There is a common misperception that Planned Parenthood is simply a place where teenage girls can get free birth control. While it is often the only resource for women to obtain, Planned Parenthood is more than a dispensary for pills and condoms.
Although it was founded on the premise that women should have control over their reproductive health, Planned Parenthood provides many more valuable services to a wide range of people.
This century-old organization is one of the leaders in providing sexual health education and resources. Although many women first begin going there when they become sexually active, teens are only a percentage of their client base. Patients do not need to be sexually active to make use of their services, and do not even need to be in a relationship. Many women continue to use their health services throughout their lives.
Women of all ages use Planned Parenthood when they do not have access to a primary care physician or gynecologist. In addition to contraceptives, women may need pregnancy testing, testing for sexually transmitted diseases, cancer screenings or simply an annual pelvic exam. These women may be old or young, married or single, and even in long periods of abstinence. Some clinics provide prenatal care as well.
While Planned Parenthood is an important resource for sexually active teens, most of their patients are in their twenties and thirties. Not everyone is sexually active in their teenage years. Many women choose to wit until they are older. They may seek contraceptive advice before beginning sexual activity. Others may have had little or no sexual health education in their younger years
Women of all ages, sexually active or not, choose Planned Parenthood because it is easily accessible and affordable. The organization is committed to providing these services to everyone regardless of age, and provides many services beyond birth control education.
