What is Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood is a nonprofit organization that provides reproductive health services and operates over 600 health centers throughout the United States. Planned Parenthood’s services include STD testing and treatment, birth control, pregnancy testing and counseling, cancer screenings and prevention, sexual health education, and other reproductive health services.
Let’s look more closely into the types of services Planned Parenthood offers and if they do offer walk-in STD testing.
Overview of Planned Parenthood Services
Founded in 1916, Planned Parenthood is a nationally recognized medical organization specializing in providing reproductive health care and education services to people, with an emphasis on those facing financial difficulties. Planned Parenthood provides a wide range of services to its patients, including contraception and emergency contraception counseling and supplies, general health care, and STD testing and treatment.
In addition, they offer physicals and vaccinations as well as gynecological exams, infertility screenings and treatments.
Planned Parenthood offers many of their services on a walk-in basis; clients do not need appointments for most general services such as birth control consultations or STD tests. In some locations, there may be walk-in hours for clinical breast exams or HPV vaccinations; other services may require appointments. Planned Parenthood also partners with other local organizations to provide comprehensive healthcare plans that include dental and vision packages. Additionally, they work on referral basis with private doctors for specialized procedures like abortion referrals or gender affirming surgeries.
Planned Parenthood is an invaluable resource for those seeking accessible reproductive healthcare or information about sexual health topics; their cost-effective services have ensured that millions of people across the country have access to appropriate levels of care. Although Planned Parenthood has no religious affiliations, they strive to uphold the belief that individuals should be able to make informed decisions regarding their reproductive health without infringing on personal values or beliefs.
Types of Services Offered
Planned Parenthood is a national organization that provides health care services, education, and outreach for individuals regardless of gender, age, or ability to pay. They offer a wide range of preventative health care services including:
- Annual preventive exams for women and men
- Testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- Contraception services and education
- Pregnancy testing and counseling
- Abortion Services
- LGBTQ+ health services
- Screening and immunizations against preventable diseases like HPV, meningitis, the flu virus and more.
- Men’s health services such as vasectomy access.
Planned Parenthood also offers educational programs in schools, provides virtual health care visits via video conferencing or phone talk in addition to physical healthcare centers staffed with highly trained doctors and nurses who provide clinical quality care at all of their locations. Most Planned Parenthood offices offer walk in STI testing services so no appointments are necessary. In some cases where an appointment may be necessary depending on the type of STI testing needed.
Does Planned Parenthood Offer STD Testing
Planned Parenthood provides a variety of health services to women, men, and teens, including STD testing and treatment. People don’t need an appointment to get tested for STDs at Planned Parenthood. They offer walk-in services for those who don’t want to wait to get an appointment.
This article will provide more information on Planned Parenthood’s STD testing services and what you can expect when you visit.
How to Schedule an Appointment for STD Testing
At Planned Parenthood, you can make an appointment to receive STD testing and treatment. Appointments are available for individuals and for couples. All sexual health services are confidential, and you do not need parental or guardian consent to be tested or receive any other type of care from Planned Parenthood.
It’s important to note that some types of STD tests require advanced notice. Therefore, it’s best to call ahead before making a visit in order to ensure that your requested services will be available upon your arrival. You can also get tested without making an appointment; however, walk-in patients may have to wait if the health center is busy.
If you have additional questions, contact the Planned Parenthood health center where you wish to be seen for further instructions on how to schedule your appointment for STD testing:
- Call ahead to ensure that your requested services will be available upon your arrival.
- Walk-in patients may have to wait if the health center is busy.
Walk-in STD Testing Services
Yes, Planned Parenthood offers comprehensive STD testing services on a walk-in basis. These services are available to people of all ages and backgrounds. Testing is conducted with the utmost sensitivity, privacy, and safety in mind.
Depending on the type of STD test requested, you may be tested for one or more diseases (HIV, gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis). Some tests also include testing for pregnancy and HPV. During the visit you will meet with a medical provider who will discuss risk factors and symptoms associated with each disease being tested for. Additional exams such as a pelvic exam may be necessary for accurate diagnosis.
At your appointment we will explain the tests that are recommended based on your individual risk assessment and discuss any questions or concerns you may have about them at that time. Payment plans can be arranged if cost is an issue and follow-up tests will also be scheduled at no additional cost if required based on initial results. Visit our website to learn more about Planned Parenthood’s walk-in STD testing services or to book an appointment.
Cost of STD Testing at Planned Parenthood
Planned Parenthood provides affordable, confidential STD testing, diagnosis and treatment at numerous locations nationwide. Prices vary depending on the test and location, but Planned Parenthood has a Sliding Fee Scale Program to help make all services affordable based on income. Visit plannedparenthood.org to find the nearest Planned Parenthood health center to you.
When you arrive at your local health care center, the staff will discuss your concerns, explain the tests available and answer any questions you may have about STDs. They offer testing for a variety of STDs including:
- HIV
- Syphilis
- Gonorrhea
- Chlamydia
- Herpes
Depending on what type of STD test you are receiving and where it’s being performed, they may also provide counseling or referrals to other providers if needed.
At Planned Parenthood, no insurance is necessary in order to receive STD testing; however insurance is accepted if it is available to cover any portion of cost. Patients who do not have insurance may be eligible for free or reduced-cost STD services at select locations based upon income level. In some states such as California and Washington D.C., community clinics run by Planned Parenthood also offer walk-in STD testing as well as appointment-only services as required based upon specific criteria.
What to Expect During Your Visit
If you’re looking for a safe and confidential place to get tested for STDs, Planned Parenthood offers walk-in STD testing services. During your visit, there are certain steps you can expect to take that will help make your experience as stress-free and convenient as possible. Before you go, it’s important to know what to expect, so you can feel comfortable and prepared:
- Check with your insurance provider to see if they cover STD testing services.
- Bring your insurance card and a valid photo ID.
- Know your sexual history and be prepared to answer questions about it.
- Be aware that you may need to take a physical exam, depending on the type of STD test you are getting.
- Have a list of any medications you are taking or have taken in the past.
- Be prepared to wait, as the process can take up to an hour or more.
Pre-screening Questions
When you visit Planned Parenthood for STD testing, a medical assistant or health care provider will take you through a pre-screening process. This is when they will ask you questions related to your medical history and sexual activity. Questions may include information about any past tests or treatments and the last time you had sex.
It is important to provide as much accurate information to the medical staff as possible, so any testing done is reliable and effective.
The health care provider may also ask about risk factors such as if you have multiple partners, use drugs, etcetera. This helps guide the type of tests and what kind of precautionary measures are needed for proper protection against an STD. Depending on your answers and type of test recommended, additional screenings outside of Planned Parenthood may be requested in order to get an accurate diagnosis or treatment plan if needed.
STD Testing Process
If you choose to have an STD test at your local Planned Parenthood health center, you can expect the following process:
- Your visit will start with a discussion with a doctor or nurse practitioner to go over any symptoms and address any questions or concerns you may have.
- After the consultation, a urine sample or swab may be taken in order to test for which type(s) of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) you could possibly have contracted and/or what further testing might be necessary for diagnosis.
- The results of the tests typically come back within a few days, although certain tests can take up to two weeks for results.
- Once the results are in, you can discuss treatment options as necessary with your Planned Parenthood provider. Treatment usually consists of antibiotics, though some infections may require antiviral medication or other treatments depending on the individual case.
- Lastly, any sexual partners should be notified of the possible infection so that they too can get tested and treated if necessary; this is called partner notification/partner services and is an important step in curbing further spread of STIs among sexual partners.
Post-test Counseling
After your results are ready, you will be provided with post-test counseling to discuss your diagnosis and go over your positive results, if any. During this counseling session, you or a health care provider will review any questions you may have regarding your test results and offer advice on how to manage your overall sexual health.
Depending on the type of STD testing you had done, the post-test counseling may include:
- Discussion of risk reduction and educating you on how to prevent further infection or transmission.
- Talking through treatment options if needed, as well as identify potential access points for additional services that can help support long-term sexual health management.
- In some cases, they may also offer referrals for additional medical follow-up after the visit.
Other Resources
Planned Parenthood does not provide walk in STD testing. However, there are a wide variety of other resources available for those seeking STD testing. Some of these resources include:
- Local health clinics
- Community health centers
- Home health testing services
- Telehealth resources
Let’s take a look at some of the options available for STD testing.
Local Health Departments
Local health departments often provide confidential and/or low-cost testing for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Depending on the region in which you live, your local health department may offer walk-in or appointment-based testing services. Additionally, certain health departments may even provide outreach testing services within the community.
To find detailed information on local STD testing resources in your area, contact your state or county health department. Additional information and contact details can be found online through government websites such as www.cdc.gov/std or www.hhs.gov/healthcare/.
If you’re not sure where to start with STD testing, consider visiting a Planned Parenthood health center near you as they may offer low-cost or free confidential STD testing and treatment services as well as other reproductive health care options.
Online Resources
In addition to visiting a clinic such as Planned Parenthood, there are several other options available for those seeking STD testing.
Some organizations provide free or low-cost testing, while others may require payment before receiving results.
- Online Resources: Many STD test kits are now available online and can be mailed directly to the user’s home. These kits typically include a specimen collection kit, pre-paid shipping label, and instructions on how to collect an accurate sample. Users will then mail the specimen back to the lab for analysis and receive results within 1-2 weeks depending on their chosen provider.
- Home Test Kits: In addition to online resources, home STD test kits are now becoming widely available at local drugstores or online retailers. These types of tests come with all necessary materials – collection swabs, pre-paid shipping & payment – and can provide a user with confidential test results in as little as 15 minutes depending upon their chosen product.
- Private Laboratories: Private labs operated by national organizations may offer walk-in appointments where clients will provide a sample that is analyzed in a laboratory setting but users must pay for services upfront. This option does not always guarantee discretion or confidentiality which is why it’s better to utilize one of the other previously mentioned options if privacy is something of importance.
Private Clinics
In addition to Planned Parenthood Clinics, there are many privately-operated clinics that offer STD testing services as part of their comprehensive health care. Most of these clinics employ experienced, trained professionals like doctors and nurses who are familiar with STD testing procedures and practices. Furthermore, most private clinics have shorter wait times, more convenient hours, and better accessibility than most local Planned Parenthood Clinics.
The different types of private clinics vary in terms of the services they provide, but typically offer screening tests for common STDs such as Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Each clinic will have its own specific protocols for performing the tests and all results depend on proper collection techniques conducted by certified professionals. Results may take anywhere from a few days to several weeks to process depending on the test you select and how busy the lab is at the time.
When selecting a clinic for your STD testing needs it is important to find one with which you feel comfortable; if you are not satisfied with their policies or procedures then consider looking elsewhere for your care needs.
