Planned Parenthood

Wow, this place saved us! I came here with my partner because her doctor lied (yes, lied) to her and said she had something she didn’t. My doctor was on vacation so we were very slim on options. We came here as a last resort since the tests we got back were confusing and inconclusive.
The wait was a little uncomfortable (is it ever not awkward waiting to get your genitals looked at? Lol) but I was sorely disappointed that me and my partner (who requested a joint appointment very clearly) were kept separated for over 20 minutes. Her phone was off and I was very worried about her since she was crying a lot from the BS her doctor told her. We wanted to support each other.
BUT, when we finally saw the nurse and doctor, everything brightened up right away. They were apologetic for the wait, answered a TON of questions, gave us a TON of info, showed us pictures of symptoms in a textbook, and most importantly, EDUCATED US on what the tests mean, and why false positives and other things can happen!
For example: did you know that some major STIs have a incubation period of several days to weeks? So getting tested *immediately* is not the best always… better to abstain from sex for a short while and then get a proper test done… some damn good stuff to know!
So yeah, these people rock. They provide a super rare and valuable resource to the community that we cannot do without. The misinformation from google and private practice is bad, and places like this are our only hope for stopping uncomfortable STIs to the really bad stuff like AIDS. Thanks for putting your heart in your work :)

First time coming to planned parenthood after years of going to Kaiser. Staff was really nice and friendly, not going to lie I was super shy and felt awkward but they made me feel at ease. My appointment was in the morning, it was calm and not a lot of people but again it was only morning time. They really do whatever they can to help you, I needed an ultrasound for my iud and at first the doctor said I would probably have to pay out of pocket. But she went and investigated and got me an appointment were I didn’t have to pay a dime. If I ever need their services again I’ll be coming back to this facility for sure.

What a waste of my time! I made an appointment online earlier in the week and arrived on time, only to be refused free care. I have private insurance but cannot use it for birth control services due to confidentiality issues, which has made all care at other PP centers free in the past. This time the woman at the front desk immediately told me if I have private insurance, I have to stick with it, they can’t help me unless I pay for the service out of pocket (the cost of which is the same as my monthly income). She was not understanding of my situation and definitely did not fit with the caring and kind services I’ve had in the past at other locations. I knew she was wrong from personal and friends’ experiences and went to a nearby PP center an hour later, and they approved my income and insurance confidentiality, telling me this was TOTALLY FINE to not use my private insurance because of confidentiality. I qualify for free service and have an appointment there next week. Don’t go to the San Mateo location, they’ll only waste your time.

Self righteous staff that offered no assistance or helpful alternatives when we came in on the date they advised to get a depo shot renewal. They simply stated it was too early but it’s what they had written on the card. Came back a couple days later and they sent us away again saying they failed to preapprove the service through insurance. A snarky sorry was all we got. I had to insist on speaking to a supervisor and ask for some help getting insurance on the line immediately for service. They act entitled behind the counter but the actual doctors and nurses do good work.

I had a great experience at this clinic.
I booked an appointment on Tuesday night to come in the next day at 6:10pm. The office location is a bit dark at this hour, I thought it was actually closed when I got there, but one building seems to remain open at this time (to the left of the parking lot).
I was greeted promptly and I guess I lucked out because the appointment before me did not show up so I was able to be seen earlier. The ladies at this office are extremely kind and made me feel at ease instantly.
The medical assistant asked me a series of questions which are standard for anyone seeking services here. I did not feel judged and they don’t demand to see any previous health records or anything like that — they take your word, unlike any other Doctor. After answering the questions, the nurse practitioner gave me a 6 month supply of the prescription I needed. After having a very negative experience at the gyno, this made me feel so much more at ease and more confident in my future health decisions.
P. S. If you’re new to planned parenthood, they will offer free services to those without insurance or income so please don’t let that deter you from going!

Went in for a routine check-​up, they treated me with courtesy, care and I left feeling more informed than I had when I walked in.
Services took a little longer than I expected but everyone was so nice, the place was so clean and calm I didn’t really mind :)

I’m a staunch supporter of Planned Parenthood, but my most recent experience at this location was without a doubt the WORST experience I’ve ever had at a doctor’s office. I made an appointment to have my copper IUD (in place for slightly over a year) taken out and replaced with a Mirena, but left the office with no IUD whatsoever. Until the re-​insertion, everything went fine — the staff was pleasant, and the removal of the copper IUD went smoothly. However, when the NP went to insert the Mirena, things started to go awry. She seemed hesitant and unsure of herself, and spent an inordinate amount of time prodding me to open my cervix and measure my uterus, causing me extreme pain in the process. After several minutes of this, I assumed she must be nearly done, because I remembered how quickly my IUD insertion had gone a year before. But when I asked, she told me that she still hadn’t been able to open my cervix wide enough to insert the device. Because I was in so much pain, she stopped for a break and explained that she might not be able to get it in at all. I was shocked, and told her that my copper IUD had been inserted with no problems. She offered to give me a medication that would soften the cervix, but explained the possible side-​effects were nausea and dizziness, and I would have to come back for another appointment the next day to give the pill time to work. I was baffled, and not interested in the medication when I hadn’t needed it before, so I reiterated that I hadn’t encountered any difficulties last time and that I’d prefer if she tried the insertion one more time before we gave up. She agreed. After another several minutes of intense pain, during which she went back and forth to her table, swapping out instruments and generally seeming unsure of herself, she stopped and said that it just wasn’t possible. By that point I was in so much pain that I agreed to just give up.
The NP told me that because I’m young, have never had children, and was not on my period at the time, my cervix was simply too small to accommodate an IUD. I told her AGAIN that my copper IUD had been inserted the year before with no complications — I was equally young, pre-​childbirth, and mid-​cycle that time. She just told me that I should try an appointment with another doctor then, and left the room. She did not wait to see if I was okay and she did not send in a nurse to check on me before I attempted to stand up. This was odd to me, because at my last insertion, the doctor had stayed until she was convinced the process hadn’t made me feel sick in any way. Sure enough, this time, when I tried to get up, I nearly fainted. I had to lie back down and spend several minutes calling out for help before a nurse came in and brought me something to drink.
In summary, the NP (sadly I can’t remember her name, but she was an older woman with, supposedly, plenty of experience) was embarrassingly incompetent and the nursing staff was negligent at best. This was the most pain I have ever experienced, and in return I got nothing: no IUD, no help after the NP left the room, nothing. I did not return for a second appointment and instead visited an OBGYN through the Palo Alto Medical foundation. That doctor was able to insert the IUD in about a minute and a half, and I felt only the slightest twinge of pain. Obviously my cervix wasn’t the problem.

Polite staff. Conveniently located. Appointments always take longer than they should here. Took about two hours to refill my birth control prescription only to have an employee then try to pressure me into staying even longer for an STD test I didn’t need. Latest visit didn’t even start since my insurance isn’t accepted here. Oversight on my part. However, I don’t see why this detail was missed by whoever I was on the phone with for 15 minutes confirming all of my information the week prior to my appointment. Or by the person who called me the day before to confirm the appointment.

Love the customer service there, even though I always get seen late. It worth the wait. Very nice doctors and medical assistants.

Im from hayward and i go to the hayward location but came here and it is worth the trip .
People are very friendly.
They will let you know the best options they have for you and they will explain step by step .
My favorite location 5 stars!!!

Mar Monte PP is my absolute favorite! I have been there twice now and am always treated with thee utmost respect. Everyone that works there are a pleasure to work with and I had no idea I could (or my son’s) be seen for general health concerns as well. Although I live about 30 minutes away it is worth it to me to make the drive. I have not had any issues scheduling appointments, no delay in the waiting room and every single person I have met has been fabulous!

I came here earlier this week due to a pregnancy scare. I also needed to refill my birth control, and recently lost my health insurance, so I knew to come here for low or no cost options.
When I called the number listed online, I spoke with a very kind woman who was able to get me an appointment within 2 days. When I arrived, I was afraid I’d face protesters or something similar. That wasn’t the case at all. The clinic is set back from the street, which makes it very quiet and peaceful. I filled out some paperwork, and they were able to get me into a room right away.

As a new patient, I had to answer a lot of questions about my health, my immediate family’s health, and my sexual history. They also asked me questions about my relationships to ensure they were healthy. I spoke with the nurse and clinician, gave a urine sample, took an HIV test (a blood test via finger prick which took 10 minutes), and left with a 13 month supply of pills, one Plan-​B, and lots of information on other forms of birth control.
Due to the information I provided at the beginning of my visit, there was no cost to me, although I did leave a donation. I was very impressed with the staff’s kindness, politeness, and commitment to patient care. I will continue to staunchly support Planned Parenthood for many years to come, and encourage others to utilize their services.

I had an 8:30 appointment on a Wednesday for a checkup and because I had some questions for the doctor or nurse there. I arrived around 8:15 but they don’t open the door u til 8:30 or five minutes before. I wasn’t seen by anyone until 9:30 even though there was only one other person before me.
I chose Planned Parenthood since I knew they offered discounted rates for people who don’t have or are between insurances. I didn’t qualify for their program that covers the costs of all services and they didn’t accept Aetna so I ended up paying for everything out of pocket.
I did like that the clinic was set away from the main street so you have a bit of privacy when entering the parking lot. The nurse and the medical assistant were both very nice and professional. The facility looked pretty clean and organized. The nurse didn’t force me into having anything done that I didn’t want to have done since I was paying out of pocket.
Overall, I would recommend this location to anyone looking to go to a Planned Parenthood. The only complaint I have would be the unexplained long wait even with an appointment in the middle of the week.

THESE PEOPLE WILL PRESSURE YOU INTO ANYTHING.
I thought Planned Parenthood was a place where people, especially young women, could go to avoid being harassed and pressured.
I was so excited to have found a Planned Parenthood in my area that was so close to home. I have been using PP services for about 4 years now and before this clinic, I was extremely impressed with the understanding and gentle nature of the people who work at the clinics.
My first visit at this clinic was very uncomfortable. Though I understand that my health is their priority, both the technician and the RN I met with were extremely pushy, trying to get me to do tests that I was uncomfortable with. I dealt with it because of my social anxiety and thought that maybe it was a fluke, and used every excuse in the book to get them to back off. 6 months later I went in for a refill on my pills and nothing had changed.
When I was called back for my appointment, the technician lead me straight to the restroom to leave a urine sample. When I asked why, he told me that he would explain why when we got into the room. I pushed back and he backed off– until we got in the room. In order to get him to stop pressuring me (just like I was at my last appointment), I lied and told him I had a full work up at my doctors recently. When he asked when my last period was, I truthfully told him that it was months ago and I was keeping a close eye on it and had recently taken a pregnancy test, which was negative, however I was not concerned because the RN who had prescribed the pills had warned me that my period would likely stop due to my past experiences and the type of pills I was on. They told me that it was absolutely necessary that I took another pregnancy test, which I did only because I was running out of pills and I did not want to go unprotected.
Lastly, they finally told me that they had only one pack of the pills I was on left in their storage, so I was forced to ask for a prescription for them so that I could stay on the current prescription which took me OVER A YEAR OF TRIAL AND ERROR WITH DOCTORS TO FIND because of my hormone imbalances.
I will not be coming back to this facility for any reason again. Free services are not worth the anxiety and pressure of this facility’s staff members.

Planned Parenthood is the shit. I love them, and have been sporadically using them for general check-​up and refill stuff since my early 20’s (whenever I lack insurance). This location has potential. but my first and only visit so far was pretty disappointing. so for now 3 stars is as high as I can go.
The location itself is easy to find, yet tucked-​away enough to be a bit *safer* and less drawing of unwanted attention for any ladies who feel embarrassed to come in for medical attention. There is private parking, the facilities are all updated and clean, and the waiting room seems to play a lot of TLC (House Hunters). All of the staff was very friendly and kind. I was able to make an appointment (online, no less) with minimal hassle. You won’t find as many screaming babies or frazzled women overcrowding the waiting room for walk-​ins as you’re prone to see at most other nearby locations. All of these things are very positive.
The very major drawback is that it is a SMALL facility, and seems understaffed and overbooked. I had a 4pm appointment and they literally kept me waiting (despite checking in 15 min early) for over 90 minutes beyond my scheduled appointment time — this is for a depo shot, which takes all of 5 mins to do. So not cool, especially since I had somewhere to be.
I’d advise booking early in the morning or any time that is generally inconvenient for most working folks, if you want to try to get in and out in a reasonable timeframe. The nurse I saw told me as much (late afternoons apparently always run very very behind).