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Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts
Rating Details »
Categories: Health and Medical, Community Service/Non-Profit
Neighborhood: Allston/Brighton1055 Commonwealth Ave
Boston, MA 02215
(800) 258-4448
- Nearest Transit:
-
Babcock Street (Green)
- Hours:
Mon. 8:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Tue. 7:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Wed. 7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Thu-Fri. 7:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Sat. 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
- By Appointment Only:
- No
18 reviews for Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts
The receptionist was super friendly and made me feel welcome. Everyone else I saw was nice and friendly. They were professional, but without being clinical. The waiting room was really clean and the security was tight, which made me feel more comfortable.
I had to wait a little while to get though on the phone, but the person was nice, informative and made a point of helping me. When I got there, I only had to wait 20 minutes for a walk-in appointment. And, they serve guys as well as girls.
If you're starting to date someone and you want to get tested, this is the place to go. They even take insurance.
I would give this place 5 stars if it weren't for one thing:
The horribly bitchy, extremely disrespectful and rude receptionists at check-in. From calling in to physically going in for an appointment/walk-in, I've never dealt with more hostile women who obviously have a complete lack of interest in their job and knowledge of how to deal with someone who is in crisis.
Other than that, the nurses, doctors, and counselors were all great. They are the ones that give it all the stars.
All in all though, I would just go to an actual gynecologist/OBGYN to get the best service and be treated the best. Especially if you have more than just a minor issue.
One of the best places you can go to for all your ob gyn needs. Very nice and friendly staff and nurses. Have been there many times and never had a bad experience!
I am a big supporter of Planned Parenthood, because of all the good that they do, and it's also really easy to get an appointment. I recently switched insurance, and while I have picked a primary care Dr., I was unsure if I'd be able to be seen before my prescription for birth control pills before the wedding and I wanted to buy a little more time before scrambling to get in.
I called Planned Parenthood, got an appointment set up about three days from when I called (unheard of at most health care facilities) and went in yesterday. All of the staff I dealt with was really pleasant, even more so than in the past when I'd gone here when I was younger. The wait was short, the waiting room a liiiiittle noisy with people on phones, even though it clearly states no phones on signs through out the waiting room.
The Nurse I met with was very nice, and was really helpful in discussing my needs. She suggested a different prescription based on my complaints of the other prescription I'd been taking for the past while, and switched me to Yaz, which will hopefully make me less cranky at certain times of the month because that's not really my style. I was out long before one hour was up, and it was a pleasant experience. I will absolutely consider heading here for my yearly lady exam, as I felt really comfortable and like everyone was truly in it for the health of the patients and making them feel welcome. That welcoming goes a long way when you're going to need to drop your drawers for the sake of a check-up.
Full supporter of this place.
I was there once and grabbed a couple condoms. I have to say their condoms aren't good. I've never had a reaction to any before until I grabbed one of theirs.
While the nurses and doctors are great even with an appointment on non walk-in days it can take up to 30 minutes to be seen. Be forewarned, I leave an hour for my 5 minute depo appointment.
Everyonce in awhile you realize - I just should have listened to my mother.
My mom, a master of euphemism and innuendo, always stressed that to "keep your skin 'clean' when you're doing 'housework' you should always wear 'rubber gloves.'" And she's right - and I did - I was always super careful when it came to house cleaning - until I found myself in a longterm relationship with someone I thought I could trust.
Fast forward to a long time later and realizing that, wow, not necessarily the best use of reasoning and logic. After a few friends started tallying up the number of other "houses" my former partner had been "cleaning" on the side, I went into momentary panic mode - then I strode down to PP, past the wall of protesters, and made my appointment.
The staff at this location are just amazing people - really professional, very kind, very attentive, and thorough (that's probably the most important part). I did get a little bit of a nudge towards being more careful about who I "cleaned the house with" in the future - and it was well deserved. All in all, it took me two weeks to get on their calendar, and then the appointment didn't even take a full hour of my time. I got most of my good news within 10 minutes (the rest is a "no news is good news" situation).
An old man screamed at me, as I walked in, that I "would find nothing but murder" behind those walls - well I'm not sure about that - but I did find a lot of peace of mind - and for that (and the good old advice of my wise mother) I'll be thankful.
These folks do a really great job. We've had several services done over the years here and we've been very satisfied.
I need not tell you the horrors of the male urethral culture, but let's just say that my nurse was very discreet about it and didn't slap me silly when I squalled like a stuck piggy.
Parking here is actually good because they have a lot out back. Parking on Comm at a premium.
It's also amusing to challenge the protesters outside with conflicting biblical information that disproves their whole stupid "God hates fags" and "Abortion is murder" mentality. Bring your Holy Bible, caffeinate yourself, and give 'em what for!
"Urethra" is kind of a cool word, if you think about it. Say it five times fast!
Nothing but good things to say about this clinic, and I have been using them for my GYN services ever since they were over on Beacon St. and I was a teenager trying not to get pregnant. Success and good health, thanks to the great (subsidized at the time, which is why I try to give money now when I can) care and affordable pills. And I'm still using them for my girlparts-care.
In fact, I had an awesome experience in 2005 getting my IUD at PP. Let me tell you about my IUD. :) Seriously, if you are curious send me a message and I'll overshare to you directly, suffice to say I had no problem as a late-20s married girl who hasn't had kids yet getting one of these awesome doohickeys put in, unlike the experience you might get at a private provider. In fact, the method was suggested to me at an annual, when I said I wanted a reliable alternative to systemic hormonal birth control (the IUD is nearly as effective as getting your tubes tied but it's totally reversible, how cool is that?!)
What can be an intimidating minor procedure was made much easier by the warm care PP offers (they even had someone there just to hold my hand if I wanted it!), and when I had a scare a week or two after insertion (oh no, is it sneaking its way out?!?) they got me an appointment right away. When the exam was inconclusive, they even did an ultrasound right then (and let me keep the picture, so now I have an ultrasound image of my IUD on my fridge, yay). And it was fine, I was fine, but I felt like they really took the time to be sure and make sure I was feeling confident, as opposed to that "doctor-as-god" complex that happens to some medical professionals.
This review's going to be a bit biased, since I did work for Planned Parenthood (in New York) some time ago. I agree with Kitty P's review; for patients PP is fucking awesome, but if you're an employee (especially unpaid), it sucks out loud.
I have a huge amount of admiration and respect for PP but some resentment as well, but that's mostly related to their treatment of interns and other unpaid help (see above). Their medical services, however, are top-notch. I went to PP back home in upstate NY for visits/bc pills. When I moved here and it came time for the dreaded annual exam, there was no question as to where I'd go. I was not disappointed at the Comm Ave branch. They are a huge center staffed with very professional, friendly, respectful, thorough people. There's no such thing as a stupid question, and the staff really is there to serve everyone. And unlike the Rochester, NY branch where I worked, there were no crazy protestors proclaiming that I'd surely go to hell (unless I happened to arrive on an off-day and missed it :p).
When it came time to get refills on my pill prescription, the nurse transferred it to the pharmacy in the Shaw's next to my apt, no problem. I'll definitely keep going here.
so i just moved to the boston area. I have no dr. yet. haven't even changed my insurance to MA yet. But I have a lump in my breast and its been wearing on my mind.... so this morning i got up on a mission and decided to try a walk in apt at the planned parent hood. I've never lived anywhere that the planned parenthood had walk in appointments unless you were in crisis. I figured i would sit for hours. NOPE. i walked in at 2:00. was checked in at 2:15 and asked to fill in paper work. The girl apologized to me that the next walk-in apt wasn't until 3:00. At 2:50 i was called back and seen.
I saw a midwife- who was fantastic and super knowledgeable. She got my girl bits all checked out and referred me to a breast clinic for an ultra-sound. We had a great talk about how I should not use certain types of birth control because I get migraines with aura's and certain pills up the %rate for aneurysm in people with migraines. And she sent me on my way. I was out the door in a really reasonable period of time but never felt rushed. .. they even dealt with my out-of-state insurance.
Yay planned parenthood. Yay walk-in hours!
I am in Boston for the summer and my insurance back home just ran out so I decided to take a trip to PP because I wanted to see a doctor.
I thought it was going to be a bad experience...especially when you get people like nuns and other crazy religious people yelling at you when you near the entrance. And they have a security guard right when you get in, motioning to you to go through a metal detector. He was really nice, though!
I didn't go in for anything serious, just routine, but they were amazing there. So nice and helpful. And it seemed like the nurses and doctors really cared about making you feel comfortable and covering all the bases. I've been to some clinics back home and they have literally sucked. No bedside manner at all.
As much as it sucks for all of us women to go to the doctor, this PP really made it easy. And it wasn't that expensive without insurance.
And i recommend you make an appt. I was called in probably only 20 minutes after my appt time (opposed to close to an hr back home at my doc) so not bad at all. I recommend this place if you don't have insurance and/or you just really need to see a doctor quickly for whatever reason( check up, getting birth control pills, etc). They are very efficient there, so you can make an appt in a flash and won't have to wait as long as if you went to a doc in an ob/gyn clinic.
I wish I could give zero stars.
I went for my first visit yesterday with my boyfriend. He wanted to get a screening and I was there to get birth control pills. We had called the day prior and told that neither of us needed to make an appointment, that there was a garage attached and to "just come in between 4 to 7".
The clinics closer to home don't admit or treat men except for one at a hospital that's just about as long of a drive as it is to get to Boston and they only become a "mens clinic" for two hours on a Thursday -a day my boyfriend cannot go due to his work schedule.
When we got to the area of the clinic, we saw a posted sign saying that the garage was only open from 7a-10a. That was a bit discouraging, but we did find parking in a lot nearby.
We filled our our yellow walk-in forms out and waited for maybe ten minutes. When I was called up, I was told initially that they were "full" and I'd have to come back. As the staff member was looking to schedule an appointment for me, she realized that there was an available appointment that evening at 545PM.
My boyfriend, unfortunately, wasn't so lucky. He was told that without an appointment, they were "full up" and he couldn't be seen.
Due to the fact that I had an appointment, I asked the person at the front desk if he could take my time slot since there was a women's clinic closer to home. She was a little rude to the both of us and eventually told me that the appointments couldn't be switched. That was fine.
I was seen about 30m after my appointment was scheduled but both the clinician and the nurse were great. I was able to get a year's worth of birth control and we scheduled a visit for my boyfriend in the next week.
Overall I'd say it was worth the commute... but the misinformation given to us on the phone did prevent me from giving it five stars.
I was without insurance for a little while this year because I was in between jobs. I just needed my prescription for my birth control renewed. I had a wonderful experience with the nurses and doctor. I have endometriosis, and I've been to terrible ob-gyns who I'd see for the first time and they'd make ridiculous recommendations for my care. (Usually trying to push the semi-experimental drug treatment du jour) The doctor I saw was a great listener and didn't try to pressure me into changing my treatment. It was also inexpensive, both for the treatment and pills.
The only downside is that the wait was very long. I drove and managed to find street parking but during my lengthy time in the waiting room I had to run out to refeed the meter. I think it's mostly one hour meters around there, so next time I'll probably take the T or the 57 bus.
i'm not gonna lie, i don't have too much experience with pplm but i do appreciate the service they provide for boston and i have found that the staff are friendly and respectful down to the security guard who keeps all the crazies out.
they are also very cost effective! my doctor gave me a prescrip for OTL and walgreens tried to get me to pay $40 for 1 month! after one exam free appointment you can get a year's worth of your choice of birth control and PPLM charges only $25/m and gives free condoms to any and all who ask which is really important.
reproductive health care is so vital, and pplm makes it accessible for those who can and can't afford it with their sliding scale fees.
PPLM is a wonderful place to get reproductive health care for females and males. Although it does provide abortions, that is by far, not the only service it offers. All ages, sexes, and income levels are welcome. Its can actually be quicker to get an appointment at PPLM than with your own primary care physican or doctor. The staff is generally helpful and the doctors are great listeners and don't rush you out of the office.
Why do the receptionists at PHood have to be so rude? I currently don't have insurance and really needed to have my birth control refilled and thought they could help. Don't make the mistake of just showing up and asking what they can do for you....the answer will be "nothing." Long story short, I was really in a bind after losing my last ortho pack from a real doctor, and the bitches at PHood- and I stress- HOOD- treated me as if I was a teen mother trying to get free pills to sell to my underage friends! The receptionist actually accused me of not losing my pills (which I pay a lot for w/o insurance anyways) and trying to scam the office. I was shocked/disturbed/disgusted by the way they treated me.
I sent an email to the director of the regional division and told her what happened/why I was so upset, explained I could not be without my birth control until my next cycle (which is what the woman at the desk told me....no appointment, no pills) Almost immediately a very kind woman replied with her personal cell phone number to boot, and when I called it, she told me she had already directly called my local branch office and arranged for me to have my pills picked up whenever I could get down there....THAT DAY!
Overall I know how hard these people work, but as someone who is not typically the "Planned Parenthood type" I was disappointed in how I was treated. If you ever have any trouble with the Cambridge office, just go online and and get in touch with one of the higher-ups in the company....fabulous people! The regional director saved me hundreds by not having to buying online and having them shipped overnight from Canada.
