With this year being an election year, a lot of political problems that no one really cares about the rest of the time is now being forced into the spotlight. Recently, one of the subjects to be bashed and hated, most of the time by Republicans, is Planned Parenthood.
Planned Parenthood, by definition from their website's "About Us" section, is "a trusted health care provider, an informed educator, a passionate advocate, and a global partner helping similar organizations around the world."
So, if you don't keep up with debate topics, I'm sure you are wondering what the heck a health care provider has to do with the President of the United States... well, a lot. Planned Parenthood assists women with the big "A" bomb that drives people crazy just by the sound of it... abortion. Christians usually don't like anyone who has anything to do with abortions because well obviously... (Don't mind me tip-toeing around the abortion debate I don't want to fall into). As a christian woman, who is the daughter of a preacher may I just add and is well-educated on The Bible - I don't hate Planned Parenthood, I stand with Planned Parenthood, and here is why you should too:
1. Abortion services only makes up 3% of their used services
aka, majority of pregnant women who walk into a Planned Parenthood building, walk out still with a child in their stomach.2. They do more than just abortions
Since I just dropped the 3% bomb on you, I'm sure you're wondering "well, I've only ever heard of them being as these huge abortion monsters, what the heck else do they do?" A lot, actually. Majority of their services (42%) deal with STD/STI treatments, 34% deal with contraceptions (birth control pills, IUD, birth control shots, birth control patch, birth control implants, vaginal rings, all that fun business), 11% deal with other women health issues (yeast infections, endometriosis, pap tests, HPV tests, pelvic exams, infertility issues, UTIs, ect.) 9% deal with cancer screenings and prevention (cervical cancer, ovarian cancer & breast cancer majority), and 1% for other services that I'll mention in different points. (Let's not get ahead of ourselves).
3. They don't turn people away
Whether it's no insurance or an inability to pay, Planned Parenthood will not turn you away - unfortunately, unlike most doctors and private practices today.4. Sex Education
They do a much better job than the gym coach from Mean Girls on this one. Planned Parenthood provides helpful and accurate sex education for parents to take back and teach their teens - which will then avoid teenage unplanned pregnancy and teenage abortions.5. They help men too
Yes men, you can benefit from Planned Parenthood's services as well. In fact, there are a bunch of services that will help you. Planned Parenthood can help if you are having issues that involve things like birth control for men (vasectomies or education on abstinence, condoms, outercouse or withdrawal), male infertility, testicular cancer, urinary tract infections, ect.6. Whether it's legal or not...
Okay, I'm going to tip-toe around the abortion argument again... let's stay open minded. Whether abortion is legal or not, if a woman really wants to have one... she's gonna do it. I'M NOT SAYING THIS IS A GOOD THING TO DO, DO NOT HEAR THAT - but I would much rather have her be safe with a professional and educated doctor, than just shoving coat hangers or other things up her hoo-haw.6. They're huge body positivity activists
They've got a whole section of their website devoted to body image and some answers of FAQ that people struggling with their body image might have.
So there it is, Planned Parenthood isn't this child murdering monster that the media tries to make them out to be. They're body positive thinkers, cancer preventers, sex educators, and will help you figure out a plan. For more information on Planned Parenthood, you can check out their website.