Planned Parenthood Offers Trans Health Services

Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest is now providing transgender health services, a move that is heralded by one of the most well-known transgender residents and leaders in the Coachella Valley.

“Seeing Planned Parenthood come so far, as one of the leading experts in hormone replacement therapy is so exciting,” Thomi Clinton, executive director and CEO of the Cathedral City-based Transgender Community Coalition, told Uken Report. “With such an organization that has a long history of supporting the LGBTQ community and funding LGBTQ events to start this, I know that my people will be in good hands that not only care in the office but outside, too.”

Transgender Community Coalition (TCC) devotes its time and energy to advocating for the transgender, intersex, queer, gender non-conforming and socially and politically under-represented members of the community.

CEO Darrah DiGiorgio Johnson said she is proud to be able to offer the new transgender health services.

“We understand that transgender rights are reproductive rights and reproductive rights are transgender rights,” DiGiorgio Johnson said in introducing the services. “We’ve heard stories from our transgender patients that these are much-needed services. Transgender people, especially transgender people of color, experience greater difficulty accessing quality due to systemic barriers and discrimination. That’s not OK with us. “

She did not stop there.

“To the transgender community I want to say to you, ‘We see you. We hear you. We care about you. And, we care for you – no matter what.’ “

Why are transgender health services top of mind? A California Transgender Economic Health Survey prepared by the Transgender Law Center shows that some 30% of transgender Californians report that they have postponed care for illness or preventive care due to disrespect or discrimination from doctors or other health care providers. More than 40% did so because of economic barriers.

There are an estimated 27,000 transgender people in the Inland Empire alone, according to Clinton.

Medical staff at the San Diego-based Planned Parenthood of the Southwest is educated about transgender issues and etiquette, and respectful of individual patient needs and preferences. In addition to hormone therapy, health services can include birth control services, Pre-exposure prophylaxis (or PrEP) and PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis), sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing and treatment, abortion, and screenings for cervical and breast cancers.

Additional services include care coordination, referrals for care like laser hair removal or legal support, and referrals for other social services as needed.

All services offered at Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest are available to patients of all genders.

For patients already on hormones, they can transfer their care to Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest.

Billing staff are ready to help you figure out costs and payments for this service for both insured and uninsured patients. The State of California requires private and public-funded insurance plans to cover gender transition-related care. If you would like to learn more prior to your initial visit, you can do so by calling 1-888-743-PLAN.

For gender-affirming hormone therapy, Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest sees patients 18 and over. If you are under 18, the organization can refer you to other providers who can give you hormonal care.