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| - TL;DR This was the best healthcare experience I have ever had.
I've been trying to get an IUD for about a year through my OBGYN (because I have decided that motherhood isn't for me), but their office has decided to run their IUD program through prescription programs (which doesn't cover it) instead of through regular insurance (which does cover it). I get it. It's a large upfront cost and they probably got shafted by insurance, but they were not able to provide me with the care I wanted, so I was grateful to have Planned Parenthood as an option. They accept my insurance, so after booking an appointment online (easiest process ever), I walked out of the clinic with my brand new, 6-year supply of baby-proofing for the bargain price of my $25 copay.
The Experience:
I remember being hyper-vigilant walking into the clinic (it's a very red state) but there were no protesters or threatening people at 6 pm on Tuesday evening. I signed in and the office assistant handed me some paperwork to fill out. Standard new patient forms.
I was called back within 10 minutes of completing the paperwork and 5 minutes before my scheduled appointment time. The medical assistant asked me to pee in a cup to make sure I wasn't already pregnant (standard procedure for long-term birth control...I'm not), and we went into a room where she ran me through a battery of questions about whether my partner was safe or abusive, whether he knew I was there or not, my menstrual history, my sexual history (she asked if I needed counseling for old sexual assault. I'm over it). She walked me through options, had me sign consent and acknowledgment forms (digitally!), then walked me back to an exam room and told me what to do.
The provider came in about 10 minutes later (sufficient time to undress as much as necessary, but not as much time spent waiting at my OBGYN with nothing on but a paper gown and socks). She was young and kind and explained everything to me. She asked me about myself so it's not so weird having a complete stranger touching the most private parts of my body. Then she started explaining the process of inserting the IUD, and I was so excited that I underprepared myself for the level of pain I was about to experience. To be clear, she definitely tried to prepare me. I just didn't listen.
["Some women may experience cramping." - the internet.
"My cramps are pretty awful so it can't be that bad...right?" - me (wrong).]
About 20 minutes of being-kicked-in-the-balls pain was made bearable by my provider's encouragement, coaching, humor, and compassion. Her assistant also checked in on me to make sure I was ok and to get me some water. They made sure I was feeling well enough to drive home. They offered me a seat while I paid. They made me feel cared for and safe and important. I thanked them for staffing such an important place and for playing such an important role in the well-being of so many women, and then I left.
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