Riley's Story

My name is Riley, and I've been a patient of Planned Parenthood for many years. Now in my 30s, I started there prior to my transition. They provide my gynecological care, as well as helping me get on birth control, and filling in some important gaps in my education along the way to help me take good care of myself. The staff and providers there have been with me every step of the way through my health journey all this time, so I knew I could trust them with handling my gender-affirming care when I was considering a medical transition. I came out in 2020, and when the time came I actually had an appointment on my birthday to do the final approval for testosterone, under the informed consent model. Everyone was so happy for me, and I left that office feeling like things might be alright for the first time since coming out. After so many years of wanting this future for myself, my local office helped me to reach out and grasp it.  

I started on testosterone injections, and while I was petrified of needles, the training I received on how to do the injections correctly was crucial in helping me to feel confident. I soon had no qualms at all about shots -- even flu shots and dentist visits no longer frighten me. When I did eventually want to try the gel, though, Planned Parenthood rolled with that too, and they made it happen with a smoothness I didn't know was possible in a time where insurance seems to have too tight a grip on what care medical providers can, well... provide. When the years slipped by and I wanted top surgery, they fought for that, too. The office helped me figure out what my options were, and explained the process step by step. They made the referrals, they guided me to resources to help guide my primary care physician and therapist in writing letters of support, and they checked in along the way to help me along. All of the associated insurance weirdness -- complicated by my dual coverage -- and all of the arbitrary requirements were things they dealt with in some form or another all the time. They guided me through as if it was no trouble for them, like anything else.  

The staff continued to be a ray of sunshine, and I always felt like I was exactly where I needed to be, and comfortable to ask any questions I might have. The providers explained things I didn't even know I wasn't aware of; one crucial piece of hygiene knowledge solved years of chronic UTIs, and every other issue along the way has been handled with the grace and kindness and expertise I have come to expect of our Planned Parenthood. They are more than willing to explain the information in a way that makes sense to me, and understand my questions like they'd asked them themselves. They always make sure I understand and that I'm comfortable every step of the way, and they check in on my safety in a way that feels genuine. Every staff member and every provider radiates the care they have for their patients, and I always come out of this office feeling like I made a good choice in my care.  

Even after all these small miracles they have performed that have made such a difference in my life, our local office still has more incredible surprises up their sleeve. I asked my provider if we could ask my insurance to cover the new liver-safe testosterone pill, a medication so new that many people still aren't aware of it. We balked a bit when we looked up how expensive it was. When purchased out of pocket, it costs more than my monthly income at present. I asked if it would be okay to try to get it covered anyways, in case I got lucky, and she assured me that the office's team of people that handle insurance would give it the old college try. Even so, I was flabbergasted when I got the message that it was approved, and quickly. They must have documented my struggle with remembering my doses so well.  

Being approved for this medication made such a world of difference for me. I am more on top of my levels than I ever have been now that I don't need to worry about setup and cleanup (for injections) or when I need to shower (for the gel). While I've always used alarms and calendar reminders, those fit together so much better for the oral medication than the gel or the injections, and it's been a seamless transition and an absolute game changer.  

It made me even more grateful for the hard work this office does, because it's their hard work that makes my life better -- not the thumbs up or down from a possibly-algorithm-driven insurance company (or program). Actual humans saw the value in asking for this medication, to hope against hope, and actual humans enacted that hope and put that question forth to get it approved based on documentation that must have been painstaking and meticulous. While I get to see the people scheduling my appointments, making reminder calls, making referrals, writing prescriptions, doing skin checks, explaining terminology, and so on, I never get to thank the people fighting in the insurance approval trenches for me, to get me the care I needed to feel safe and comfortable in my skin.  

To those lovely souls making the appointments and coordinating referrals and resources, whose warm greetings and goodbyes make me feel so welcome, thank you. To the providers and their excellent care, which has made a world of difference in my quality of life, thank you. To the people who fight the insurance companies to make sure I get what I need... thank you all, and thank you to everyone else behind the scenes whom I have not mentioned. All of these people and so many more are the ones who make this place such a great resource in our community. I think this is a resource we need to protect, especially because it has already protected so many of us in ways we might never stop to imagine. My life is so much better thanks to the care that Planned Parenthood has provided for me for so many years now.  

Thank you.