San Francisco

United States of America / California / San Francisco

OVERVIEW

San Francisco has a rich history of supporting women's rights, LGBT rights and progressive health care. Abortion is legal, Plan B is widely accessible, and there are many low-cost clinics, especially concentrated in the Mission, SOMA, Tenderloin and Haight districts. Due to the recent tech boom, the city has grown increasingly expensive. But there are still quite a few free or sliding-scale clinics, women's centers and STD testing facilities. Outside of San Francisco, there are many resources in neighboring Oakland and Berkeley, as well, which can be accessed via BART, the Bay Area's underground rapid public transit.

Contraception

Laws & Social Stigmas

In San Francisco, birth control pills are legal for both minors (under 18 years old) and adults. Minors do not need parental permission to obtain birth control. While you do need a prescription for birth control, this prescription can be obtained at a pharmacy. Unlike many other US states, which require that you actually visit a physician for a prescription, California (as of April 2016) does not require that you visit a physician for self-administered hormonal contraception, which includes patches, pills and vaginal rings. For birth control that requires a physician, like IUDs, you will still need to visit a doctor.

What to Get & Where to Get It

The most common pharmacies in San Francisco are Walgreens, CVS and Rite-Aid. For uninsured patients, you can typically receive a prescription write-up as well as the actual medication at Planned Parenthood or low-cost clinics, such as Haight Ashbury Free Clinic (1735 Mission Street or 558 Clayton Street) or San Francisco Free Clinic (4900 California Street). If you are insured under your employer in California, there is also a very good chance that you are insured under Kaiser Permanente. Their main site, including the pharmacy, is found at 2238 Geary, but they have many facilities all over the wider Bay Area.

Costs

There is no one standard birth control 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.

Emergency Contraception

Important Notes: The earlier you take emergency contraception, the more effectively it works. After unprotected sex, take EC as soon as possible. If you don't have access to EC, you can use oral contraceptives as EC, but remember the following: 1) Only some contraceptives work as EC (so confirm they work as EC) 2) Different contraceptives require different dosages to work as EC (so get the proper instructions) 3) You must only use the first 21 pills in 28-day packs and 4) You must take the pills as soon as possible.

Laws & Social Stigmas

In San Francisco, Plan B is legal. You do not need a prescription to purchase Plan B, and there is typically little stigma related to the act. You can buy Plan B at many drug stores, such as Walgreens.

What to Get & Where to Get It

Note: The most effective emergency contraceptive is currently ellaOne. It lasts up to 5 days after unprotected sex. Other EC brands are generally effective up to 3 days with occasional protection up to 5 days. So check to see if your country carries ellaOne. If your country doesn't carry ellaOne, copper IUDs may also prevent pregnancy for up to 5 days after unprotected sex. If none of these options are available, look for regular EC, which may sometimes protect you for up to 5 days. Note that EC pills are not 100% effective, and they should be taken as soon as possible.

Nearly all SF pharmacies should have Plan B. But be aware that most pharmacies in SF are not 24 hours, with the exception of some Walgreens locations (3201 Divisadero, 498 Castro and 459 Powell Street).

Costs

Plan B pills typically cost between $35-$60/pill. This cost is often covered by private insurance, MediCal and Family Pact. However, if you are uninsured, you may be charged an additional $10 consult fee. To avoid this free, San Francisco City Clinic has provided an online means of obtaining an emergency contraception prescription. Check out this link [1] for more details.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs/STDs)

Important Note: If you think that you've been recently exposed to HIV (i.e. within 72 hours), seek out PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis). It's a month-long treatment that may prevent HIV infection, and it may be available in your city. Take PEP as soon as possible.

Laws & Social Stigmas

There are many low-cost and free STI/STD testing services in SF. 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.

What to Get & Where to Get It

There are many facilities to receive free or low-cost STD testing facilities. But keep in mind that many facilities test for some -- not all -- STDs. So do your research in advance. 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.

Here are some clinics: San Francisco City Clinic (for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes @ 356 7th Street), Women's Community Clinic (for HIV, HPV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, Hepatitis A, B and C @ 1833 Fillmore), New Generation Health Center (for people under 25, tests for HIV, chlamydia,gonorrhea, HIV, and syphilis @ 625 Potrero), Lyon Martin Health Services (for HIV, chlamydia, herpes, gonorrhea @ 1748 Market Street) and Haight-Ashbury Free Clinic (for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, herpes, syphilis @558 Clayton).

Check out this awesome article by Broke Ass Stuart, a local SF writer, for more local details: [2]

Costs

At SF City Clinic, tests will run from free to $10, depending on need. At Lyon Martin, tests should be free. At Women's Health Clinic, testing is free. At Haight-Ashbury Free Clinic, tests will be $20 or under.

Medications & Vaccines

Laws & Social Stigmas

In SF, 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 SF 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 SF or generally in the USA. They can be obtained as readily as pads in most drug stores.

What to Get & Where to Get It

You can find tampons and pads in most drug stores, pharmacies, grocery stores, etc.

Costs

Prices will vary, but as an example: You can get a box with 36 tampons for $7 at Walgreens.

Abortion

What to Get & Where to Get It

You can get an abortion at Planned Parenthood (1650 Valencia St) or at Women's Option's Health Center @ USCF (for 1st and 2nd trimester; 1001 Potrero Ave, Building 5, 6th Floor – Ward 6G). There are also many options in the East Bay, such as Choice Medical Group in Oakland (400 29th St, Ste#301).

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), Medicaid (which is called "Medi-Cal" in CA) can be used for abortions. There is also a separate Medi-Cal program for pregnant women called Medi-Cal for Pregnancy, which covers abortion and is often easier to get onto than general Medi-Cal. Other names for the program are the 200% program, Restricted Medi-Cal for Pregnancy, or the Pregnant Women’s Program.