May 7, 2021

Birth Control, Health Care, STIs, Uncategorized

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 Ellsworth and Lewiston locations can get the vaccine at those sites. Please, encourage your friends and family to get vaccinated, listen to their concerns if they have any, and offer to help with transportation or child care if you’re in a position to do so. It will take all of us working together to reach our vaccine goals and keep our communities safe from COVID-19.

Next up, spring is a great reminder (you know, things blooming and all that) to care for your sexual and reproductive health. STIs and STDs have been steadily rising nationwide for the past several years, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis. Many STIs can be completely asymptomatic, but lead to later complications for your reproductive health.

Start the summer off with a visit to MFP to get tested, talk about birth control options, or just have a wellness visit to talk about your sexual and reproductive health and any questions or concerns you might have. Our team members are expert, compassionate, and always confidential.