The opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of The Prowler.

When people hear the words “planned parenthood,” they immediately think of abortions. What people don’t realize is that, aside from abortions (which are only offered in some locations), Planned Parenthood offers many crucial services. Thinking of Planned Parenthood as a place made solely for abortion puts many women at risk of not getting the health care they need. 

Women who don’t have access to health insurance go to Planned Parenthood for many different services, including cancer screenings, fertility and menopause testing, referrals, and treatments. Their doctors do colposcopies and offer cryotherapy. In addition to the many medical services they provide, Planned Parenthood gives women a shoulder to lean on. 

The 104-year-old foundation may be viewed as a place just for women, but the organization also offers health care for men. Their men’s services include vasectomies, STD and infertility testing, and testicular and prostate cancer screenings. 

Not only does Planned Parenthood offer in-person services, their online website has extremely important information from consent to relationships to gender identity to a whole section just for teenagers to have a space to learn about themselves and that what they’re going through is completely normal.  It talks about the LGBTQ+  community and gives people a chance to learn more about important topics school never taught them. It is also our nation’s largest provider of sex education.

Sadly, abortion has become a political topic led mainly by conservative men. The leaders of our country want to get rid of women’s right to have a safe abortion. People want to make it completely illegal for a woman to make a decision over her own body.

What most people don’t realize is that making abortion illegal won’t stop it; it just makes it more dangerous. That’s why viewing Planned Parenthood as an abortion clinic is dangerous.

Many people come to Planned Parent when they can’t afford a doctor.

Abolishing Planned Parenthood would make it impossible for some men–and women–to get the care they need