I Stand with Planned Parenthood


(which is to say, I mostly sat at Planned Parenthood.)

As an adult woman of nearly 29 years of age, it somehow escaped me that I should see a gynecologist.  I mean, I’ve seen The Vagina Monologues – TWICE! – but I’ve never had a professional look at mine?  Okay, that joke was a stretch.  But living well below the poverty level AND having a terrible fear of doctors, I managed to put it off about a decade longer than I should have.

So I called, confessed total lack of knowledge, and made an appointment.

I was told to plan to be there for two hours.  I was there for two and a half, most of which I spent sitting waiting – for a financial counselor, who signed me up in a matter of minutes to receive free health care, then a nurse who took my blood pressure ( 117/78, check me out! ) and administer a rapid-results HIV test (negative, woo hoo!).  No needles involved, it was easy and I urge you all:  GET TESTED!

Then, finally, the big scary moment:  THE GOWN.  No, the actual physical examination.  Took barely five minutes!  My nurse practitioner was quick, kind, and efficient (even if she did give me a lecture about eating more nuts and avocados once in a while).

I still have a few weeks to wait for my full test results to come back, but I was told that nothing seemed out of the ordinary, and everything looked fine.  PHEW!  What a relief!

For anyone who thinks they do evil work, that could not be further from the truth.  Women of all ages were treated gently and with complete respect.  I might go so far as to say that my experience made me more respectful of my fellow womankind:  we were all there taking charge of our health and our lives.  And Planned Parenthood helped us to do so, despite a lack of financial resources.  Women just like me, finally able to receive health care they would not be able to afford otherwise.

I want to thank everyone at Planned Parenthood for being as patient, gentle, and respectful in their treatment of me – and many other women like me.  Thank you.


8 responses to “I Stand with Planned Parenthood”

  1. When most people hear Planned Parenthood, they think: oh, the abortion people. But abortions are only about 2% of the services they provide. For many women, especially those not having healthcare or who are on an extremely tight budget, they provide affordable and important care. But the lobbyists won't acknowledge that, since it is obviously a crime to not have money, so these women don't deserve care.

    I hope all your labs come back fine. Thank you for taking care of yourself and going!

  2. Thanks! I wrote this post 2 years ago, and since then I've had to get a transvaginal ultrasound for ovarian cysts. That was pretty heinous in comparison to the two-second swab!

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