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I was wondering about Planned Parenthood. I know that you can go there and get condoms, birth control, morning-after-pill, etc. but I had a few questions. Can you just go in there and get condoms or do you have to like sit down and talk with a few people there with them asking you questions and saying make sure you're safe and ready, etc? Also, if you go there to get birth control, do they have to give you an exam "down there" or what all do they do? Plus, they don't tell your parents about it.. do they? I heard they were completly confidental. I'm just curious!! I rate high. (link)
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In most states Planned Parenthood does keep things confidential, but in your state they may be required to tell your parents about certain exam results or if you are planning to have an abortion. You could ask before you scheduled an exam.
Most PP offices have condoms in a jar in the front and would allow you to take some. They would probably also schedule a free meeting with a doctor or nurse to answer any basic questions you have.
Most doctors do require you to have a pelvic exam before you go on birth control. This is not to determine what kind of birth control to put you on, but to see what things look like before you get started. For example, if they examined you and found nothing, but the next year they found some small white growths- they would know they had only been there for a year. So if you are about to become sexually active, it is good to have a pelvic exam to establish where you are and what things look like now.
A pelvic exam is very brief and if you tell the doctor it's your first one, he or she should be gentle. They will feel your breasts for lumps. They will press around on your abdomen, not too hard, but to be sure you don't appear to have any cysts or other growths. Then they will make you put your feet in the stirrups. Even though you want to put your knees together, it's easier if you keep them apart. They will insert a speculum (which looks like a duck bill with a handle) into your vagina. This will hold you open just a little bit, so they can swab the inside of your cervix with a long Q-tip thing. They will test this for some STDs and a couple other illnesses. And then they will ask if you have any questions and may offer you some information on birth control. Your first one will be the longest exam and then after that (you should go once a year) and they will be pretty quick. Best wishes.
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