San Francisco

OVERVIEW

San Francisco has a long cultural history of supporting women's reproductive rights, LGBT rights and progressive health care.

Contraception

Laws & Social Stigmas

Contraception is legal but must be obtained through a physician's prescription. However, once obtained, there is very little social stigma regarding birth control in San Francisco

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.

Morning After Pill/Plan B

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

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.

Medications

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.

STD Tests

Laws & Social Stigmas

There are many low-cost and free 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

You can get STD tests at Planned Parenthood facilities (1650 Valencia St, SF Health Center), San Francisco City Clinic (356 7th Street), Women's Community Clinic (1833 Fillmore). Check out this awesome article by Broke Ass Stuart for more local SF details: [2]