Planned Parenthood

I have come to planned parenthood for mini birth control emergencies, when I’m inbetween primary care physicians, and when I’ve been without health insurance. I usually always have such a pleasant experience here with the clinicians and NPs. Usually the front desk staff is pretty chill too, but every once in a blue moon I will get someone who treats me like a child. I get that a lot of teens use their services, but to tell me to get off my phone when I’m sending a quick work email seems a little silly; especially when the person telling you is probably fresh out of nursing school.

The woman I worked with the majority of my visit is awesome. This review is not geared towards her whatsoever. She gets 5 stars! I wish the entire experience was as pleasant as working with her. Unfortunately it was not, I’m here to get an IUD put in and was instructed to remove the bottom half of my attire. I was told the clinician was finishing up with the person in front of me and would be in shortly. It’s freezing and I’ve been sitting here for almost an hour! I also waited an hour in the lobby before being called to the back. I’ve been to other planned parenthood locations and although you may have to wait, it is no where near as ridiculous as this clinic. Mind you I had an appointment so there should be no reason to wait in the lobby for an hour prior to being seen or be sitting with my ass out waiting for the clinician.

This Planned Parenthood is AMAZING. Great location, private, welcoming and really informed and caring staff members and quick wait time!
I am covered under the FPACT card (teal card) which is really a great card for those ladies out there with financial assistant needs or those who are young adults that need procedures taken care of without the knowledge of their parents. THIS CARD IS GREAT and covers alot of expensive services (checkups, birth control, IUD, STD testing) for FREE.
I went in today to get a copper (paraguard) IUD. The staff was very helpful, offered me testing for every STD, offered a pregnancy test, and explained the process, the risks, and the side effects of IUD insertion perfectly. The MD I saw walked me through every step of the procedure, as well as reminding me of the risks and side effects. She expertly inserted it and has done thousands of these procedures over her 20 years of inserting these. Highly recommend coming here for an IUD!
The staff I saw today was all female which also really put my mind at ease and made me feel safe and confident with my decision! I highly recommend this Planned Parenthood!

Terrible service. Called to set the appointment. The place was confirmed but upon arrival they cancelled the appointment

Worst place possible! The staff member who sat me down with my results told me I wasn’t pregnant. Mind you I have all the signs. But after she tells me with attitude your not but asks me some questions that are potential signs that I am pregnant. She then decides to say that’s weird. Not can we do more testing or anything just gives me that dumbfounded look of what should I do or say. Which pissed me off beyond belief. Like I came to you for answers not to be even more unsure of my situation. I will never return here. Worst experience at my very first planned parenthood!!! Don’t go here unless your looking for unanswered questions! I would give it zero stars if I could!

Love LUCY so much! Sweet, efficient non judgmental and really gave honest personalized advice. She let me swear like a sailor and tell her weird stories and went with the flow so professionally. I always have wonderful experiences here since 2010, but she stood out. Not to say the other women aren’t helpful, seriously these girls are my full time team of doctors.
This location is a clean, organized, non threatening environment.
Don’t know what I would do without you PP!
THANK YOU

My 5 stars go to Debbie the NP at this place. She explains everything she is going to do and makes you feel so comfortable. Also she gives time for questions and responds any concerns you might have.

I’ve never Unilocaled a review before, but this experience was worth the review. A big thanks to Lucy. She was the one that brought me back first and she was so comforting and helpful. She even gave me crackers n apple juice because I hadn’t eaten all morning. The nurse practitioner was also a delight. Overall great experience. Plus if u come early it’s nowhere as busy as the concord location.

This place is THE best.
I usually go to Women’s Community Clinic in SF (also the best), but this is much closer and easier for me to get to. I was actually referred to the El Cerrito PP by WCC and am so glad I gave it a try.
I’ve been here twice and both times was seen quickly and treated very well by the friendly, kind, and professional clinician and staff. It is also clean and a nice atmosphere (they actually have speakers playing ocean sounds inside– yes).
I’m very grateful this place exists.

This clinic is nicely hidden but easily accessible. Came not long after it opened and with only two people ahead of me, they got to me very quickly.
The staff has very warm and friendly aura about them! They answered all my questions and seemed genuinely interested in giving me the best health care treatment. Made my first visit very pleasant.
Spacious, clean and well kept! Glad I happened to be in the area and decided to stop by this location.

Today was my second time visiting the El Cerrito Planned Parenthood. If it’s possible to love a pap smear experience, this is it. I’m sitting here, hours later, still feeling warm and fuzzy about my appointment.
First, the appointment was much shorter than I expected (less than an hour), but extremely thorough. The nurse practitioner I saw today was kind, professional, nonjudgmental, and attentive. In addition to the pap test, we managed to fit in some other tests/​screenings and discuss birth control options. She was really helpful in answering all of my questions.
I feel so grateful for the level of care I’ve received here!
Also:
+ There’s tons of parking and it’s really close to BART.
+ Very clean.

So I had insurance but recently lost my insurance in a transition of jobs. My previous doctor scheduled testing for August, so I decided to go to planned parenthood to get my vagina checked out. Jus sayin… Guys love their penis; I love my vagina. I take my body seriously so «free» healthcare always makes me a bit worried.
I called and they said they only had an appt available for two days later, but when I called back a few hours later asking if there was a cancelation because I had just stopped dating someone, they accommodated me with a same day appt.
I went to TJ’s first to get Salami and snacks expecting a long wait, and when I walked in, they had Charlie and the Chocolate Factory on, which was followed by A League of Their Own, so I knew if I had to wait I’d be set.
Ten minutes before my appt, they took me in, ran through my history and intake, gave me every STD test and culture imaginable, and let me pick which birth control I wanted! This included EVERY form of birth control available; IUD (copper and hormonal), pill, the shot (which is the one I decided to go with since the ring made me moody), implants… They gave me literature and handled those forceps with care, explaining everything they were doing.
The negative reviewers seem to forget that this facility, which I have paid into and donated to, is completely free for people who qualify… I am extremely grateful for the peace of mind I have.
They gave me a giant bag of condoms, lube, and free morning after pills that cost 60 – 80 dollars retail!
Take care of your vagina here! It’s a wonderful place where they sincerely care about your health in all aspects.

I have never had so much trouble with getting my prescription refilled in my entire life. I make an appointment to get my birth control prescription reinstated and it only lasts 3 months. Then it takes 3 weeks for me to get my prescription (which I have not been taking now because when I call to get it refilled they say my prescription is no longer valid). So I make an appointment, and I spend 3 to 4 hrs at the office in order to get my prescription. 3 months later, the same thing happens.
This time, I went in 2 months early because I knew I was going to have to deal with this issue. When it’s time to refill my prescription, they don’t approve it because they need me to come in to reinstate. Which I took care of 2 months ago. The nurse tells me that I was not «eligible» for that appointment to be used to reinstate my prescription because it «hadn’t been a year yet». So I have to do it again.
Fun back story is that the birth control I have to take is not to keep me from getting pregnant it is because I have a severe mood disorder and chemical imbalance that causes me to be hospitalized when I am off the pill for too long. I explain this to them every time I have to meet with them. And every time I need a prescription refilled I have to go through this nightmare.
I hate this office. I have never worked with another Planned Parenthood office so I can not say if this is typical but it is the only option in my location.

Nice, clean environment. Its better than Hill Top, because Hill Top is too packed & too many ghetto people go to that one. Not many people know there is one in El Cerrito yet, which is why there’s not too many people & its much more quiet. The staff is really nice & they know what they are doing. Highly reconmend this location.

Been to a couple of Planned Parenthood, but this is the best one so far.
The service is discrete, in a public location yet not flashy where it’s like HEY LOOK AT ME I’M AT PLANNED PARENTHOOD JUDGE ME. The windows are fogged out so people can’t look in or out. The waiting room is huge and clean with a tv to keep the waiters entertained or children, and a couple of random magazines. The staff at the front are welcoming and friendly, understanding and explains everything thoroughly to you.
The anticipated wait. I thought was going to take forever. But I had what I needed to do within the hour, filling out forms, tests results and consultation and all this WITHOUT an appointment. It’s the fastest, the staff suggest that you give about 2 hours but you don’t really need it.
It’s bart accessible just walk towards the plaza straight from bart and it’s right between the JoAnn’s Fabrics and Wing Spot, there’s a sign so you can’t miss it.
The hours and phone number is online. The phone lines open at 9AM, but the office opens at 830.

It is such a blessing that this place exists. I used to go to pp back in the day, when I was 18 to 20 and holding a crappy job… no money, etc., and I took it for granted! As the years went by, I’ve had all kinds of doctors, including Kaiser, and I have not been to PP in about 7 years.
Today, I found myself back there, to get checked for something routine as well as a less routine problem. I have to admit, the waiting room could use some cheering up… but the tv was helpful and plenty of mags. The wait… well, it was not ideal for a working mom of three (time is money!).but hey, you know what? I received the BEST DAMN CARE I have in the last 7 years.
I don’t know what it is about these ladies, but they truly seem to care about their patients, what they do, and how we (patients) feel. What a refreshing visit. They seem more like friends, concerned friends, who happen to have a lof of professional answers (unlike real friends)…and the authority, educations, and power to help you solve some tuff
problems.
They are discreet about financials, but everything regarding your medical care is right out there — no transparency. I LOVE IT.
I wish I could go there for things that are not related to «down there»…because they are just so nice.
Thanks PP doctors and staff ! My visit was very pleasant and helpful!

This place rocks~
The front desk is incredibly helpful and understanding.
The staff/​NR is very knowledgeable and comforting.
The décor/​facility is clean and light.
I had a hard time finding this place, though. Just look for the covered alley way next to JoAnn’s Fabrics in the EC Plaza.

Had an appt. at 8:30am this morning, but doors weren’t unlocked until 8:30, which was a bummer since I showed up a little early to start paperwork (cold November chill has arrived). But the folks here were all very, very friendly, and since I was the first appt of the day, my wait time was really short. Waiting room was tidy, and they had a fun movie on to watch.
The initial person that came in to see me (med asst?) was super nice in addressing some small concerns I had, and provided me with some referral services. The clinician/​doctor that came in shortly after made the appt. super quick and painless (ladies, you know how awesome that is).
As long as I’m in the area, I will continue going here. As a student w/​o insurance, Planned Parenthood has always provided me with awesome healthcare services for little to no money — I’m so grateful. Thanks, Thanks, Thanks!

This is the holy grail of Planned Parenthoods. Having been to this and Golden Gate Community Health’s MacArthur, Oakland location in the span of one week, the difference is night and day.
This Planned Parenthood is located in a huge shopping center, so you may need to ask for directions even if you use Google Maps. It’s tucked away on one side of Joann’s. The shopping center means there’s plenty of parking, and, oh yes, shopping.
The staff is very sweet and helpful. They were playing Harry Potter in English with Spanish subtitles in the waiting room, which I thought was very considerate of Spanish-​speaking patients. They were very mindful of privacy throughout, and the wait time wasn’t bad at all — comparable to a regular medical office. Totally different from the other four PP locations I’ve visited in California — usually, you may as well set up a tent and a small campfire in the waiting room. Not here!
Highly recommended and worth the drive if you are coming from Oakland, as I was.

This Planned Parenthood location is excellent. The whole process of visiting this Planned Parenthood — from scheduling the appointment, to interaction with the staff, to the appointment itself — was easy, efficient, and thorough. The staff members are very friendly and knowledgeable, and the space is clean and inviting.
And it’s so easy to get to there! It’s right in the El Cerrito Plaza shopping center, near the Trader Joe’s, which is right by BART! Plenty of parking as well.
Did you hear the Planned Parenthood in San Francisco has lost its affiliation?
. In light of that, don’t be afraid to cross the Bay and visit the El Cerrito location instead.
Although rumor has it that a new San Francisco location will be opening and that it’s just a matter of finding a good location (but don’t quote me on that).