Planned Parenthood

[hani]

Visited Planned Parenthood today to refill my prescription for birth control. Apparently pap smears are now recommended every two years if there are no abnormal results. I had no idea. Back home the speculum’s shoved up yearly, in August, before school begins. Though last year I had to come back in November because the sample they sent in

Comments

[ravagedsanity]

i'm really needing to do this also, since i don't have insurance planned parenthood seems the only option. relying on the over the counter stuff right now which is like 80% effective at best. do you just make an appointment and say you need a birth control Rx? i don't mind having the pap and all that, just afraid to make the appointment. we may even be going to the same one since we're in the same area now :P

also can you give me an idea on the cost? pm me if you don't wanna say here, i just kinda would like to know before i get there ya know? thanks for the help <3

[hani]

I made an account on their website and filled out a form for an appointment. There's an option if you don't have Internet and can just call

[ravagedsanity]

thanks! that's so helpful i had no idea you could do it online. way easier for me than the phone which i'm terrified of :P

[hani]

Are you still in the Midwest or back south? Sorry if I was forgetful or presumptuous sending the IL locations!

[rainbow_goddess]

I imagine the buzz-in thing is because PP is a target for all the anti-abortion nutjobs.

Up here the PAP smear is recommended yearly if you're on the pill and every two years otherwise.

[hani]

Yeah, that was my initial thought (about the buzz-in).

That's interesting! I suppose because some results show birth control can up the risk of cervical cancer.

[kiiabby]

I have no idea about smear tests... Here in the UK it used to be "once you've been sexually active for a year you need to start having them".... but now, I'm not so sure. A couple of years ago I went to a GUM clinic to make sure I had no STIs etc, and I asked the nurse about getting a smear test done. She said now the guidelines are you don't have to get them done til you're 25 now, since there is so little chance of cervical cancer before that age the tests were just an unnecessary cost.

Not entirely sure how true that is, but the NHS cuts pennies wherever it can, so I'm not surprised!

[hani]

I thought the chances of developing cervical cancer was based upon the chances of getting HPV which is a STD/STI... I don't get it when they put age limitations on stuff like that...

I'm sorry about NHS cutting the budget!