New York City

OVERVIEW

By American standards, New York City is a very progressive city in offering sexual and reproductive health care services. Abortion is legal and widely accessible, and Planned Parenthood facilities exist in all five boroughs. There is an especially large concentration of clinics in Manhattan and Brooklyn, but clinics can be found throughout the city. However, it should be noted that some parts of the city are more conservative than others, and there have been cases of pharmacies refusing treatment, such as Plan B, to people in the past. While New York City is very expensive, especially in Manhattan and Brooklyn, there are low-cost options for health care, especially for people enrolled in Medicaid programs.

Regarding transportation, it is very easy to get around NYC, and you can visit most clinics without a car. The subway system runs 24/7, though trains run less frequently on late nights and weekends. There are also city buses. The fare for a subway or local bus ride is currently $2.75. If you want to visit Staten Island, there's a free ferry that runs between Manhattan-Staten Island. If you prefer to get around by taxi/car, there are a plethora of taxis and ride-share services, like Uber and Lyft.

Contraception

Laws & Social Stigmas

In the United States, you need a prescription, written by a physician, to obtain many forms of birth control, such as pills, IUD, etc. This typically involves a basic consultation with a doctor. However, depending on your medical history, you may also need to receive a pelvic exam before getting the prescription. Once the prescription is written, you can typically fill the prescription immediately. If a special procedure is required, this will usually only be scheduled after the initial consultation/exam.

What to Get & Where to Get It

Planned Parenthood NYC provides many birth control services, including birth control implant, birth control patch, birth control pill, birth control shot, birth control vaginal ring (NuvaRing), diaphragm, condom, female condom, fertility awareness method, IUD (hormonal), IUD (copper), etc.

For a relatively low cost, Planned Parenthood writes and fulfills birth control prescriptions. If you don't have a prescription, you can receive the prescription and pills in the same day. If you choose to go to a location like Staten Island, you'll probably be able to book an earlier appointment than in Manhattan or Brooklyn. As of 2015, Planned Parenthood only provides one form of pills: Chateal. To schedule an appointment, call 212-965-7000, Monday-Friday, 8am-6pm.

Another great option is Callen-Lorde Community Health Center in Chelsea (356 W 18th St; (212) 271-7200). They are LGBT-friendly and provide a variety of 'women-well' services.

Regarding condoms, there's little social stigma, and they can be purchased in most pharmacies. You can also get the NYC free condoms, which are found all over the city in over 600 locations through the five boroughs, such as Addiction NYC (27 St. Marks Place), 9th Avenue Saloon (656 9th Avenue), AIDS Center of Queens County (121-61 Jamaica Ave 7th Floor), Albert Einstein College of Medicine (804 East 138th Street, Bronx) and many more locations. For a full locator of free condom venues, check out the official condom site locator put out by NYC.

Costs

If you are an American citizen, your birth control exam/consultation may be covered for free, with no copay. As for birth control prices, there is no one standard price, as this greatly depends on which method is used. But, if you are uninsured, you can expect to pay between $20-$150/month supply of pills. You can also get condoms for free in NYC (see above for info).

Morning After Pill/Plan B

Laws & Social Stigmas

In New York, Plan B is legal to purchase if you're 17 years old or older. You do not need a prescription, and there is typically little stigma related to the act. You can buy Plan B at many drug stores, such as CVS. However, a 2012 Columbia study found that 20% of NYC pharmacies unlawfully refused to sell Plan B to male shoppers. In other words, you should be able to find Plan B -- and, if one pharmacy refuses, simply visit another one (and there are many).

What to Get & Where to Get It

Nearly all NYC pharmacies should have Plan B. There are also many 24 hour pharmacies in NYC, for example Rite-Aid (408 Grand St) and Duane Reade (769 Broadway at E. 9th St) in Downtown Manhattan. For a full list of 24 hour pharmacies in Manhattan, check out this this link. For Brooklyn 24 hour pharmacies, CVS pharmacies in Park Slope (341 9th St), Flatlands, East Flatbush (4901 Kings Hwy) and Midwood (2925 Kings Hwy). For Queens 24 hour pharmacies, there's CVS in Bayside (212 Northern Blvd) and Duane Reade in Downtown Flushing (13602 Roosevelt Ave).

Costs

Plan B pills typically cost between $35-$60/pill. However, some hospitals offer free Plan B -- call up local hospitals in your area and see if they provide any.

Medications

Laws & Social Stigmas

In NYC, some medications can be obtained over-the-counter while others require a prescription. For yeast infections, you do not need a prescription. But, for urinary tract infections, it is necessary to have a doctor test for a possible UTI -- and, if tests come back positive, then you will be given a prescription for UTI medication. For STD medication that require antibiotics, such as gonorrhea, you will also need a prescription.

What to Get & Where to Get It

Nearly all NYC pharmacies should have basic medications for yeast infection, UTIs and STD medications.

Costs

Costs vary greatly according to the medication. For uninsured consumers, some medication costs may seem very steep, so you may want to seek out clinics with sliding-scale payment options if you do not have any insurance.

Menstruation

Laws & Social Stigmas

There is no social stigma against tampons in NYC or generally in the USA. They can be obtained as readily as pads in most drug stores. As for DivaCups, they are available but not widely sold in stores (see below for details).

What to Get & Where to Get It

You can find tampons and pantyliners and pads in most drug stores, pharmacies, grocery stores, etc. If you want to buy the DivaCup, you can find it mostly in downtown Manhattan, such as CVS Pharmacy locations (298 Mulberry Street, 148 Bleecker Street, 500 Grand Street) and Bluestockings -- also an awesome bookstore/feminist space! (172 Allen Street). In Brooklyn, you can buy DivaCup at the 156 Henry Street CVS, the 44 Court St Walgreens or the Perelandra Natural Foods (175 Remsen St). Some women in the States are getting into Thinx underwear, too, but it cannot currently be bought in stores (only online).

Costs

Prices will vary, but as an example: You can get a box with 36 tampons for $7 at Walgreens. One of the cheapest tampon brands is Equate, but it is considered low-quality and not recommended. OB is also a cheap brand and higher quality. The DivaCup costs about $25 and lasts for a year. If you have a Costco Wholesale card, you can buy pads or tampons in bulk at their NYC locations, or ask someone who has a Costco card.

Gynecological Exams

Laws & Social Stigmas

Also known as 'Well-woman exams,' there are many options in NYC, whether you're insured or uninsured, low-budget or high-budget. There is little social stigma attached to gynecological exams, generally-speaking. Since there are a wealth of options, it is critical to consider doctor reviews (check out ZocDoc), budget and location (the city is big, and distances can be far).

What to Get & Where to Get It

If budget is not an issue, there are many private practice and larger-scale hospitals in NYC. Cheaper options include Planned Parenthood, Women's Health Free Clinic and Callen-Lorde Community Health Center. In Manhattan, Gouverneur Health (227 Madison St, New York) is a clean, advanced facility, affiliated with the NYU School of Medicine, but catering to lower-income patients. They have some great gynecologists on staff.

Costs

If you are an American citizen, you can receive an annual free gynecological exam under ObamaCare. If you are not a citizen or have received your annual exam, don't fear: there are many options. Some clinics provide a flat rate for the entire examination while other charge an extra fee for the pap smear and associated lab work. At Planned Parenthood, a sliding scale fee is offered. Other clinics, like One Medical Group (in the Bronx) and Women's Health Resource (Manhattan), charge about $150, which is generally cheaper than other providers.

STD Tests

Laws & Social Stigmas

There are many low-cost and free STD testing services in New York City. They typically do not require appointments, and they run on a first come, first serve basis. So it is recommended that you arrange for a test on a day when you have time to wait to receive your tests and results. Some STD clinics also offer vaccines for meningitis, Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B, as well as alcohol and drug treatment.

What to Get & Where to Get it

The New York City Department of Health offers free, same-day STD tests at facilities around the city. You can also get STD tests at Planned Parenthood.

Costs

For all patients over 19 years old, the New York City Health Department does charge fees for STD clinic services. This means that, if you have an insurance policy, your insurance will be billed. However, if you do not have insurance or do not want to bill your insurance, you will be typically asked to pay a sliding scale fee based on your family size and yearly income. Note that you will not be asked to prove your income or family size.

Abortion

Laws & Social Stigmas

New York has been called the “abortion capital of America,” where it has been legally protected since 1970. This makes New York the first U.S. state to provide statewide abortion access. Furthermore, New York does not impose restrictions such as 24 waiting periods or required parental involvement, which can be found in other U.S. states.

In New York, all women, teenage or adult, can receive abortions without permission from parents or outsiders. State law requires that abortions are performed within the first 24 weeks of pregnancy or in order to save the mother’s life. The abortion must be performed on advice of an M.D. If an abortion is performed and not considered justifiable, or if it is not done within 24 weeks, the abortion can be considered a felony.

What to Get & Where to Get It

In Manhattan, the largest clinic is Planned Parenthood’s Margaret Sanger Clinic (26 Bleecker Street). You can also get an abortion at ParkMed Physicians -- its website says it is "the most respected Abortion Clinic in NYC" (no idea if this is true -- can someone confirm). They're located at 800 2nd Ave #6, +1 646-898-2150.

In Brooklyn, there's Planned Parenthood Boro Hall Center (+1 212-965-7000, 6th Floor, 44 Court St,), Brooklyn Abortion Clinic (14 Dekalb Ave, +1 718-369-1900), Professional Gynecological Services (14 Dekalb Ave, +1 718-875-4848).

In Queens, All Women's of New York provides abortions for up to 24 weeks (120-34 Queens Boulevard, Suite 420, Kew Gardens, 877-462-8837), Choices Women Medical Center in Jamaica (147-32 Jamaica Ave, (718) 534-3800), Roosevelt Women's Medical (78-13 Roosevelt Ave, Jackson Heights:+1 718-205-0234).

In the Bronx, there's Planned Parenthood (2nd Floor, 349 E 149th St, +1 212-965-7000), Bronx Abortion, which has Saturday morning walk-ins (2070 Eastchester Rd, Bronx, +1 718-829-7000) and Dr. Emily Women's Health Center (560 Southern Blvd, Bronx; +1 718-585-1010).

In Staten Island, please note that the Planned Parenthood location does not provide abortion services. It's best to visit in one of the other boroughs. You can also call Staten Island Planned Parenthood for a referral list in your area (212.965.7000).

Note: Be careful -- there are some places that advertise themselves as abortion clinics, and they're actually religious anti-abortion clinics. For example, Free Abortion Alternatives can appear to be a women's counseling/abortion clinic but it is NOT.

Costs

Nationwide, the abortion pill can cost $800, but often less. For an in-clinic procedure, abortions can cost $1500, but often less. You can often find cheaper options at Planned Parenthood or some clinics. For low-income women (regardless of citizenship status), there are a variety of program in NYC that can help pay for these costs, including Medicaid for Pregnant Women & Teens, Prenatal Care Assistance Program, Child Health Plus, and Family Health Plus. If you're pregnant, you can get coverage through Presumptive Eligibility. Coverage begins the same day that you apply. Some clinics offer emergency Medicaid services for same-day abortions. If you don't qualify for Medicaid, you may qualify for the Prenatal Care Assistance Program (PCAP), which is for women with income below the Federal Poverty Level, regardless of immigration status.

List of Resources

(thanks to NYU Langone Medical Center for providing this list online)

Free Clinics

New York City Free Clinic (917.544.0735, 16 East 16th Street, New York, NY 10003) Weill Cornell Community Clinic (646.962.9222, 505 East 70th Street, 1st Floor, New York, NY 10021) Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Care Clinic (212.423.3000, 312 East 94th Street, New York, NY 10128) East Harlem Health Outreach Program - Mount Sinai (626.942.6519, 17 East 102nd Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10029) Columbia Student Medical Outreach (212.342.4719, 21 Audubon Avenue, New York, NY 10033) Columbia-Harlem Homeless Medical Partnership (347.614.2121, St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 521 West 126th Street, New York, NY 10027) St. Anthony's Free Clinic (718.401.9705, 421 East 155th Street, Bronx, NY 10455) ECHO Free Clinic (800.836.1316, 1894 Walton Ave, Bronx, NY 10453) Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic (exclusively for people in the entertainment industry) (212.489.1939, 475 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019)

Sliding Scale Facilities

HHC Options Facilities Find a Facility Requires proof of income or letter of support Bellevue 212.562.1000 462 First Avenue, New York, NY 10016 Metropolitan Hospital Center 212.423.6262 1901 First Avenue, New York, NY 10029 Sydenham Family Health Center 212.932.6500 264 West 118th Street, New York, NY 10027 Jacobi Medical Center 718.918.5700 1400 Pelham Parkway South, Bronx, NY 10461 Elmhurst Hospital Center 718.334.4000 79-01 Broadway, Queens, NY 11373 Health and Home Care 866.692.4663 Institute for Family Health institute.org Sidney Hillman/Phillips Family Practice 212.206.5200 16 East 16th Street, New York, NY 10003 Family Health Center of Harlem 212.423.4500 1824 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10035 Amsterdam Family Health Center 212.865.4104 690 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10025 P.S. 57 James Weldon Johnson School-Based Health Center 212.860.5812 176 East 115th Street, New York, NY 10029 High School of Fashion Industries School-Based Health Center 225 West 24th Street, New York, NY 10011 The IFH Center for Counseling at ASC 646.741.9100 64 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001 Washington Irving Campus School-Based Health Center 646.654.0640 40 Irving Place, Room 422, New York, NY 10003 Walton Family Health Center and Center for Counseling 718.583.3060 1894 Walton Avenue, Bronx, NY 10453 Mt. Hope Family Practice 718.583.9000 130 West Tremont Avenue, Bronx, NY 10453 Urban Horizons Family Health Center 718.293.3900 50-98 East 168th Street, Bronx, NY 10452 The IFH Center for Counseling at Frisby Avenue 718.239.1610 2590 Frisby Avenue, 1st Floor, Bronx, NY 10461 Stevenson Family Health Center 718.589.8775 731 White Plains Road, Bronx, NY 10473

Women's and Reproductive Health Services

Book of Choices Planned Parenthood Margaret Sanger Center 212.965.7000 26 Bleecker Street, New York, NY 10012 The Bronx Center 212.965.7000 349 East 149th Street, 2nd Floor, Bronx, NY 10451 Boro Hall Center 212.965.7000 44 Court Street, 6th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201 Staten Island Center 212.965.7000 23 Hyatt Street, Staten Island, NY 10301