By Lindsey Nguyen
With heated debates about abortion across the United States, Planned Parenthood has struggled to float amidst the harsh waves of Pro-Lifers, people who protest the practice and legality of abortion. Many Pro-Lifers have campaigned for funds to be removed from Planned Parenthood because the company offers abortions and directs women to a local abortion clinic. Most students feel that it won’t benefit them at that point in life, but there are many more services that Planned Parenthood provides.
- Birth Control: There are many different methods of birth controls that people can use to prevent pregnancy. As teenagers, we can be unaware or unable to get certain types of protection. Planned Parenthood provides birth control pills, birth control implants, condoms, female condoms, vasectomies, birth control information and more. Planned Parenthood wants people to be able to choose when and how people want to get pregnant in order to help prevent pregnancy before it happens.
- Emergency Contraceptives: Accidents happen. Especially when teenagers don’t entirely understand what they’re doing. However, Planned Parenthood offers emergency contraceptives, also known as Morning-After pills. These pills can be used up to five days after unprotected intercourse.
- Pregnancy Testing and Health: Pregnancy can happen at any age and at any time. Pregnancy tests, prenatal services, childbirth classes and postpartum exams can be done through Planned Parenthood. It also offers adoption services, adoption referrals and pregnancy planning services.
- Abortion: In the event, a woman has an unwanted pregnancy, Planned Parenthood can provide an abortion referral, abortion, abortion pill and more. As citizens of California, minors do not need parental consent to be given these services. However, it is highly recommended that at least one person knows in case of an emergency.
- HIV Services and STD Testing, Treatment and Vaccines: Unprotected sex can lead to the spread of HIV or STDs. It is best for teenagers and adults to take precautions and get protected. Planned Parenthood offers tests for HIV, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Herpes and more. Planned Parenthood also provides vaccines to prevent many STDs.
- LGBT Services: In high school, many of us are discovering who we are. Along the way, we can get lost. Planned Parenthood can help you. It provides information on the LGBT community, hormone therapy for transgender patients, service referrals, support groups and more.
- Women’s Medical Health Service: When puberty starts, a woman’s body begins to grow and change. With these new changes, there come more responsibilities. Breast exams, cervical cancer screenings, Pap tests, UTI testing and treatment and vaginal infection testing and treatment all come with womanhood. Luckily, Planned Parenthood provides services to help with this.
- Men’s Medical Health Service: Like women, men undergo body changes when puberty hits. Changes lead to responsibilities that men must follow through with to optimize their health. Planned Parenthood provides “Jock Itch” exams and treatment, testicular and prostate cancer screening and more.
- General Health Care: Planned Parenthood doesn’t only tend to patients who have had or plan to have intercourse. Patients can come in for basic health services like cholesterol, colon cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure and thyroid screening.
Yes, Planned Parenthood performs abortions and refers patients to abortion centers, but there offer many other health services. It doesn’t matter why someone goes to Planned Parenthood. What matters is that they are seeking medical attention and looking out for their health. Defunding Planned Parenthood can prevent that.
