Planned Parenthood

I am giving planned parenthood one star simply because I am such a huge supporter of the services they provide. Other than that, go to any other location you can. My friend is here to recieve pills for a medical abortion. We came in with the understanding there would be waiting. However, we are currently on our fourth hour of waiting. The waiting room is packed with frustrated patients who have been waiting longer than we have. Each time she is taken back for another part of the process she is given no update on how much longer she will have to wait. The waiting room is stifling and hot. I understand the strain put on all PP clinics by the closing of the DC locations but there has to be a better way to do this than amassing an angry, frustrated and anxious crowd.

I personally haven’t visited this location yet, but was considering it for refilling my prescriptions since I have just moved from NY and need to find a place close enough. I was already skeptical based on the reviews I saw just from looking it up on google maps for directions. immediately I saw other patients suggesting to go to the Gaithersburg location instead because the customer service is so bad. I tried calling them with questions about refilling my birth control there since I was unaware that you couldn’t call ahead to have a prescription ready for pick up like some other locations in Maryland. The lady I spoke to was not very nice, she just said «uhh. We don’t do that here…» With a slight attitude. This was also after being out on hold for about 10 mins just to ask this question and then again the lady making me wait while not on hold to talk to someone. So with all the Information I’ve received while looking up and calling this location, it turns me off to even visit and makes me nervous that the in person customer service won’t be too much better. If I didn’t have to pick up a refill on a day that the Gaithersburg location was closed, I probably wouldn’t go to the Silver Spring location. I think for upcoming refills I will plan to go to the Gaithersburg location instead.

There was a bit of a wait, but it wasn’t any longer than I would have had to wait at my regular OBGYN. Also, considering the fact that the wait included time it took to fill out my new patient info, it really wasn’t bad at all. I went there for a routine STD screening and both women who helped me were very sweet and non-​judgmental. I could tell that the receptionists were busy, but they were still nice. All in all a very good experience. I would recommend you block out at least an hour, especially if you are a new patient.

I went for a GYN visit on August 12^th due to lower abdominal pain. My appointment was 3:30pm while I was expecting to wait for a long time. Surprisingly, they called me around 3:50pm and the assistant was very nice and friendly. She asked me several questions about my syndromes and medical history carefully. She said my doctor will be in soon. After 10 – 15 mins’ waiting, my doctor came and did a pap smear. She understood my nervousness and have good bedside manners. She was very patient and helpful. They gave me discount since I told them I did not have an insurance. My doctor knew my situation and suggested a place for sonogram of reasonable price. My experience here is much better than I thought. This PP is small but very clean. If you don’t have an insurance and need to have a gyn checkup, I will recommend this place!

I don’t think they realize how valuable clients’ time is. I got there at 9 for a 9:10am appt. I was still sitting in the waiting room at 9:45. I asked how long it would be and the receptionist said another 20 minutes.
I had to leave because I HAD TO GET BACK TO WORK!!! Just absolutely pathetic not to care about other people’s time
If I wanted to waste an hour of my time, I could have watched an hour of TV.

All in All a good clinic for me. I would recommend this clinic to people who have seen nasty reviews about others.
Also, the fact that it is open on a Saturday for is great.
Pros:
Clean facility
Friendly and helpful staff
Cons:
A little slow in seeing patients (waited about an hour)

Terrible.
They told me on the phone this location DOES NOT do appointments– first come first serve.
I arrived a half an hour before opening at 9am and was met with a sign on the door. «Staff meeting… Open at 1030 am. Sorry for the inconvenience.» You’d think that would be conveyed by and/​or to the operator…
Fine. I sat somewhere for an hour and returned at 10am. They opened the door and the first thing they ask is «do you have an appointment?»!
Of course I didn’t. The genius on the phone said I couldn’t make one.
So that lead to me waiting for 2 ½ hours.
I was extremely late for work.
Never again.
I would NOT recommend this place to anyone.
Stay clear.

I went here to renew my birth control prescription. I was concerned that since I had not gone to this clinic before I would encounter some issues. However, the service here was absolutely wonderful and very quick. I made an appointment, which is crucial to make far in advance, as it seems like this clinic gets a great deal of clients. I was seen at my appointment time and had no problem getting a new prescription. They helped me find the cheapest place to refill it since I don’t have insurance and had it instantly sent there so I could pick up a refill after I left the clinic that day. The staff was absolutely wonderful and very friendly. They offer 20% for those without insurance and take cash, credit or debit. For the record, a birth control pill evaluation costs $ 100, but with the discount I paid $ 80 and the prescription lasts a year. They have a listing of the cost of services on their website.
The office is actually located in a small suite in a large office building on Spring Street, so don’t look for Planned Parenthood signs but rather a giant «1400» on a building. This is good for anyone looking for some privacy. That being said, if you are in need of some services that may redden your face, the check in counter doesn’t afford a lot of privacy but you can write your reason for your visit on your intake form if you feel uncomfortable uttering it. Whatever you do, I highly recommended this and other Planned Parenthoods for the wonderful services they provide. We should not be ashamed of taking care of our bodies.

If I could give this place 0 stars, I would. I tried to go twice for walk ins. Their website did not list specific walk in hours so when I showed up at 10am on a Friday, I was told to come back after 1pm. I came back at 3:15pm and there was a sign on the door that said walk ins end at 3:30pm. They wouldn’t even let me into the clinic no matter how many times I rang, not even to come on the intercom to say that they were closing and couldn’t see more clients. Definitely don’t come here if you need the morning after pill. Guaranteed you won’t get it. Alsoc there’s almost no privacy in the front. There are chairs seated next to the reception desk so if anyone were to come in for STD or HIV testing, there would be no privacy at all.
I had always support Planned Parenthood and was upset about the budget cuts. But after this experience, I wonder if the budget cuts were necessary. I am pro choice but perhaps the funding should go to family planning organizations that actually do effective work.

Being without health insurance, I’ve learned to navigate the world of «free clinics» and low income health service providers in the area. The experiences usually range from «dreadful» to «okay». If you can find a regular physician or specialist that will take someone without insurance, you end up paying staggering fees. A regular office visit can cost upwards of $ 150. Any special testing or prescriptions, add $ 300 to $ 400 to the price.
I was over due for my annual exam, and was having some health issues that were a cause of concern. I decided to look into Planned Parenthood, and discovered that they charge on a sliding scale based on income. I made an appointment, and went to their Silver Spring location.
I was a little taken aback by being buzzed into the office, but once inside it was smooth sailing. The staff were friendly and courteous. The nurse and doctor who conducted the test and examination showed a genuine concern for my well being, without the condescension or judgmental lectures I’ve received at other low income clinics. When I was done the doctor actually thanked me for coming in. I was shocked. I don’t know about every location, but I highly recommend the Silver Spring office.