Los Angeles

United States of America / California / Los Angeles

OVERVIEW

As the second largest city in the United States, Los Angeles has an incredible variety of resources. The city is renowned for its large and thriving artist/entertainment, LGBT and immigrant communities, and California overall tends to have progressive laws compared to many other US states. Generally speaking, Los Angeles is a progressive city that is pro-choice, and it has many options to help the uninsured. However, the political scene in Southern California is a more complex picture. There are pockets of the SoCal region, especially in Orange County, that are quite religious and conservative, and this is something to bear in mind.

Contraception

General Note: There are many types of contraceptives, also known as "birth control," including IUDs, oral contraceptives, patches, shots, and condoms, etc. If you would like to view a full list, click here.

Laws & Social Stigmas

In Los Angeles, 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 easiest way (but necessarily cheapest) way to get birth control is at LA pharmacies, such as CVS or Rite-Aid. Note that, if you don't have health insurance, the costs can be pretty expensive.
• 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 4867 Sunset Blvd.
• Planned Parenthood, which has over 10 locations in LA, provides many lower-cost 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.
• FPA Women's Health offers free services if you are a California resident, have no other health coverage for the procedure you need and meet specific income requirements. They have Mirena, Paragard, Nexplanon, Skyla, Essure, tubal sterilization, the depo shot, the pill and the vaginal ring. They have locations in Downtown LA, Santa Monica, San Fernando Valley, etc.

Regarding condoms, there's little social stigma, and they can be purchased in most drug stores or pharmacies.

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. For IUD insertion, you can expect to pay $175-600 if uninsured (or $10-$30 copay if insured). There are some clinics that offer free coverage (FPA Women's Clinic) if you fall under specific criteria.

Emergency Contraception

Important Notes: Emergency contraception may prevent pregnancy for three days (72 hours) and sometimes five days (120 hours) after unprotected sex. Take EC as soon as possible after unprotected sex. If you don't have access to dedicated EC, oral contraceptives can be used as replacement EC, but remember the following: 1) Only some contraceptives work as EC 2) Different contraceptives require different dosages and time schedules to work as EC 3) You must only use the first 21 pills in 28-day packs and 4) They may be less effective than dedicated EC. For general information on emergency contraceptives, click here and here.

What to Get & Where to Get It

Note: The longest-lasting EC is currently ellaOne. It lasts up to 5 days (120 hours) after unprotected sex. Check to see if your country carries ellaOne. If your country doesn't carry ellaOne, copper IUDs may also prevent pregnancy up to 5 days after unprotected sex. If none of these options are available, and it's been over 3 days since you had unprotected sex, you can still take EC, which may work up to 5 days. Note that EC pills are not 100% effective and should be taken as soon as possible.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs/STDs)

Important Notes - Learn about PEP and PrEP: 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 to prevent HIV infection after exposure, and it may be available in your city. Take PEP as soon as possible. For more information, click here. If you are at risk of HIV exposure, seek out PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis). It's a daily oral pill that can prevent HIV infection before exposure. To learn more about PrEP, click here.

What to Get & Where to Get It

• Hollywood Walk-in Clinic -- Offers an urgent care visit, which includes an STD evaluation, for $79.
• Hollywood Sunset Free Clinic (http://www.hsfreeclinic.org/)

Menstruation

Note: In addition to pads and tampons, you can also use menstrual cups and menstrual underwear for your period. To learn more about menstrual cups, click here. To learn more about menstrual underwear, click here.

Gynecological Exams

What to Get & Where to Get It

• Hollywood Walk-In Clinic gives pap smears for $135 or pap smears with HPV test for $185. No appointment needed -- just walk in. The clinic is mostly for the uninsured but they do accept Blue Shield PPO and Anthem Blue Cross PPO. They're located on the corner of Selma and Wilcox Avenues with adjacent parking. Our address is 6430 Selma Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90028. 323.848.4522.
• FPA Women's Health has locations in Downtown LA, Santa Monica, San Fernando Valley, etc. (877) 883.7264.

Abortion

Important Note: There are two main types of abortions: medical (also known as the "abortion pill") and surgical (also known as "in-clinic"). For medical abortions, you take a pill to induce abortion. For surgical abortions, a procedure is performed to induce abortion. For general information about medical and surgical abortions, click here.