Since Indiana’s near-total abortion ban took effect more than a year ago, some reproductive health care providers have had to adjust the way they talk to patients about contraception.

Some providers said the few, narrow exceptions to the near-total ban made access to care difficult, making it all the more important to know what contraceptives are available.

Dr. Tracey Wilkinson is project director of the Path4You program, which provides free contraception across the state.

Wilkinson said people often don’t become aware of barriers to care until they or someone they know tries to access it. Some of her patients are unaware that access to abortion is severely limited in Indiana.

“Despite all the coverage and attention surrounding the abortion ban, there are still many members in our community who didn’t know about it,” Wilkinson said. “The more we talk about it and the more we remind people, the better it is to raise awareness.”

READ MORE: Providers and patients work to find access to care in first year of near-total abortion ban

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Wilkinson said patients need to understand the state’s abortion ban in order to make informed decisions.

“I also bring up in my advice that abortion is now illegal in our state. So as you consider the various options for contraception, please keep in mind that abortion is no longer legal in our state,” Wilkinson said.

Wilkinson’s role now includes helping people understand the different types of care they can continue to access.

“This is no longer a discussion that can be postponed until the next visit or that is only addressed in certain patients or patients of a certain gender,” Wilkinson said. “It really is that every moment is crucial.”

The Path4You program launched in 2021 — about a year before Indiana lawmakers passed the state’s near-total ban — and has helped more than 2,000 patients. Wilkinson said providers expected access to short-acting contraceptives, such as oral contraception, to be easier. But she said they found that many patients needed help finding both short- and long-acting options.

“It really shows how difficult things are for us – especially when it comes to birth control,” Wilkinson said. “No matter what you want to achieve, it’s all difficult. And as a government, we don’t make it easy for you.”

However, since the near-total ban came into force in 2023, Wilkinson says more people are opting for long-acting, reversible options than before.

Abigail is our health reporter. You can reach her at [email protected].