emergency Contraception (EC) is available in the Primary Care Health Service. There are several ways to obtain EC at Primary Care:

  • Call Primary Care at 1-212-854-2091 to schedule an appointment
  • You can also buy EC in the vending machine located near the entrance to Brooks Hall in the Quad. The vending machine is available at all times. 
    • We offer Progestin Pills (Generic Plan B) in the Vending Machine. If you need Ulipristal Acetate Pills (Generic Ella), please come in for an appointment, as this option is prescription-only. The Generic Plan B pill is fully effective for students whose body weight is 165 pounds or less.  After 165 pounds the Generic Plan B pill loses its efficacy,  and Ulipristal acetate (generic Ella) is recommended, which can only be obtained in person at PCHS due to restrictions set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
    • If you are not sure which emergency contraception option is best for you, please view this resource from Reproductive Health Access Project and/or call our office at 212-854-2091 to speak to a member of our staff or a provider about your options. 

EC is free with Aetna Student Health Insurance, and costs between $8-$25 (depending on the brand) for students with private insurance. 

Outside of Primary Care, generic Plan B is available without a prescription and is carried in in most pharmacies (call ahead to make sure it is available), but you may still want to purchase it from Primary Care because we charge considerably less than most pharmacies for EC. The choice is yours! If students are away from campus, they can also find one-pill emergency contraception, such as Plan B, on-the-shelf at many drugstores and pharmacies. Proof-of-age should not be required at time of purchase. The cost for emergency contraception varies—local pharmacies charge between $31 and $50—but is also available for free, 24 hours a day at any public hospital within the five boroughs of New York City.

We encourage you to get emergency contraception from Primary Care BEFORE you need it. Just make an appointment to get a small advance supply.

Emergency Contraception FAQ

Emergency Contraception, sometimes known as the morning after pill, can prevent pregnancy after unprotected intercourse. Emergency Contraception contains progestin, a hormone that thickens cervical mucus (acting as a barrier) and decreases the likelihood of implantation of a fertilized ovum.

Plan B

Plan B One-Step and the generic one-pill emergency contraception formulations are available without a prescription or any age limitations. One-pill is most effective if taken as soon as possible within 72 hours after sex, though there may continue to be some benefit up to 120 hours (5 days) after sex. If emergency contraception has been provided in the two-pill formulation, the first pill is taken as soon as possible, and the second pill is taken 12 hours later.

Ella

At the time of the visit, a medical provider may determine, based on medical history, that another method of emergency contraception is indicated. The emergency contraception medication Ella is another option that always requires a prescription. At Primary Care, Ella is dispensed by a healthcare provider.

You can find out more about emergency contraception options here.

You may have a need for emergency contraception if…

  • You were forced to have sex (and had no protection)
  • A condom broke or slipped off
  • You didn't use any birth control method
  • You had sex when you didn't expect to (and had no protection)
  • You missed more than two birth control pills in a row this cycle and didn't make them up

Consistent use of a contraceptive method before and during sex are the best way to protect yourself from an unwanted pregnancy. If, however, you have had unprotected intercourse and you are certain that you do not desire to be pregnant, you may want to consider using Emergency Contraception.

 

When you have sexual intercourse without any contraception, your risk of becoming pregnant depends on where you are in your menstrual cycle. During your most fertile days, about two weeks before your next period should begin (or midway between two menstrual periods if you have a monthly cycle), the risk could be as high as 30%. If you use Emergency Contraception, your chance of becoming pregnant is reduced by about 75%-89%. For example, a 30% risk would be reduced to no more than 7%.

The average risk of becoming pregnant even if you take Emergency Contraception is about 2% (range 0-7%). EC can reduce the risk of pregnancy when taken within 120 hours (5 days) of unprotected intercourse. It is more effective the sooner it is taken.

**Note: The efficacy of emergency contraception may vary based on body weight. Ella may not work as well if your body mass index is over 35. After this point, the efficacy begins to lower. Plan B may not work as well if your body mass index is over 26, then efficacy begins to lower. 

Feel free to call our office if you have questions about what Emergency Contraception option is best for you, and learn more at the Reproductive Health Access Project.

Emergency Contraception is highly effective and the failure rate is low. However, if it does fail, you should consult a health care provider. Please call the office at 1-212-854-2091 if you’d like to schedule an appointment with one of our providers.

Side effects are rare, but occasionally one may experience mild nausea or more rarely, vomiting.  It may also disrupt your regular menstrual cycle, making it either shorter or longer.

For most people, Emergency Contraception is a simple, safe option that can greatly reduce the chance of pregnancy after unprotected intercourse.  The only serious risk of taking this medication is a possible allergic reaction, which can happen with any medication you may take.

Long Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs)

Primary Care provides two long acting reversible contraceptives: the intrauterine device (IUD) and the implant, also known as Nexplanon.

LARCs are considered some of the most effective forms of reversible contraception available, and are safe for use for almost all reproductive-age people.

Primary Care inserts and removes the Mirena, Kyleena, Skyla and ParaGard IUDs and the Nexplanon implant.

Steps for Receiving a LARC at Primary Care:

  1. You will need to have a Health Education appointment to answer any additional questions and to fill out the paperwork to order the IUD or Nexplanon.
    • Please call Primary Care at 1-212-854-2091 and ask to schedule an IUD/Implant Counseling appointment. 
  2. Once your LARC is delivered to Primary Care, we will contact you to set up an appointment for either an IUD Insertion or Nexplanon Insertion appointment. 

Fees:

LARC methods are free of charge for students with the Aetna Student Health Insurance.

Students with outside health insurance are encouraged to contact their insurance provider to learn about potential coverage and cost of the IUD or Nexplanon implant. 

Insertion and removal of the IUD or Nexplanon implant at Primary Care is free of charge for all students, regardless of insurance.

If you would like more information about the IUD, implant, or other contraceptive methods, please call Primary Care at 1-212-854-2091 to make a health education appointment or visit the Wellness Spot's drop-in hours.