Planned Parenthood is the American affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation. This institution provides assistance to couples, singles, children and teens, not only for sexual issues but also for many other reproductive health care problems. It militates for pro-choice policies, sexual education and more comprehensive health programs provided by the government. 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. In time the number of services provided increased, and the focus rapidly switched to women’s right in terms of sexual freedom and choices. At present, Planned Parenthood has over 850 offices all over the US, providing a wide number of services and facilities such as:

-abortion;
-pregnancy counseling;
-birth control services;
-emergency contraception;
-medical tests and screening for breast, testicular and ovary cancer;
-pregnancy medical tests;
-treatment for STD;
-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 are many non-profit for-life organizations that lobby the government to stop funding Planned Parenthood. 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. Each of us has the right to be in favor or against such attitudes, depending on what matters to us. Yet, the open access to sexual education and birth control methods, decreases the number of unplanned pregnancies. If Planned Parenthood manages to reduce the number of abortions and inherent emotional traumas that derive from such interventions, it means that their efforts in favor of efficient birth control are worthy of appreciation.

Moreover, Plan Parenthood supports 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 tip the scales to one side or another. We’ll see to which…

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