Review: Planned Parenthood in Bakersfield, California

Planned Parenthood is located at 2535 16th St. #100 Bakersfield, CA 93301. The street it is located on is half businesses and half residential so it is not as busy as a main street. Their business hours are Monday through Wednesday 8 AM to 6 PM, Thursday 8 AM to 5 PM, Friday 8 AM to 6 PM and Saturday 9 AM to 1 PM.

Planned Parenthood offers many services for both women and men. You can get tested for sexual diseases, get condoms, IUC's, other birth control means, etc. You can also go there to get emergency contractive pills if you've had unsafe sex.

Planned Parenthood is great for those that are low income. They will work with you so you can still get the help you are seeking. Plus they accept walk in's so you can go even if you have no appointment.

When you enter Planned Parenthood, there is often a woman standing there with several clipboards. She'll ask if you have an appointment. You'll then receive a clipboard to fill out and sign. If you do have an appointment, you'll go through a 2^nd door to give your filled out information. If you are a walk in, you'll turn your paper in at the front window.

Planned Parenthood has a long rectangle shaped waiting room. There are rows of chairs on two walls of the room. The end by the door has the check in area and the other end has a television. The décor is very friendly. The walls are painted in different colors. One wall says "The mission of Planned Parenthood Mar Monte is to ensure the knowledge, opportunity, and freedom to make every child a wanted child and every family a healthy family." Another wall has a mural that shows women with children, women standing alone in happy poses, a pregnant woman with a man, a man and child and another couple. A wall at the back says "Birth Control Choices" and lists the various forms of birth control available.

There are two areas that have pamphlets on various materials. If the weather heats up, there are two fans that can be turned on.

Once it is your turn, you are called and weighed. You are then taken to a room where they talk about why you are there and what you would like done. They may ask for a urine test to make sure you are not pregnant before doing anything to you.

The waiting rooms themselves are clean. The staff is friendly. I have been here a small handful of times over the years and have always been treated nicely.

When you leave, you check in at a window by the door. They ask if you would like to make a donation. You do not have to give them a donation but it is nice to support the clinic.

If you are worried about privacy, you can ask that they call you from a number that will say "Dr's Office" or some other ID so that your family won't know you went to the facility.

Try to get an appointment if possible as it can get very busy. If you are a walk in, its best to be there when they first open.

For more information or to make an appointment, call Planned Parenthood at (661) 634-1000.