Planned Parenthood is the American affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation. This institution provides assistance to singles, teens, couples and children, not only for sexual issues but also for many other reproductive health care problems. Planned Parenthood supports sexual education, pro-choice policies and insists on more government coverage in health programs. Given the fact that Planned Parenthood offers surgical abortions on request, the organization is often subject to very heated debates.
Margret Sanger founded Planned Parenthood, in New York, in 1916, as the first American birth control center. Gradually, the organization became actively involved in supporting women’s sexual rights and choices. There are over 850 affiliates of Planned Parenthood working around the United States, and the clinics usually provide services such as:
– Abortion;
– Counseling on pregancy issues;
– Birth control solutions;
– Emergency contraception;
– Medical tests and screening for breast, testicular and ovary cancer;
– Pregnancy medical tests;
– Treatment for sexually transmitted diseases;
– Hormonal treatments for andropause and menopause;
– Sexual education and more.
The government allocates considerable funds to Planned Parenthood, yearly, but there are other private sponsors of the organizations such as Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Nevertheless, there is also pressure on the government to stop the support for Planned Parenthood, and many for-life organization make efforts in that direction. The right to abortion that the Planned Parenthood supports is considered very controversial and there is a number of laws that the organization fights against.
The organization opposes all forms of restrictions in its support for complete sexual freedom of choices. Whether it be right or wrong, that is for everyone to tell for his/her part. Yet, it seems that the open discussion of abstinence and birth control methods is far more efficient for teens’ sexual education, and so far, this policy has given good results. If Planned Parenthood succeeds in reducing the number of abortions and inherent emotional traumas that accompany such interventions, it means that the birth control efficiency of their methods deserves public recognition.
Moreover, Planned Parenthood presently provides support for the testing of new contraceptives, but they remain controversial for a huge number of reasons. Some matters have been the subject of public debates while other have never reached the eyes or ears of the media. The White House’s policy towards abortion may influence future policies and funds allocation to one side or another. We’ll see to which…
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