Gynopedia needs your support! Please consider contributing content, translating a page, or making a donation today. With your support, we can sustain and expand the website. Gynopedia has no corporate sponsors or advertisers. Your support is crucial and deeply appreciated.
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
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 Note: The earlier you take emergency contraception, the more effectively it will work. Take it as soon as possible.
Laws & Social Stigmas
What to Get & Where to Get It
Costs
Medications & Vaccines
Laws & Social Stigmas
What to Get & Where to Get It
Costs
Menstruation
Laws & Social Stigmas
What to Get & Where to Get It
Costs
Gynecological Exams
Laws & Social Stigmas
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.
Costs
STD Tests
Laws & Social Stigmas
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/)