Okay, let’s talk about my little adventure to Planned Parenthood in Oakland. I’d been meaning to get a check-up and some birth control, and well, life kept getting in the way. But finally, I said, “Enough is enough,” and decided to get it done.
First things first, I had to find the place. There are a couple in Oakland, but the one on 1400 Broadway seemed the most convenient for me. I pulled up the address on my phone – easy peasy.
Next, I had to make an appointment. I’m not one for phone calls, so I hoped I could do it online. Turns out, you can’t book appointments online for everything, so I had to bite the bullet and call them. I looked up the number online, called them up and the receptionist was super helpful. She got me all set up with an appointment for the next week.
Fast forward to the day of the appointment, I got there a little early, just in case. The building was easy to spot, and there was some street parking nearby. I went inside, checked in at the front desk. The waiting room was pretty standard, nothing fancy. They called my name after about 15 minutes, and I went back with the nurse.
She took my vitals, asked me some basic health questions, and then the doctor came in. We chatted about my birth control options, and I told her what I was looking for. She gave me some good info, answered all my questions, and we decided on the best option for me. They wrote me a prescription, and I was good to go.
I also found out that they offer a bunch of other services too, like STI testing, pregnancy tests, and even help with getting an abortion. It’s good to know that they have all that stuff under one roof.
One thing I did wonder about was the cost. I don’t have insurance, so I was a bit worried about how much it would be. The receptionist told me they have financial assistance programs, and gave me a number to call to see if I qualified. Turns out, there might be a way to get some of the services for free or at a reduced cost. I need to look into that.
Overall, it was a pretty smooth experience. Everyone was friendly and professional, and I felt comfortable the whole time. I’m glad I finally went and took care of that.
- Find the location: 1400 Broadway, Oakland.
- Make an appointment: Called the health center, spoke to the receptionist, and scheduled an appointment.
- Visit the health center: Arrived at the health center, checked in, and waited for my turn.
- Consultation: Met with the nurse and doctor, discussed my needs and options, and received a prescription.
- Explore other services: Learned about the variety of services offered at the health center.
- Inquire about financial assistance: Discovered the availability of financial assistance and planned to investigate further.
Final Thoughts
If you’re in Oakland and need any of these services, I’d say give Planned Parenthood a shot. Just remember to call ahead for an appointment, and don’t be afraid to ask about financial assistance if you need it. It’s definitely worth taking care of yourself, and these folks make it pretty easy to do so.
