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My Experience at Planned Parenthood as a Male
This is for those of you who haven't gotten treatment yet, specifically males who are a little more reluctant to seek help (like myself). If you go to Planned Parenthood, get ready to meet with a woman, but most of them have a lady or two that handle all the male patients so they're used to treating men.
I finally swallowed my pride and went to Planned Parenthood to have my warts burned off. I felt SO AWKWARD going in. I was mortified. After sitting in the waiting room, I was called back and met with the nicest older lady. She made jokes and laughed and chatted me up and pretty much alleviated any stress I had about the situation. By the time I dropped my drawers I had very little reservations about the whole thing because how good her bedside manner was. They told me they see men all the time (even though they have a crappy selection of magazines for men). She dapped acid on each of my warts, and it stung a little, but nothing excruciating. The stinging lasted about ten minutes.
She sent me on my way telling me I probably won't have to come back (after just one ~10 minute treatment I might add). Overall I'm glad I went and got treatment and I encourage you all to do the same. My whole visit cost $99 because it was my first visit, and if I have to go back, each subsequent visit will be $35. Let me know if you guys have any questions or experiences to share. I know it's an embarrassing situation to put yourself in, so I wanted to try and help alleviate some of that for those of you who are going through what I am.
I finally swallowed my pride and went to Planned Parenthood to have my warts burned off. I felt SO AWKWARD going in. I was mortified. After sitting in the waiting room, I was called back and met with the nicest older lady. She made jokes and laughed and chatted me up and pretty much alleviated any stress I had about the situation. By the time I dropped my drawers I had very little reservations about the whole thing because how good her bedside manner was. They told me they see men all the time (even though they have a crappy selection of magazines for men). She dapped acid on each of my warts, and it stung a little, but nothing excruciating. The stinging lasted about ten minutes.
She sent me on my way telling me I probably won't have to come back (after just one ~10 minute treatment I might add). Overall I'm glad I went and got treatment and I encourage you all to do the same. My whole visit cost $99 because it was my first visit, and if I have to go back, each subsequent visit will be $35. Let me know if you guys have any questions or experiences to share. I know it's an embarrassing situation to put yourself in, so I wanted to try and help alleviate some of that for those of you who are going through what I am.
Planned Parenthood is able to do tests for STDs and can check for HPV, but only if there are visible lessions (warts). There isn't any tests that they have or are able to give that actually tests for HPV.
Planned Parenthood accepts MediCAL and BlueCross. If you have Kaiser, the insurance you have ONLY covers treatment and testing at Kaiser Hospitals. PP will NOT take Kaiser insurance. Meaning, you can still have access to their FREE services such as STD screening and testing.... but anything treatment wise, is out of pocket.
I ended up going to Kaiser to me dermatologist. He was slightly more helpful about it, and when he looked at the bumps I have, he said they were most likely warts or skin tags.
He pulled out the liquid nitrogen and quickly froze the 3 very small bumps I had. Cryotheraphy IS COVERED by Kaiser insurance, so all you have to pay is the $15 dollar co-pay to see the doctor. He said that if they come back, i can have them freezed off again, and its only the co-pay price. Which i think is extremely cheap, considering a OTC wart freezing treatment is 20-30 dollars for a box.
The warts are gone now, and my skin looks like it did before all of this happened! Hoping its for good... :)
Planned Parenthood accepts MediCAL and BlueCross. If you have Kaiser, the insurance you have ONLY covers treatment and testing at Kaiser Hospitals. PP will NOT take Kaiser insurance. Meaning, you can still have access to their FREE services such as STD screening and testing.... but anything treatment wise, is out of pocket.
I ended up going to Kaiser to me dermatologist. He was slightly more helpful about it, and when he looked at the bumps I have, he said they were most likely warts or skin tags.
He pulled out the liquid nitrogen and quickly froze the 3 very small bumps I had. Cryotheraphy IS COVERED by Kaiser insurance, so all you have to pay is the $15 dollar co-pay to see the doctor. He said that if they come back, i can have them freezed off again, and its only the co-pay price. Which i think is extremely cheap, considering a OTC wart freezing treatment is 20-30 dollars for a box.
The warts are gone now, and my skin looks like it did before all of this happened! Hoping its for good... :)
Whitecat did you say that testing at Planned Parenthood is free? Because I also have Kaiser and I am on my parents insurance and I didn't ask them before I made my appointment
I'm glad you had a positive experience with Planned Parenthood! I personally love these clinics, and have always had positive experiences whenever I have gone to get tested or bloodwork there.
I have Kaiser Permanente healthcare, and my initial experience with my doctor regarding HPV was rather unpleasant and unpersonal. While their health care is pretty good, it made me not want to go back there again anytime soon.
The few warts that I have seemed to go away, but in the past 2 days, seem to be the same size they were initially. I called up Planned Parenthood to inquire about the cost of their services/treatment, because I've never had anything other than (free) STD and blood tests there. The lady over the phone told me that if I didn't have MediCAL or BlueCross, then the treatment would have to be paid out of pocket. Kaiser Health Insurance only works at Kaiser hospitals, and wouldn't cover treatment at PP.
She said that generally, one treatment of Cryotherapy is about $115-150 per. Ouch. While its worth it to get rid of these awful bumps, I do not have that much money to spare right now.
So I had to make a appointment with Kaiser. They said that if they consider the wart removal to be "medically necessary" and not "only cosmetically necessary" then my insurance would cover the treatment. Otherwise I'll again have to pay out of pocket for the cryotherapy. In that case, I'll probably have to stick to home treatment for now.
I have Kaiser Permanente healthcare, and my initial experience with my doctor regarding HPV was rather unpleasant and unpersonal. While their health care is pretty good, it made me not want to go back there again anytime soon.
The few warts that I have seemed to go away, but in the past 2 days, seem to be the same size they were initially. I called up Planned Parenthood to inquire about the cost of their services/treatment, because I've never had anything other than (free) STD and blood tests there. The lady over the phone told me that if I didn't have MediCAL or BlueCross, then the treatment would have to be paid out of pocket. Kaiser Health Insurance only works at Kaiser hospitals, and wouldn't cover treatment at PP.
She said that generally, one treatment of Cryotherapy is about $115-150 per. Ouch. While its worth it to get rid of these awful bumps, I do not have that much money to spare right now.
So I had to make a appointment with Kaiser. They said that if they consider the wart removal to be "medically necessary" and not "only cosmetically necessary" then my insurance would cover the treatment. Otherwise I'll again have to pay out of pocket for the cryotherapy. In that case, I'll probably have to stick to home treatment for now.
Thank you so much for sharing. I am about to get tested in a few days for STDs at Planned Parenthood and this story gave me even more courage. I am also a male and your story helped a lot since my main concern is HPV.
Yes and yes but it might not be that at all. Are you sure you called planned parent hood? Look for other free clinics in your area, google it.
$99?? I called two PPH in seattle, wa and they both gave me an estimate of $260 for just to get looked at.
just a quick question, Is it possible to contract genital warts with
A.) No history of genital warts female but she IS a HPV carrier
and
B.) Contract genital warts on area ACTUALLY COVERED by protection?
( i have 3 small small bumps where a condom has covered all THREE times of intercourse with this female who has HPV)
i realize the other areas not protected by HPV could have gotten infected but there are NO warts where the areas were unprotected, leading me to believe these may NOT be warts.
thanks!
just a quick question, Is it possible to contract genital warts with
A.) No history of genital warts female but she IS a HPV carrier
and
B.) Contract genital warts on area ACTUALLY COVERED by protection?
( i have 3 small small bumps where a condom has covered all THREE times of intercourse with this female who has HPV)
i realize the other areas not protected by HPV could have gotten infected but there are NO warts where the areas were unprotected, leading me to believe these may NOT be warts.
thanks!
Thanks for sharing!
Good post!
good post, you should make it a journal
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