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Can I go to the gynecologist without my parent(s) or guardian(s) knowing?
Yes. Most clinics, like Planned Parenthood, are completely confidential, meaning that they can’t discuss your visit with anyone, including your parent(s) or guardian(s). Just to be sure, ask them about their policy when you call to make an appointment. Since each clinic works a bit differently, you might want to ask some of the questions that are discussed below. Keep in mind that in some states, if a girl is seeking an abortion at a clinic or doctor, her parents must be notified or she must get a judge’s permission.
- Will they call you at home? If the clinic needs to get in touch with you over the phone, they may leave a message and identify themselves in some other way, instead of identifying themselves as a clinic. So, for example, you might get a message that a friend called, and you’ll know you need to call the clinic. And, of course, you can always use a cell phone number if you have one.
- Will they send a bill or other mail to you? Usually, family planning clinics ask your permission to send things home, and they use plain, unmarked envelopes. If you do not want to give your home address, you could give a friend’s address, as long as you have your friend’s permission. Many teens choose to give e-mail addresses to communicate with their health care providers. If you use your parent(s) or guardian(s)’s insurance, then they will see the bill. As an alternative to using insurance, many clinics use a sliding scale payment system. This system allows people to pay what they can afford, rather than having the same rate for everyone. For example, a teenager who doesn’t have a job would pay less than an adult with a full time job.
If you want to make an appointment, you can find a clinic here. You can also visit the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association’s clinic directory, or call 1-800-230-PLAN (7526) to be connected automatically to the Planned Parenthood health center nearest you.
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