What does Planned Parenthood really do? Do you think they just hand out birth control pills and perform abortions? Think again.

The issue regarding government policy and support of Planned Parenthood has been highly discussed in recent news.

A distinct lack of awareness regarding Planned Parenthood’s relevant function in society has downplayed the gravity of the situation: Planned Parenthood provides life saving services that span to cover more than simply birth control and abortion.

While Planned Parenthood is commonly associated with providing the birth control pill, they also offer information and services concerning vasectomies, IUDs, the birth control patch, the birth control shot, cervical caps, and literally a dozen other options and alternatives many of you might not have ever known about.

Not only does Planned Parenthood offer treatment and testing for STDs and STIs, like HIV, HPV, Chlamydia, and Herpes, they also offer information for every area of overall health and wellbeing. Whether serving as a resource regarding menopause or providing services for endometriosis, Planned Parenthood serves as a safe haven in which anyone and everyone can receive qualified aid.

Pregnancy tests, the morning after pill, yearly exams, and more are all services and topics that Planned Parenthood can offer and provide information about.

This issue surrounding Planned Parenthood is not isolated only to women; it is equally as relevant to men.

Cancer affects individuals and families from every social class and demographic. There are few of us who do not know someone affected by prostate cancer, breast cancer, or cervical cancer, among many others.

Surprisingly, one of the sets of services frequently left out of the conversation surrounding Planned Parenthood is their cancer-oriented service. Planned Parenthood provides crucial services in preventing and recognizing breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and cervical cancer by providing mammograms, breast exams, colonoscopies, pap smears, and virtually every other relevant procedure and test.

Men are not absent from this equation; Planned Parenthood provides access to life-saving services for individuals at risk for prostate and testicular cancer. Access to screenings necessary for identifying the presence of these cancers is just a small way in which Planned Parenthood serves a vital function to every individual in the country.

The services offered by Planned Parenthood are far-reaching and utterly vital to the health of the nation.

Sex is a consensual act; all parties involved are equally accountable for the health and safety of themselves and their partners. As such, Planned Parenthood, even if you only consider its most basic, stereotypical services, is a cornerstone in the livelihoods of individuals everywhere.

It can be easy to think of Planned Parenthood in the scope commonly depicted in movies: a place for high schoolers to get abortions or birth control, which is not necessarily inaccurate nor inherently negative, by any means. However, glancing at the wide variety of services offered at Planned Parenthood shows what a startlingly narrow perception that is: Planned Parenthood is so much more.

To discount Planned Parenthood as a facility relevant to a small sector of society is simply an illusion.

Legislation and policy affecting Planned Parenthood affects all of us: male or female, young or old, rich or poor. And, in this case, ignorance is not bliss. Ignorance of the role and value of Planned Parenthood can cause severe harm and repercussions.