A Step Ahead Chattanooga

08/20/2026

Not totally sure what a "well-woman visit" is? You're not alone, and that's exactly why so many people put off scheduling one.

Here's the TL;DR: it's a yearly check-in focused on you. Your reproductive and sexual health, your questions, your goals. This could mean birth control, your cycle, screenings, and staying ahead of your health, not just treating problems when they come up. It's a little different from your regular physical, and the two work together.

When you know what to expect, it feels a lot less intimidating.
Read the guide: https://loom.ly/KtWL7Cc

P.S. We use "well-woman visit" because it's the most recognized term, but this care is for anyone with a v***a, breasts, or a uterus.

Learn what to expect during a well woman visit and how it differs from your annual physical for optimal health.

08/06/2026

According to the CDC, more than 99% of sexually active women in the United States (aged 15–44) have used at least one contraceptive method over their lifetime. But sharing information about birth control wasn't always as easy as putting together a social media post, and a lot has changed in recent decades. Progress this new is not guaranteed. Awareness, advocacy, and education keep it moving forward. Read the full story on our Substack. https://loom.ly/vgCIWSg

Twice a year, I have the privilege of guest lecturing in a Women’s Health Policy class at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

07/22/2026

You CAN sit with us. 💅..as long as you're willing to talk about the economic impacts birth control access has on finishing school, building a career, and deciding your own timeline. Because when you get to choose if and when to have kids, the limit? It does not exist. 📈

07/20/2026

You odyssey every single method ASAC offers. 🙋‍♀️ Some methods last nearly as long as Odysseus's journey home (10 years)... We're here to guide you through your birth control journey. Way fewer sirens, way fewer detours.

07/14/2026

Imagine the stories we could tell about how birth control access directly correlates with financial stability and mobility across generations if we had our own Netflix documentary.

The research is substantial. Studies have linked improved access to effective contraception with outcomes such as:
• Higher rates of high school and college completion.
• Increased lifetime earnings.
• Greater labor force participation.
• Lower rates of poverty.
• Improved financial security for families.
• Better health outcomes for parents and children.

We see this impact in our own community. Among ASAC clients who returned for additional services and reported their education level at both visits, 41.8% reported a higher level of education at their most recent visit.

07/09/2026

Birth control isn't just for one season of life. Did you know that, on average, women are in their reproductive years for 37.1 years?

We received this message from a client after using our services. She had a lapse in insurance coverage and knew that, at her stage of life, an unintended pregnancy could carry real complications, and losing her coverage wasn't going to stop her from staying ahead of it.

She found us, took the next step, and stayed in control of her own timeline. We're proud to stand behind people like her, and we can only do it because of donors like you who stand behind us. 💛

🔗https://loom.ly/sQ0q5k0

07/08/2026

We just added something new to our website: the Knowledge Portal.

It's your one-stop spot for birth control resources like blog posts, downloadable handouts, and a brand-new video with health educator Shannon Hamaker breaking down every birth control method available, all in one place.

Use the timestamps in the YouTube description to jump to a specific method, or settle in and watch the whole thing (become a birth control method expert).

We believe everyone deserves access to accurate information about birth control and reproductive health because knowledge is how you make decisions that are right for you. 💙

https://loom.ly/0F8Lr2Q

07/01/2026

Check out our newest Substack post on dis-/misinformation and birth control, including the TikTok myth that sparked our curiosity on where these myths start, what causes people to believe them, and what we can do to combat dis/misinformation in a productive and respectful way.

🔗 https://loom.ly/6E-ychA

What a TikTok Myth Taught Me About Fighting Dis/Misinformation

06/25/2026

We've been getting a lot of questions about NEXPLANON® since the FDA extended its approved use to 5 years earlier this year. We've put together an easy-to-understand FAQ blog post we've heard most. Still have questions? You can schedule a time to chat with our nurse navigator. https://loom.ly/ebCrjuI

Your Nexplanon Implant Is Now FDA Approved for 5 Years. Here’s What You Need to Know Your NEXPLANON® Implant Is Now FDA Approved for 5 Years | A Step Ahead …

06/22/2026

We had so much time at The Book & Cover last week ✨BeDaZzLiNg our favorite books and getting to chat about all things ASAC. So grateful for everyone who came and for The Book & Cover for always being such a great supporter of our mission.