More Than Abortion: The Unexpected Ways a Women’s Health Clinic Became My Medical Home
I first walked into Serenity Choice Health for an abortion. I was twenty-six years old, terrified, and sure that I would never come back after that appointment was over. I thought of it as a one-time stop, a place I would visit for a single procedure and then never think about again.
I was wrong.
What I found was not just a clinic that provided abortion care. I found a team of providers who actually listened to me. Who did not rush me. Who answered my questions without making me feel stupid. Who treated me like a whole person, not just a procedure.
And when my abortion was over, I kept coming back.
First for birth control. Then for STI testing. Then for a well-woman visit. Eventually, for help with the heavy periods and hormonal acne that had been bothering me for years.
This is the story of how a reproductive health clinic became my primary care provider.
The Abortion That Started Everything
I was living in Matteson, working two part-time jobs, and barely making ends meet. When I found out I was pregnant, I did not know what to do. I had no insurance. I had very little savings. And I was pretty sure I could not afford an abortion.
But I also knew I could not have a baby. Not then. Not with my finances. Not with my living situation. Not with the father being someone I had only known for three months.
A friend told me about a clinic in town that offered financial assistance. I called, expecting a cold reception. Instead, the woman who answered was warm and patient. She asked where I was located. She explained the telehealth process. She told me not to worry about cost until we knew what help I could get.
My abortion cost me twenty dollars. Twenty dollars. I had been losing sleep over money, and the answer was twenty dollars.
The abortion itself was hard. The cramping, the bleeding, the emotional rollercoaster. But the provider had prepared me for all of it. She had given me a heating pad. She had given me an after-hours number. She had told me what was normal and what was not.
When it was over, I felt relief. But I also felt something I did not expect: trust. I trusted this clinic. I trusted these providers. And I did not want to lose that.
That is when I started asking questions about my overall health.
Finding Birth Control That Actually Worked for Me
A few weeks after my abortion, I had a follow-up call with the same nurse practitioner. She asked how I was feeling. She asked about my bleeding. She asked if I had any questions.
I had one: “What birth control should I use?”
I had tried the pill before. It made me nauseous. I had tried the patch. It irritated my skin. I had given up on birth control entirely because I assumed nothing would work for me.
She did not brush off my concerns. She asked about my medical history, my lifestyle, and what I wanted from a contraceptive method. She explained that there were options I had not tried yet. The ring. The shot. Even long-acting methods like the IUD.
She helped me understand that birth control was not one-size-fits-all. What did not work for my best friend might work perfectly for me.
I left that appointment with a prescription for the ring. And for the first time in years, I felt confident in my birth control.
To learn more about finding the right contraceptive method for your body, birth control and contraceptive services in Illinois are available with same-day telehealth consultations.
The STI Testing I Had Been Avoiding
A few months later, I started dating someone new. We had been together for a few weeks, and things were getting serious. I knew I should get tested for STIs before we stopped using condoms. But I was scared.
I was scared of the results. I was scared of the judgment. I was scared of the awkwardness.
But I also knew that not knowing was worse.
I called the clinic and scheduled an appointment for STI testing. The provider was the same nurse practitioner I had seen before. She did not make me feel embarrassed. She did not ask why I was getting tested. She simply explained which tests she recommended and why.
She told me that many STIs have no symptoms. She told me that routine testing was a normal part of sexual health. She told me that knowing my status was the only way to protect myself and my partner.
The tests were easy. A urine sample. A blood draw. A few swabs. I was in and out in twenty minutes.
When the results came back negative, I felt a wave of relief. But more than that, I felt proud of myself for being responsible.
For anyone who has been avoiding STI testing, fast, confidential STI and STD testing in Illinois is available with same-day appointments and private results.
The Well-Woman Visit I Had Never Had
By the time I turned twenty-eight, I had never had a well-woman visit. I did not have a primary care doctor. I only went to the doctor when something was wrong. Preventive care was not something I thought about.
But the clinic kept sending reminders. Annual exams. Screenings. Wellness visits. Eventually, I made an appointment.
The visit was not what I expected. It was not a series of invasive questions or uncomfortable procedures. It was a conversation.
The provider asked about my overall health. My stress levels. My sleep. My diet. My exercise. My mental health. She asked about my periods, which had always been heavy and painful. She asked if I had ever been screened for anemia or thyroid issues.
I had not.
She explained that heavy periods were not something I just had to live with. There were treatments. There were options. She ordered blood work to check my iron levels and thyroid function.
The blood work showed that I was anemic. Likely from the heavy periods. She prescribed iron supplements and talked to me about other ways to manage my symptoms.
For the first time in my life, I felt like someone was actually paying attention to my health.
To schedule your own well-woman visit, women’s primary care services in Illinois offer annual exams, preventive screenings, and ongoing provider support.
The Hormonal Acne That Would Not Go Away
For years, I had struggled with hormonal acne. Breakouts along my jawline and chin. Cystic pimples that hurt and took weeks to heal. I had tried every over-the-counter product. I had tried expensive serums and face washes. Nothing worked.
I mentioned it during one of my routine visits. The provider did not dismiss it as a cosmetic issue. She explained that hormonal acne was often connected to underlying hormonal imbalances. She asked about my periods, my stress, my diet.
She suggested that a different birth control method might help. One that was FDA-approved for treating acne. She explained how it worked and what I could expect.
I switched methods. Within three months, my acne had improved significantly. Within six months, it was almost gone.
I had spent years feeling insecure about my skin. I had spent hundreds of dollars on products that did not work. And the solution was a conversation with a provider who actually listened.
The Heavy Periods I Thought Were Normal
I had always had heavy periods. Soaking through a super-plus tampon in an hour. Bleeding through my clothes at work. Periods that lasted eight or nine days.
I thought it was normal. I thought every woman dealt with this.
When I mentioned it during a well-woman visit, the provider looked concerned. She asked how long this had been happening. I told her since I was a teenager. She asked if I had ever been evaluated for fibroids, endometriosis, or bleeding disorders. I had not.
She ordered an ultrasound. It showed that I had small fibroids. Nothing dangerous, but enough to cause heavy bleeding. She explained my treatment options. Medication. Hormonal birth control. A minor procedure if I wanted it.
I started on a hormonal IUD. Within a few months, my periods were lighter and shorter. I was no longer bleeding through my clothes. I was no longer exhausted from anemia.
I had suffered for more than a decade because I did not know that heavy periods were treatable.
Why This Clinic Became My Medical Home
I have been going to Serenity Choice Health for over two years now. They have helped me with abortion care, birth control, STI testing, well-woman visits, anemia, hormonal acne, and heavy periods.
They have become my primary care providers. And I never expected that.
When I first walked through their doors, I thought I was visiting a one-time clinic for a single procedure. Instead, I found a team of providers who treated me like a whole person. Who listened. Who did not judge. Who helped me take control of my health in ways I never thought possible.
If you are looking for a provider who will actually listen to you, I cannot recommend them enough.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is a well-woman visit?
A well-woman visit is a routine checkup that focuses on your overall health. It may include preventive screenings, a discussion of your menstrual and reproductive health, and guidance on any concerns you have.
Do I need insurance for women’s primary care?
No. Financial assistance is available for uninsured patients. Many services may also be covered by insurance depending on your plan.
How often should I get STI testing?
The CDC recommends annual testing for sexually active women under 25. Women over 25 with risk factors (new or multiple partners, condomless sex) should also test annually. Everyone should get tested for HIV at least once.
What birth control options are available?
Options include pills, the patch, the ring, the Depo-Provera shot, hormonal and non-hormonal IUDs, and the implant. Your provider can help you choose based on your health history and lifestyle.
Can birth control help with heavy periods or acne?
Yes. Some hormonal birth control methods are FDA-approved to treat heavy periods, painful cramps, and hormonal acne.
Is STI testing confidential?
Yes. Your test results and medical records are protected by federal privacy laws. The clinic cannot share your information without your permission.
How fast can I get a birth control appointment?
Most patients can schedule a same-day or next-day telehealth consultation.
What if I cannot afford women’s primary care?
Financial assistance is available for eligible patients. Ask about sliding scale fees and other programs.
Conclusion
I never planned to find a primary care provider at an abortion clinic. But that is exactly what happened. The same clinic that helped me through an unplanned pregnancy has also helped me manage my periods, clear my skin, choose birth control, and take control of my overall health.
If you are in Illinois and you need a provider who will actually listen to you, consider making an appointment. Not just for abortion care. For all of it. The well-woman visits. The STI testing. The birth control counseling. The help with heavy periods and hormonal acne.
You deserve a medical home. You might just find it where you least expect it.
