Finally Open in Long Beach: Planned Parenthood for Teens

After a drawn-out process of expansion, Long Beach finally has its own Planned Parenthood center. The community desire and need for health services such as cancer screenings, annual check-ups, and sexually transmitted disease screenings, will finally be met by this branch of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles. Adrianne Black, the co-CEO of Planned Parenthood Los Angeles remarked that the community need has been remarkable in Long Beach, and that the community members are relieved to have these services available to their youth.

The rate of contracted sexually transmitted diseases in Los Angeles County is bad, compared to national statistics, but it’s nothing compared to Long Beach’s reports. The Planned Parenthood at the Lakewood Center is nearest to Long Beach, and for many years it has been the busiest of the 18 branches in the Los Angeles County region. Many of the people visiting the Lakewood Center admit that they drove from Long Beach for services like birth control. Without affordable contraceptives and birth control, many teens are forced to take changes and risk their futures on luck.

The Long Beach facility opened in February, but did not start operating full time until September. A private open house exhibit of informational materials will take place in September on the 22nd. During this economic recession, hardships have befallen families that would usually not require Planned Parenthood services. The services available at the 19 facilities in Los Angeles County are able to fill the need for contraceptives and check-ups, in addition to advising people on how to qualify for Medicaid, and where to seek additional services.

Wellness exams for women are among the most popular services that community members request, in addition to sexually transmitted diseases screenings, and birth control. Only 14% of customers at Planned Parenthood are male, and usually those are accompanied by females.

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Using the Pill as Birth Control

The decision to have children or controlling the number of children that a person or couple has is a personal matter. They may decide to use some form of a birth control method to help to control pregnancies and a growing family.

The Birth Control Pill is probably the most popular form of pregnancy control used by women and men. In most cases it’s safe, effective and convenient as a way to avoid pregnancy. The pill is popular too because it is small, discreet and you don’t have to “do” anything to get it to work or wait for it to start working before engaging in sex.

“The Pill” as it is called was first introduced in the early part of the ’60s and essentially revolutionized birth control. Although different methods of course were used prior to that time, when the Pill came along, it quickly became the preferred control method of choice because of all the benefits it offered.

Alternative uses of the Pill also include the Patch that essentially works the same by blocking potential pregnancies from being created. Just as the Pill blocks ovulation and re-balances the woman’s hormones, the Patch does the same thing with her hormones and makes her body think that the eggs have been released. The only difference however in the Pill and the Patch is that with the Pill the woman will still have a monthly menstrual cycle, but with the Patch there will likely be an absence of the menstrual cycle for anywhere from two to three months at a time.

The Pill is still a very popular method available today although there are many other different types of birth control methods available on the market. The Pill is likely to be one of this methods that will be around for quite some time since it gives the user so much flexibility and convenience with their choices in reproduction issues.

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Teaching Preschoolers About Sex

The Right Time to Learn

Preschoolers are very inquisitive little folks with a never-ending thirst for information. Their brains are like small sponges and they love to just soak up information of all types. Learning about something awkward like sex education is never easy, but imagine having to teach it as well! So when is the best time to learn about sex? For most parents of preschoolers, they will likely agree that teaching their preschooler about something like that is one subject that they would prefer to hold off from doing as long as possible.

Teaching it Slowly

As awkward as it may seem, it doesn’t have to be grueling or hard to do. The best approach to teaching preschoolers about sex is to take it very slow and give information to them in small chunks instead of all at once. Let them digest what you’re saying, ask them questions and then move to other subject areas as they are able to grasp what you’re saying.

Make your teaching style on the level where they’re able to understand what you’re saying. Don’t necessarily use “baby” talk or terms, but adjust your teaching style to bring it to a level that they can understand. Use visuals and pictures where it is appropriate to help you teach concepts as well. Children love to ‘see’ what they’re learning and it helps you more easily teach them as they use their imagination while you’re talking.

Happy Results

Young children can be a great joy to teach, even with something as awkward as sex eduction. You’ll be proud of the time that you spent carefully teaching them about an important subject because they’ll be able to understand more about their bodies, acceptable behavior and how to react in certain situations. It will be a good thing for both the child and the parent.

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Using Effective Birth Control

Anyone who uses any form of birth control or are interested in finding a good birth control needs to understand how they work and how they’re likely to work with your body in preventing pregnancy. Birth control methods are meant to stop the sperm from joining with the female’s egg and creating a pregnancy. This can be achieved in several ways including the use of:

- Birth control pills
Probably the most commonly used form of avoiding pregnancy because it is easy, convenient and flexible for most women to use. Taking a pill a day for 20-24 days out of the month is what many women prefer to do and not be bothered with other ways.

- Condoms
Condoms are good for preventing the flow of sperm to unite with the woman’s egg, but they are also great for protecting the person against certain sexually-transmitted diseases. Although they are not fail-proof for pregnancy, they do offer good protection.

- The Withdrawal Method
Very common but also very ineffective since the procedure is not guaranteed. The presence of sperm is in drops of semen that are excreted during sex and has the potential to unite with the egg, even before ejaculation. Pregnancy can and often does occur with this procedure, which is why it is not a suggested remedy for helping to avoid a pregnancy.

Some of these methods will work, and some of them will not. Choosing to use any of these forms of birth controls is a matter of preference. Many people will decide to test them or use several methods at once for more effectiveness and to ensure that there are no slip-ups. With whatever method is chosen, the main thing is to be sure that it is right for the person, their lifestyle and that they fully understand how each method works and the mechanics of each style.

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Schools and Sex Education

Educating youngsters on the subject of sex and the topics that surround it can be a challenge for many adults. They may feel awkward to talk with such a sensitive top as sex with pre-pubescet or young adults. It is something that is important and needs to be discussed, but doing do so in an easy manner may not be something that is doable.

Many schools have sex education classes that they use to introduce children to the subject of sex education. Some of the classes and subjects are very thorough and exhaustive in their teachings. They talk about everything from the sexual reproductive system, sexually transmitted diseases and even topics on dealing with sex in social situations.

Some parents like the idea of scold interacting with their children and teaching them such an awkward subject. The parent can act as a support to what the school has already taught, and may choose to simply clarify something from a class or to further answer questions that couldn’t be answered in the classroom.

If parents choose to help the schools while they teach the kids about sex, they should check with the school on the proposed sex education curriculum and talk to the teacher who will be the instructor on the subject. Ask the teacher about their own benchmark goals for the class and their approach on how the subject will be handled. This is a great time to also voice concerns on certain topics that you do NOT want discussed in front of your child. They may ask you to sign a permission slip either way, but it’s primarily to give the children credit for the class instructional time. It also gives them a form of written permission on what to expose to and limit the children from on the subject of sex.

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Are Condoms Safe Birth Control?

Coloured condoms
Image via Wikipedia

Birth control methods of varying kinds are as probably as safe as the person who uses them makes them to be. There may be instances where the product or item will work and block a pregnancy being created or where it will fail and pregnancy occurs. Generally, if the instructions on using the product is followed, the desired results will happen, but this is not always a guarantee.

Using condoms as a method of birth control is one such method that is not guaranteed to work at all times either. Condoms break and tear, and depending on the quality of the material, can leak and produce undesirable results.

Generally speaking, condoms are an effective means of birth control if they are used correctly, but nothing is a guarantee. If a person wants to ensure that they work as they should, they should invest in the highest quality condoms available on the market. This may cost them a lot more than they’re prepared to spend, but if quality is important for them, they should consider it.

To further ensure that the condoms will be effective, they may also want to consider using another back up means for their birth control needs, like the use of The Pill, the Patch or a cream contraceptive that is also effective.

As with any forms of birth control methods, following the directions carefully and having a backup plan can help to ensure that there won’t be any accidents. Also, while using condoms, be sure to check for holes or leaks in the product before using them. Small tears can sometimes occur in the product during manufacturing or transport. It can also happen if the product is old and has been in its package for a while, but these instances are very unlikely. In any case however, it’s better to be aware than have any surprises occur.

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Tax Funding for Planned Parenthood in NJ Decided Soon

Governor Christ Christie of Trenton, New Jersey, is not a fan of Planned Parenthood tax funding. Indeed, he vetoed a bill that would have provided a necessary $7.5 million in state funding from taxpayers to support the facilities in the New Jersey area. What will teens in New Jersey do without this necessary option for sexual health and education? Christ doesn’t care.

The state legislature will be able to vote in order to possibly override Christie’s decision, in order to keep Planned Parenthood operational in the “Jersey Shore” state. Governor Christie referred to Planned Parenthood as an abortion business, and said that during this recession in finances, nationally and locally, it is not pragmatic to give $7.5 million to Planned Parenthood because the state currently has a deficit exceeding $11 billion!

Though Christie claims his motives were purely driven by the economic woes of New Jersey, he did win support of pro-life advocates back in July when he vetoed the bill, leaving family planning in the dust. The funding that is being debated would support 58 family planning clinics across the state, only 29 of which are actually Planned Parenthood branches. Steven Ertelt of LifeNews.com wrote that Planned Parenthood is “the nation’s largest abortion chain” in his article that supports Christie, though portentously un-biased.

After Christie’s cut, the legislature of New Jersey immediately went to work to approve a bill to restore the vetoed one, winning in a 30 to 10 vote. Though, Republicans seem uncomfortable falling out of line with their own party’s Governor. Assemblyman Lampitt, a female Democrat and supporter of Planned Parenthood funding, is working overtime trying to save this initiative to support the youth of New Jersey. Lampitt has remarked that Christie is leaving women “out in the cold” with bad influences like “Jersey Shore” and no where to turn for sexual health advice and contraceptives.

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Anti-Choice Wingnuts or Educated Haters: How Planned Parenthood is Being Reviewed

According to 2008 data, said Jill Stanek with the support of the infamous American Life League, Planned Parenthood offers little more to communities than abortion services. Though the American Life League, for their part, remarked that their findings are based solely on data about pregnant patients of Planned Parenthood, Jill Stanek has openly reported these findings in a way meant to imply that they are general. Her recent article, “Planned Parenthood: Abortion Virtually Only Service,” is not at all accurate or the writing of an educated person. From a bland title, to a grossly inaccurate conclusion, Stanek writes every word with colorful bias and pretense.

The graphs presented in her article are misleading, and meant to rally the support of Pro-Life readers and to make Pro-Choicers waver, too. As though her misleading information is not enough to add gray cloud coverage to anyone’s perspective, she peppers it with remarks like “You may need a magnifying glass to spot the adoption and prenatal care bars” (on her graphs, in contrast to the ‘abortion bar’).

Neither do Planned Parenthood centers pretend to be or want to be adoption centers. Though they do offer those services to community members who are distraught and seeking help and information, it is not a primary service that they provide. What concerns some readers, as is apparent from the comments on Stanek’s article, before they are periodically deleted, is that the “anti-choicers” don’t believe that women, or female patients rather, have a brain. Supposedly, the people who enter Planned Parenthood are being coerced into having abortions, where they would otherwise keep the child, or give it away to an agency. The reports of the American Life League and Jill Stanek on Planned Parenthood’s services fail to remark at all on the other findings from the document where they gathered their data from 2008, such as the rate of guests to Planned Parenthood who merely sought contraceptives (35%).

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“Safe Surrender” Law Ignored, Baby Dies at Planned Parenthood

A law was passed by the General Assembly back in 2001 that was meant to prevent tragedies like the one that occured recently at Planned Parenthood in the Winston-Salem area. The body of a newborn infant was discovered, left abandoned. In spite of the law from 2001 that would have protected the mother of this infant in her needless crime, she chose to leave the baby without resources. The law, in fact, absolves any mother of any criminal charges that she could otherwise face for leaving an infant, as long as she follows the provisions. Safe havens include any and all churches and hospitals. Without asking questions, these places should accept a baby, and allow the mother to leave without identifying herself.

Police reported that a baby girl, premature, was found outside of the Winston-Salem Planned Parenthood in a storage bin on Maplewood Avenue. The efforts made by local police to discover who the mother may be, or to find anyone with information about this incident, have all failed. An autopsy has been conducted on the baby girl, but results will not be made public until October.

“Safe Surrender” only exists in 30 states, including North Carolina. However, an abandoned baby is still penalized by criminal action, one handed over to safe havens will be safe and leave the parents blameless. Other safe havens that are less well-known include police and fire stations, nonprofit health centers, and social services offices that are staffed. Legal penalties for not following the “Safe Surrender” law vary by state. In the North Carolina budget crisis, the $250,000 that was intended to advertise the new “Safe Surrender” law, was cut from the budget.

22 newborns have been found dead in North Carolina between the years of 1987 and 2002, but the law was prompted by one especially disturbing discovery of a newborn in a landfill in 2000. Mothers who are scared and unsure of how to handle their newborns can safely deposit them in safe havens in North Carolina, now, which the state hopes will reduce these unnecessary deaths.

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Information About Planned Parenthood, and Their Services

As the leading national reproductive health care provide, and the leading sexual health care provider and advocate, Planned Parenthood is well known throughout the nation, though often with misconceptions about the agenda and mission of Planned Parenthood. Sexual health care services that are vital in our communities for the well being of young men and women are provided by Planned Parenthood now, and have been provided for more than 94 years, already. Information about sexuality, and about sex education, is also available for those who need advice and counseling. In the current year, Planned Parenthood employs more than 30,000 people, including both volunteers, and paid employees.

More than five million people are treated and advised by Planned Parenthood’s trained and caring staff. Sexual health and reproductive health care are important facets of communities, and Planned Parenthood has provided these necessary services so that those who are disadvantaged have access to equal medical care. The Planned Parenthood Federation of America founded the international branch, the International Planned Parenthood Federation, which now serves more than ten million patients annually.

The core service that is most vital for the teens who access Planned Parenthood is contraception and the pre-requisite education, information, and care. Nearly 11 million services were provided back in 2008 to more than five million people. This is believed to have prevented nearly 600,000 unwanted pregnancies. Most visitors of Planned Parenthood facilities are living below the national poverty line, which makes Planned Parenthood their only option for medical attention for sexual-related care. In addition to the great works being done by the core branches of Planned Parenthood, there are an additional 87 affiliates, which makes 912 offices nationally where people can seek help and attention. Providing a good sexual education for visitors is a vital role for a community member, as is providing services that people could not otherwise afford.

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