If you've tried to make an appointment on campus with any of the Student Health Services clinics recently, then you know that they are not accepting insurance at the moment. Well, it's the start of the year and time for me to take care of some doctors' visits—this year I decided I finally needed to go see a dermatologist to look at my freckles, and it was also time for me to go see a GYN. My lovely GYN at home doesn't take my insurance anymore, so I was depending on the campus women's clinic to take care of me. That turned out not to be the case. After a stressful and emotional week, I was actually really upset that I had to search through in-network providers on my insurance page all over again but the top two doctors had addresses at the holy grail of women's reproductive rights and the goddess of non-profits: Planned Parenthood. I was excited. I called and went through all the normal parts of an appointment-scheduling phone call, until I was asked two questions:
1. Will you be needing any assistance like a translator for another language or a hearing impairment, or you have any disabilities that we will need to assist you with?
My "No!" sounded a little forceful, but I was so stunned and happy that they took the time to ask me and every other person calling that question.
2. Is it OK for us to call you at the number you provided and announce ourselves as Planned Parenthood?
"Of course!" But now I wasn't so happy that they felt the need to consider that. A doctor's office was calling, and yet many people wouldn't be safe or comfortable if the clinic called and someone other than themselves picked up.
The next day, the two of my roommates and I piled into a little car, walked past the covered window front and walked in. And, surprise—nothing spectacular happened—there were no protesters outside, no terrified looking women, nothing out of the ordinary of any other doctor's office. We waited a while, then I went back and I came back up front with no co-pay. (Score!) I couldn't wait to write about how amazing my Planned Parenthood experience would be, because it's a badass not-for-profit clinic that cares a whole lot about women and people in general and has had to fight really hard to keep up the good work. I was disappointed in the "amazing" department—there was no shiver up my spine with Queen running through a wind chime while the waiting room glowed with flower power—and that's the point. Women's (and men's, and genderqueers, the whole gender rainbow, in fact) reproductive and overall health shouldn't be anything other than ordinary. It should be a guaranteed drag just like every other doctor's visit, with maybe some of the anxiety that comes with you to a dentist. People were just going to the doctor; they were exercising their right to life through their health care option.
We all hear stories (with different diction I will point out) about Planned Parenthood. Yes, Planned Parenthood is under attack—by conservative gunman vigilantes and conservative congressman. Yes, women's basic health care as well as their reproductive health care is under attack. Many of us were dismayed (I cried) when Planned Parenthood was voted to be defunded late last year. Many of us endured another heartbreak with the recent shootings and arson attacks only months ago.
Bills in so many states are trying to take away the ground that the Supreme Court ruled the law of the land so many years ago in 1973. I don't really want to turn this into an abortion article, but the point is that in the conservative struggle to end abortion, women's health care is being thrown to the wayside. I am a middle class white woman and PP was my only place to go for the simple appointment I needed. Some women just want to walk in and get contraceptives. Many people go in for STI testing. The abortion debate is not going away but allowing the fight to take away one constitutional right to also obstruct the right to [reproductive] health care is not acceptable. Maybe you've never needed Planned Parenthood, but if you or your partner, daughter, sister, brother or whoever has ever needed any form of contraceptive or STI testing or prenatal care or education—Planned Parenthood has always striven to provide that, especially for those that aren't always privileged enough to be educated, middle-class or insured. There are so many women and families that are minorities and lower class that absolutely depend on PP, and we have to stand up for that!
As a member of the Peer Education Team in the Health Care Promotion Office, I just want to lastly point out that there are many options for contraceptives that can be healthy for men and women (condoms and hormonal birth control are the first that come to mind) and that it is a good idea to get STI tested before engaging with a new partner, or generally every year if you are sexually active. Also, you can give yourself monthly breast exams in or after the shower. Your schools health care office will have a lot of information about these things as well as free condoms (FAU's Owls Care Health Promotion office gave out 80,000 free condoms last year!). But of course, if you want to speak to a doctor or get any testing or exams done, Planned Parenthood will have your back!
