I would like start off this article by saying one thing: Planned Parenthood isn't just about abortion. I am not going to talk about politics either, but evaluate how Planned Parenthood is a necessity in today's society, and why if you are opposed to it, you’re making a huge, and probably uneducated, mistake.

Planned Parenthood was first created in 1916 and now has about 800 centers throughout the country. They provide a multitude of healthcare services to women, teenagers, and men who do not have access to reasonably priced care or do not have health insurance. They provide health care for those who otherwise would not have access to it, which should never be a controversy, nor should it ever be political.

"As you can see abortion services account for about 3 percent of Planned Parenthood’s activities. That’s less than cancer screening and prevention (16 percent), STD testing for both men and women (35 percent), and contraception (also 35 percent). About 80 percent of Planned Parenthood’s users are over age 20, and 75 percent have incomes below 150 percent of the poverty line. Planned Parenthood itself estimates it prevents more than 620,000 unintended pregnancies each year, and 220,000 abortions. It’s also worth noting that federal law already forbids Planned Parenthood from using the funds it receives from the government for abortions."

There are a few facts we still cannot ignore. The unemployment rate is high, and the number of people who are living without health insurance is still very large. By supporting the shutdown of Planned Parenthood, you are taking away a critical service to those who do not have the luxury of health insurance or a specific doctor who can fit their specific needs. You are forcing teens and families to forgo testing for various cancers and diseases, as well as prenatal care, which could not just cost them their future fertility, but could also cost them their lives.

The current fight may be about abortion, but this organization is mainly about reproductive and contraceptive health. If they lose funding, all of those healthcare services listed above will become less available. Those with more money have many other ways to receive such services and already get them elsewhere, so the lack of concern for those who cannot afford it is never an issue to them.

Planned Parenthood should not be about politics; It should be about humanity. It should be about providing birth control for those who cannot provide for their children, cannot do it for health reasons, or simply do not want a child. It should be about providing low-cost prenatal care for those who want children. It should be about access to low-cost medical care. It should be about providing screening for cervical cancer, breast cancer, and HIV.

There is no explanation for why anyone in Congress or even any woman would consciously choose not to support that.

Shutting down this organization threatens the lives of women at a much higher rate than 3 percent, which is the percentage of procedures that happen surrounding abortion.

Until a better way to make sure that men, women, and teens have access to these healthcare services arises, it’s irresponsible to try to shut them down. Please, take politics out of the picture and think about the women in your life.

Think about your body and your future.

After you put those things into consideration, you can tell me if Planned Parenthood should close or not.