# Ask the Planned Parenthood Nurse **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 24, 2007, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-planned-parenthood-nurse/420343 "2007-09-24T20:13:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Aangelica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Aangelica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aangelica)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-planned-parenthood-nurse/420343/61 "2007-09-26T16:16:23Z")
[QUOTE=StGermain] It doesn’t seem fair that women and children seem to be using PP as a form of primary medical care. Are men allowed that service? [/QUOTE] The PP providing my medical care when I was insurance-free was essentially seeing me once a year for my yearly pap smear and pelvic exam (which, naturally, are not offered to male patients) - more often only if I had an ob/gyn sort of complaint (or something like an abnormal test result, for example). They were kind enough to address any other medical issues I might be having at the time of that appointment as well - but I wasn’t seeing them for anything else. If I had an illness or injury of some sort that I thought was urgent enough to require medical attention, I went to an urgent care center and hoped for the best (and let me tell you, it had to be _dire_ before I’d darken those doors - those places are _expensive_). A yearly pap and pelvic is required for continuing prescription for hormonal birth control - which is why PP offered them. They also offered a full range of screening and treatment for people of either gender who were suffering (or thought they were suffering) from an STD. I know several male friends who sought their services for just that reason. Using PP for primary medical care is sort of a misleading statement - during those years, PP _was_ my primary medical provider in that they were the only medical provider I was seeing regularly, the one with my records and history, the one who I was likely to see more than once in a row, etc., but I was only going in for one very limited facet of my health care. The rest of my health care generally wasn’t being seen to at all (except to the extent the fine people at PP attended it during the course of my annual visit). To the extent it’s possible for men to avail themselves of the services offered at PP, they are certainly free to do so - it’s just that Planned Parenthood is rather akin to a dermatologist’s office or a podiatrist’s office. They’re specialists whose practice centers around reproductive health and as such, male patients have a much-reduced need for their services, comparatively speaking. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-planned-parenthood-nurse/420343/62 "2007-09-26T16:45:18Z")
[QUOTE=NajaNivea] _They gave her a fake abortion._ They lied to her about their credentials, they lied to her about her medical care and lied to her about her continuing pregnancy. As far as I’m concerned, those people should be arrested and sent to prison. [/QUOTE] I agree, strongly. ---
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-planned-parenthood-nurse/420343/63 "2007-09-26T16:54:59Z")
**Maureen** I’ll join the chorus of THANK YOU’S, as many friends, at least one ex as well as the current Mrs Jockey used PP when times were hard and options were few, and with good results. Even back then though, when you went into the PP office (that was in a downtown Chicago office building) there was a bullet resistant vestibule, a security guard and cameras everywhere. Damn despicable if you ask me, those kind of measures being necessary for a blessed MEDICAL clinic because of these fundie nutjobs who, if they’re not participating in, at least stand in silent appreciation and approval of the violence visited on “abortion clinics” like PP. Pisses me right off, it does. The recent flap about the one \*\*Mr. Bus Guy \*\* is talking about is just another example of the lengths these so-called “pro-life” jerkasses will go to, in order to prevent women from getting necessary medical care that has nothing whatsoever to DO with abortions, when they can’t otherwise afford it. In fact, PP is also in the business of PREVENTING the need for abortions in the first place by issuing BC items to both women AND men. Too bad the crowd can’t see the forest for the trees though /rant Anyhow; **Maureen** Thanks for everything you do. ---
**Author:** ![NajaNivea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@NajaNivea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NajaNivea)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-planned-parenthood-nurse/420343/64 "2007-09-26T17:24:34Z")
[QUOTE=nashiitashii] I think the major reason is that the people who protest Planned Parenthood are protesting it because… [/QUOTE] Yes, of course. What I’m saying is that those “free pregnancy tests” places deserve at least as much outrage and protest from everyone **else**. Not because they’re anti-abortion, but because they _lie to people_. ETA: my clinic provides both kinds of IUDs, fully state-funded. You might want to call around and see if you can find one in driving distance that has NPs trained to insert them. It may be they don’t have any NPs or doctors trained to insert them, or it may be that your particular state doesn’t have funding to support them. They should at least have some idea where you can look to get one at low- or no-cost. In my area, if PP can’t help you for whatever reason, we send you to the county health clinic, who also can provide a free IUD and relevant care. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-planned-parenthood-nurse/420343/65 "2007-09-26T17:34:41Z")
[QUOTE=buttonjockey308] **Maureen** The recent flap about the one \*\*Mr. Bus Guy \*\* is talking about is just another example of the lengths these so-called “pro-life” jerkasses will go to, in order to prevent women from getting necessary medical care that has nothing whatsoever to DO with abortions, when they can’t otherwise afford it. In fact, PP is also in the business of PREVENTING the need for abortions in the first place by issuing BC items to both women AND men. Too bad the crowd can’t see the forest for the trees though. [/QUOTE] I think you mean me. And I think you ought to specify, since there have been several flaps. The one that got the most press was a small sting operation, noteworthy only for the injunction filed by Planned Parenthood. The ones that sail under the radar are investigations by government agencies and attorneys general. And while Planned Parenthood is usually not found at fault in these, that sometimes isn’t the case - they were fined in 2005 for violating parental notification laws in Minnesota. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-planned-parenthood-nurse/420343/66 "2007-09-26T17:42:53Z")
I’ve been thanking Planned Parenthood with check-writing for a long time. When I was in school (class of 1967) there was no formal sex-ed program. In my zoology class, we spent 2 hours on human reproduction. One kid asked a birth control question, and the teacher waffled. He said he could lose his job for discussing it in class, but he would provide info to anyone who asked him after class. :eek: On my way out of the classroom, I overheard the teacher telling a boy about the Rhythm Method. I knew enough about birth control to call RM “Vatican Roulette”. About 15 years ago, my cousin was a PP counselor, and part of her job was presentations at high schools. The stupid questions she was asked were dumb enough to make her teeth hurt. Then, and now, we assume that sex-ed is taught to every student. Why are they still so ignorant? ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-planned-parenthood-nurse/420343/67 "2007-09-27T00:17:07Z")
[QUOTE=Nava] I wish I’d known about your services when I was in graduate school in the US. Does PP advertise? If so, how? [/QUOTE] No, not really. PP is a well known, nearly infamous organization in the US that doesn’t particularly need to advertise. It has been controversial throughout its existence and also been involved in several highly-publicized Supreme Court cases. Most Americans know about them, and hold a strong opinion about their continued existence and the services they provide. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-planned-parenthood-nurse/420343/68 "2007-09-27T03:21:38Z")
[QUOTE=AskNott] Then, and now, we assume that sex-ed is taught to every student. Why are they still so ignorant? [/QUOTE] Because all they’re really being told is “Don’t do it. Don’t do it. Don’t do it.” That, coupled with the ridiculous stories they hear from their friends (“you don’t have to go get an abortion. Just eat 10 jalapenos, it’ll do the same thing. My cousin’s friend did that, and she aborted the next day.”), and you end up with really ignorant people who have no idea how their bodies work. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-planned-parenthood-nurse/420343/69 "2007-09-27T03:28:41Z")
[QUOTE=Hello Again] No, not really. PP is a well known, nearly infamous organization in the US that doesn’t particularly need to advertise. It has been controversial throughout its existence and also been involved in several highly-publicized Supreme Court cases. [/quote] “Infamous”? Wow. Actually, we _do_ need advertising, if for no other reason than to change that reputation. We’re not evil, we’re not leading young people astray, we’re not a detriment to the community. Unfortunately, a very vocal group has made very sure that all anyone thinks of when they hear “Planned Parenthood” is “abortion.” > [@](#): > > Most Americans know about them, and hold a strong opinion about their continued existence and the services they provide. Really? And that is? I hope, whatever it is, you have a citation to back that up… ---
**Author:** ![badbadrubberpiggy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/57b2e6/32.png) [@badbadrubberpiggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badbadrubberpiggy)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-planned-parenthood-nurse/420343/70 "2007-09-27T14:15:21Z")
I may have missed this if you said it, but do you every have volunteer escorts? At the PP near me, on days when there are protesters they have volunteers come to your car & escort you to the building. The protesters aren’t allowed within a certain distance of the building, but apparently some people were feeling threatened. Do you know how common this is? I had never seen it done at the PP I went to in Boston, so I guess it just depends on where you live. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-planned-parenthood-nurse/420343/71 "2007-09-27T14:54:29Z")
[QUOTE=Maureen] “Infamous”? Wow. [/QUOTE] I think you gathered from my post that I’m opposed to Planned Parenthood. Nothing could be further from the truth. But most people are not “meh” on PP. They either think they do Satan’s work, or they are passionately devoted to PP and their mission. And PP has been extremely controversial since its inception. Margaret Sanger had to flee the country at least once to avoid criminal charges, just as an example. > **[TIME | Current & Breaking News | National & World Updates](https://time.com/)** > > Breaking news and analysis from time.com. Politics, world news, photos, video, tech reviews, health, science, and entertainment news. I think if you re-read my post without assuming I am opposed to PP, you will see that nothing I said is inaccurate. Do you truly feel that PP is a largely unknown organization? (I agree, wholeheartedly, that many people have misconceptions about its mission, but that is different from being unknown.) ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-planned-parenthood-nurse/420343/72 "2007-09-27T14:56:04Z")
[QUOTE=Maureen] “Infamous”? Wow. Actually, we _do_ need advertising, if for no other reason than to change that reputation. We’re not evil, we’re not leading young people astray, we’re not a detriment to the community. Unfortunately, a very vocal group has made very sure that all anyone thinks of when they hear “Planned Parenthood” is “abortion.” [/QUOTE] This is very true. I wish there was a greater public understanding of what PP is and what they do. [QUOTE=Hello Again] Most Americans know about them, and hold a strong opinion about their continued existence and the services they provide. [/QUOTE] I actually think this is true, for the most part. It’s just the opinions vary between, “Planned Parenthood is a bunch of Satanic babykillers that are going to rot in Hell! Let’s bomb it!” to, “Planned Parenthood is wonderful, and I’m going to donate money to ensure they stay in business a long time!” Both strong opinions; just very **different** opinions. ETA: Exactly what HelloAgain said ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-planned-parenthood-nurse/420343/73 "2007-09-27T15:06:48Z")
Apparently PP is like the Grateful Dead, something which many Americans know what it is and have strong opinions about but foreigners have no idea; only, a foreigner is more likely to have heard the Dead mentioned in movies than we are to have heard of PP (we just have no idea what the heck they sounded like or why they were so important - I know it _now_ but it took actual research). If you have any way to send suggestions up to “corporate,” mine are “outreach to foreign students” and “make sure people know we offer all of these services.” Several of the problems friends of mine faced due to our college’s notions on reproductive health would have been solvable by a visit to you guys. ---
**Author:** ![buttonjockey308](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@buttonjockey308](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buttonjockey308)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-planned-parenthood-nurse/420343/74 "2007-09-27T16:38:23Z")
[QUOTE=Mr. Moto] I think you mean me. And I think you ought to specify, since there have been several flaps. The one that got the most press was a small sting operation, noteworthy only for the injunction filed by Planned Parenthood. The ones that sail under the radar are investigations by government agencies and attorneys general. And while Planned Parenthood is usually not found at fault in these, that sometimes isn’t the case - they were fined in 2005 for violating parental notification laws in Minnesota. [/QUOTE] No, I don’t mean YOU specifically, unless you’re one of the ones out there holding signs (dads for life?..oy :rolleyes: ) or participating the the legal chicanery that may well prevent that clinic from opening. If you are, then yes, I mean you specifically. OK, once, in 2005, a law was broken, but it was only once, and for like 20 minutes. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-planned-parenthood-nurse/420343/75 "2007-09-27T16:54:15Z")
[QUOTE=buttonjockey308] No, I don’t mean YOU specifically, unless you’re one of the ones out there holding signs (dads for life?..oy :rolleyes: ) or participating the the legal chicanery that may well prevent that clinic from opening. If you are, then yes, I mean you specifically. OK, once, in 2005, a law was broken, but it was only once, and for like 20 minutes. :dubious: [/QUOTE] Sorry. I just thought you were referring to **Mr. Bus Guy** instead of me. His post touched on an issue I was dealing with as well, and the similarity of our user names was causing me to be a little confused about who you were referring to. And while I have demonstrated on this subject, I have not done so since 1993. And I have never protested at a venue where reproductive health services of any kind were actually performed. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-planned-parenthood-nurse/420343/76 "2007-09-27T18:07:25Z")
[QUOTE=StGermain] It doesn’t seem fair that women and children seem to be using PP as a form of primary medical care. Are men allowed that service? FWIW, as a pro-life person, I wouldn’t give to PP no matter how much other clinical work they did besides abortions. … [/QUOTE] I agree with you in relation to PP being cited as providing other care. If I’m not mistaken, most states provided low-cost health insurance for children so pediatric care can be gotten elsewhere. And aren’t there free clinics for GYN care? > [@Digital Stimulus](#): > > I’d say that, based on your own post, it’s worth exactly nothing. It is worth something to say that that’s why someone may respect the non-abortion services but not be able to support them monetarily. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_Stimulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Digital\_Stimulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_Stimulus)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-planned-parenthood-nurse/420343/77 "2007-09-27T19:45:45Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] It is worth something to say that that’s why someone may respect the non-abortion services but not be able to support them monetarily. [/QUOTE] Yes, I suppose one might see it that way. And, in doing so, totally overlook my oh-so-clever method of toning down my vehement disagreement with that position. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-planned-parenthood-nurse/420343/78 "2007-09-27T21:36:34Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] I agree with you in relation to PP being cited as providing other care. If I’m not mistaken, most states provided low-cost health insurance for children so pediatric care can be gotten elsewhere. And aren’t there free clinics for GYN care? [/quote] This is somewhat misleading. Actually, several clinics _do_ provide primary care for men, women and children. In the San Francisco Bay Area, at any rate. And “providing low cost health insurance for children” does not automatically translate to providers willing to take that low cost health insurance. State Medicaid (Medi-Cal) does not require pediatricians to hold contracts with the state, and many providers do not do so due to prohibitively low reimbursement rates. Primary care physicians in our state are already reimbursed at a lower rate than most other providers. If they accept Medicaid, they cannot turn away or limit the number of medicaid patients they see, and as a result cannot take as many commercially insured patients. Sort of a catch-22 for them. > [@Hello Again](#): > > I think you gathered from my post that I’m opposed to Planned Parenthood. Nothing could be further from the truth. But most people are not “meh” on PP. They either think they do Satan’s work, or they are passionately devoted to PP and their mission. And PP has been extremely controversial since its inception. Sorry for misunderstanding you. Thanks for clarifying. I don’t know if it’s my geographic location, but a large number of people do seem to fall somewhere in the middle as far as whether or not they approve. The complaints I hear most of the time have more to do with wait times to be seen than the whole abortion issue. ---
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-planned-parenthood-nurse/420343/79 "2007-09-27T21:41:54Z")
[QUOTE=badbadrubberpiggy] I may have missed this if you said it, but do you every have volunteer escorts? At the PP near me, on days when there are protesters they have volunteers come to your car & escort you to the building. The protesters aren’t allowed within a certain distance of the building, but apparently some people were feeling threatened. Do you know how common this is? I had never seen it done at the PP I went to in Boston, so I guess it just depends on where you live. [/QUOTE] We do have volunteer escorts, especially when we have protesters. It all depends on the patient. We always offer to send someone to their car with them. AFAIK, this goes for all PP affiliates. ---
**Author:** ![redtail23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3e96dc/32.png) [@redtail23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redtail23)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-planned-parenthood-nurse/420343/80 "2007-09-27T21:51:31Z")
[QUOTE=Maureen] This is somewhat misleading. Actually, several clinics _do_ provide primary care for men, women and children. In the San Francisco Bay Area, at any rate. And “providing low cost health insurance for children” does not automatically translate to providers willing to take that low cost health insurance. State Medicaid (Medi-Cal) does not require pediatricians to hold contracts with the state, and many providers do not do so due to prohibitively low reimbursement rates. Primary care physicians in our state are already reimbursed at a lower rate than most other providers. If they accept Medicaid, they cannot turn away or limit the number of medicaid patients they see, and as a result cannot take as many commercially insured patients. Sort of a catch-22 for them. [/QUOTE] And that’s not counting the extremely large, and growing, number of families who do not qualify for state Medicaid but can’t afford insurance. Those folks have trouble even getting appointments with doctors (because the doctors are afraid they won’t pay the bills), and/or don’t make appointments because they can’t afford to. It also excludes people without children, because the only way to qualify for Medicaid is to have children or a ‘catastrophic illness’. And, at least around here, there are no low-cost alternatives that I know of, other than PP, for family planning/pregnancy prevention/etc. AFAICT, the Southern Baptists, Church of Christ, et. al., would much prefer to see women forced into abusive marriages by pregnancy than have kids learn how to prevent them. I truly don’t understand the mentality. From my perspective, it seems like some folks are perfectly willing to see the total number of abortions increase due to lack of knowledge and/or access to birth control and pregnancy prevention information. They’d rather see abortions increase then give money to an organization that will give a woman complete information about her options and might possibly assist some of them in obtaining abortions. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-planned-parenthood-nurse/420343.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-planned-parenthood-nurse/420343.md?page=5)