Planned Parenthood of the St Louis Region

Had a 5:30 appointment and did not leave until 7:30. I spent about 2 minutes with the Dr. after that long wait. All she had to do was say have the ladies at the counter get you some birth control pills. All of the staff were super friendly but something that should have took 30 minutes or less took my whole night. Unfortunately I have to return every 3 months to pick up the pills. I think I will ask for a prescription next time I go in. However I might have to wait 2 hours for a slip of paper. Really disappointed. It seems like they should really take a look at how they schedule.

I went there this morning, and left there this afternoon. I had to wait 2 hours to be seen (and this was with an appointment pre-​made). I think that planned parenthood provides an excellent service by having gyno etc. exams at a discounted rate for those without insurance. However, for a medical facility it seemed quite unsterile, very unprofessional and the personnel was not in the least bit courteous. If I am sitting waiting for an ungodly amount of time I would like someone to assure me that they are having a busy day. Or that they apologize for the wait. Or at least that they realize I have been there since before everyone else that keeps being called in before me. Also-​In a setting like this, patient confidentiality should be of the utmost importance, yet during my lengthy wait I overheard the girl at the front desk relate to another of her fellow workers how funny one of the walk-​ins was, thinking that she needed a pregnancy test, when in fact her period wasn’t even late.. . It seemed as though the girl at the front desk completely disregarded when a person would go up to her window and say in hushed tones that they’d like to be tested for this or that and she says «OH SO YOU NEED TO BE TESTED FOR STD’S HAVE YOU NOTICED ANYTHING.. . «or something along those lines really loudly so that we all get to know what each patient is having done.
I waited and waited and finally got called in. I had my blood pressure read. Then the aid left me with the door shut. I waited for another 25 minutes or so. I thought they had forgotten I was there. I went into the hall-«oh no, she’ll be there in just a minute.» I wait another 5 minutes. The nurse practitioner finally knocks! She looks in at me and says «you’re not in your gown» My Gown! noone told me that that little square of paper was my gown and that I was to put it on. (besides I am used to talking to the nurse/​dr. before I take all my clothes off for them. Apparently not here. Nope-​she says she is going to have to leave me because I’m not ready for her yet. So she goes to another patient. I am livid. I am furious. and I am not an angry person but i am angry. I envision walking out but I’ve already spent my entire morning there. About 20 minutes later she comes back. She apologizes and somehow ends up being halfway decent and fairly quick and she does say sorry so I don’t hate her anymore. But! It was a horrible experience. The only person that seemed decent was the «patient educator.» (in case she’s reading this). Also, of note, the sharps dispenser was bloody! and gross! and full to the brim. I thought about taking a picture. I should have, to post with this review. I’d say next time I’ll take a pic– but there WILL BE NO NEXT TIME because I will NEVER enter that planned parenthood again. (don’t you go either).

I don’t have health insurance right now. Even if I did, I believe that I would still continue to go to Planned Parenthood for gyno exams. The one on South Grand is the one that I’m familiar with, and from my conversations with other people, it seems to be a place that many people feel at ease in for their gyno exams, testing, and birth control needs.
It’s a small clinic. I think the building might have been a Chinese restaurant in a former life, but I’m not sure. This contributes to the comfort level. No offense to the larger clinic on Forest Park, where more services are offered (it is the area abortion clinic).
I wish I could remember the name of the doctor at the PPH on Grand. She’s great. She’s gruff, friendly, and really informative. The staff is also nice and seems to ask the right amount of personal questions – not too many to the point of wondering relevancy, but enough to know they actually care to figure out if you are in a high-​risk category for an STD.
Of course, dudes can go here too for testing. Guys, don’t forget that!