Bu Dahlia Maria, MD

I have been on a mad hunt for a diaphragm. I spent most of my twenties on BC pills, the patch, and the ring. Fed up with side effects, I went the Paragaurd. For 3 years I allowed the copper IUD to put me into body shaking misery during my period which was extended from 3 days prior to the IUD to 10 days. Craps were so intense Vicodin could not alleviate the discomfort. So I have become pretty dead set on a barrier method.
I went to my PCP to get fitted for a diaphragm to discover she does not do that. She tried to push pills on me, and advised of the ineffectiveness of diaphragms. She also told me b/​c of my age (32), she felt like a diaphragm was too risky. I began making the phone calls and to discover 14 out of the 15 doctors on the list of covered GYN from my insurance either were not accepting Hill physicians (Thanks for being on my insurance provider lists!) or straight just stated that they do not prescribe diaphragms. Dr. Bu was literally the single doctor that said she would.
I met her for the first time today. I have never met a more thorough, casual-​yet-​professional, non-​judgmental, kind physician. She went over my health history in depth, and took well over an hour just answering my questions, and giving me information.
Then, not only did she show my how to put it in, she actually had me try and put it in myself. I was blown away with how comprehensive she was. She clearly desires to educate and empower women.
I am an avid feminist and sit comfortably on the far left side of the political spectrum. I would like to respond to the previous Unilocal review. Dr. Bui discussed her healthcare philosophy and explained to me that while she does not pass judgment on individual choices, and is glad that there are choices available to women, she prioritizes aligning her actions with her beliefs. She explained to me that since Plan B is available to women w/​out a prescription, there is no conflict for her. Women are welcome to obtain it themselves from a pharmacy. As for abortive services, though I am loudly pro-​choice, I can certainly also respect that she does not desire to play a role in abortive services. And while I personally don’t believe plan B is abortive, she does not confidently feel the same way. Because of that she feels that it is more aligned with her values to have women obtain it themselves over the counter. She does not discourage women from using Plan B, nor decline information as to where women can obtain it from. She simply prefers not to have her hands to be involved.
I absolutely can respect that we all have different values. As long as someone’s values do not restrict or harm me, than I don’t understand why it is a problem. Plan B is easily accessible.
I felt compelled to defend her because I have found my quest for a birth control method that fit me to be very disempowering. My PCP discouraged me from getting my IUD taken out, even after describing immense pain. Then when I decided I couldn’t take it anymore, I struggled to find a physician willing to take it out. Even Med 7 refused. They told me to go to an emergency room. Then it was nearly impossible to locate a physician to prescribe a diaphragm! My point?, I felt empowered by Dr. Bu today. She is the first Dr. I have seen that really was interested in helping me find what would work for me, rather than pushing on me what everyone else gets. For that I am incredibly grateful.
I would highly recommend her to anyone seeking contraceptive/​gynecological care (outside of abortive services). Furthermore, her bedside manner is outstanding. Oddly, I think I may have mildly enjoyed my GYN experience today!

Hi have been seeing Dr. Bu for a couple of years. From the first time I met her I thought she was amazing. She was kind, considerate, really listened to you when she asked questions. She made me feel like I was her only patient of the day. I thought maybe I got this special treatment because it was my first consultation. She has been that way every visit and more. I adore this lady and feel blessed to have her as my Dr.
I wish I had found her years ago. You can tell she really cares about people. Like a female Dr. Oz. Its like going to see an old friend every time you have an appointment to catch up on life. I will refer her to everyone I know and my family as well.
Loretta Templeton
Fair Oaks, CA

I have been going to Dr. Bu for a few years now. She is the best doctor I have ever dealt with… and I have had several. I have also referred several people to her — nothing but rave reviews.
Dr. Bu never rushes, answers all questions, and from my experiences also does not infer personal judgement whatsoever. She will take whatever time necessary to make you feel as if you are her only patient of the day. She is friendly and doesnt have to glance at a chart to recognize you and your needs as if you have never met (its amazing how many doctors do this). She truly knows her patients and respects them.

I would not recommend Dr. Bu. She is competent, and seems to know her stuff, but her bedside manner is quite harsh. Also, she really pushed the swine flu vaccine, even though I told her I didn’t want it, and only gave me a short-​term BC Rx, which kind of felt like retaliation for not getting the flu shot.
I would advise that you go elsewhere…

Dr. Dahlia Bu likes her patients. She trained at fine institutions, takes her time with patients. And provides great advice:
1– ALWAYS protect yourself — you can’t tell who is ill by how they look.
2 — There are a treatable stds, and manageable stds. The manageable stds are with you for life. So don’t get an std, instead…
3 — ALWAYS protect yourself.
Living in SF, I’ve heard these from all health care providers. It wasn’t new information, but it was great that I was hearing it from a provider. Made me think she was current, gave great info. and cared.
She asked if I wanted a birth control prescription, and wrote out a prescription for my preferred bc on the spot. No hesitation. No drama.
A few weeks later, I need Plan B. (I haven’t yet filled my b.c. prescription.) You don’t need a prescription to pick up plan b at the pharmacy. However, I wanted my insurance to cover it, so I called to ask for a prescription. Dr. Bu doesn’t write prescriptions for EMERGENCY CONTRACEPTION, aka PLAN B.
ME: Why not?
Office: She doesn’t support abortion.
Me: What does that have to do with Plan B?
Office: Well, you know, it…
Me: It?
Office: She just doesn’t support it.
Me: Plan B is an emergency contraception pill. It is a high level dosage of birth control you take within 72 hours to prevent egg fertilization. It works exactly like the birth control SHE PRESCRIBED
THREE WEEKS AGO!
Office: apologetic laugh
Me: It is an outrage medical doctors are uninformed and not giving their patients accurate medical information. I liked Dr. Bu, but I am no longer her patient and refuse to support a doctor who doesn’t fulfill her hippocratic oath. In what other medical arena can you refuse to write a needed prescription? This is b.s.
(Yes, I really did say all this. The women that work here are really nice, and seemed very helpful upon my first visit. Needless to say, I was shocked to have this conversation, and shocked the staff would give out false facts about Plan B.)
Facts:
Plan B doesn’t affect an established pregnancy. There are very rare cases, less than 2%, of a fertilized egg being booted from the uterine lining (which is how all pregnancies initially start.) Plan B should be taken asap to prevent egg fertilization. Once fertilized, the egg will likely plant itself into the uterine wall. Plan B is not great a preventing implantation. So take it ASAP.
The abortion pill is prescribed by doctors. It’s sole purpose is to cause an abortion. The pill cannot be bought at a pharmacy over the counter. It is impossible to mistake Plan B, a birth CONTROL pill, with the abortion pill.
Regardless of her medical inaccuracy in believing Plan B is an abortive drug, who goes into gynecology not supporting a woman’s full right of choices? And who with holds needed medical advice and prescriptions?
I encourage patients to discuss this with Dr. Bu. And I encourage all women to be cared for by people that rely on facts, not agendas.
I hope Dr. Bu will become better informed, and will respect her responsibility to her patients’ legal rights.