Unintended Pregnancy Prevention

Empowering people to pursue the future they want.

the right time

The Right Time initiative is based on the simple belief that everyone should have the opportunity to pursue the future they want, including if, when, and under what circumstances to get pregnant. We seek to empower individuals to take control of their own health by improving information about, and removing barriers to, contraceptive services, recognizing that decisions always rest with the patient. The Right Time is making it easier for people in Missouri, including those who are uninsured or underinsured, to receive quality contraceptive services.

The Right Time is committed to addressing persistent health disparities in unintended pregnancy and among marginalized populations. We are focused on addressing these inequities by removing barriers to quality contraceptive services, providing more people with access to the full range of contraceptive methods, and helping people find the method that works best for them.

Why it matters:

Fifty-one percent of all pregnancies in Missouri are described by women themselves as unintended, and women of color, women of limited economic means, and women with less education all have higher rates of unintended pregnancy. The annual public costs associated with unintended pregnancy is $518 million in Missouri.

When people get pregnant on their own terms, they face fewer challenges in achieving their educational and career goals and are better prepared for the demands of parenthood. This leads to healthier women and babies, substantial savings to Missouri’s health system, and reduced health disparities.

How we’re changing things:

The Right Time initiative is making it easier for people in Missouri, including those who are uninsured or underinsured, to receive quality contraceptive services.
Through this initiative, we are working with a variety of health centers in targeted regions across the state to provide training, technical assistance, and funding to expand access to the full range of contraceptive methods. At present, there are a total of 11 The Right Time partner health centers in 34 locations throughout Missouri; including Columbia in the center of the state, St. Louis in the east, Joplin in the southwest, and Cape Girardeau in the southeast.

Visit The Right Time.

The Right Time seeks to help people most in need of contraceptive services, with special attention to eliminating health disparities by reducing cost, access, and knowledge barriers, and focusing on equity for women who are uninsured or underinsured, geographically isolated, low income, teens, and/or women of color.
1.5-2X Higher rates of unintended pregnancy for Latina and African-American women
As compared to non-Hispanic white women
5X Higher rates of unintended pregnancy for people living at or below the poverty level
As compared to women living above the poverty level
Helping women and couples time and space pregnancies through the effective use of contraception improves maternal and child health.