Defunding, the dreaded word that has been threatening the continuation of Planned Parenthood, which has been providing Americans with reproductive health services for 100 years.
This is not a new battle that this health care provider has had to face. Republicans have tried to defund P.P. eight times. Talk about being sore losers!
Fast forward to 2017, Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan is attempting to repeal Obamacare which directly affects the future of Planned Parenthood.
One might ask themselves: “Well who cares if P.P. gets defunded, its not like its going to directly affect me, right?”
Well friends, that is where you are gravely mistaken — let’s talk about the numerous services P.P. provides for people:
- STI/STD Testing and Treatment
- Contraception
- Cancer Screening and Prevention
- Abortion Services
- Pregnancy Tests
- Prenatal Services
- Adoption Referrals
Not too comfortable with talking to your parents about sex and everything it entails? P.P. has you covered.
Now to those pro-lifers that have given P.P. such a hard time over the years; at their facilities, abortions make up only three percent of services provided. Take that pro-lifers!
That three percent is what is being used to justify stripping million of Americans of free reproductive health services.
That percentage is so low because people, regardless of insurance status, are receiving the reproductive health care they need in order to prevent unwanted pregnancies, and thus abortions.
This on going battle of pro-life Republicans meddling into women’s rights to choose over their own bodies is dangerously terrifying.
Women do not just use birth control to prevent pregnancy. Many women take birth control to treat medical conditions that interrupt their daily lives.
Some of those conditions are Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Endometriosis, Amenorrhea, Premenstrual Syndrome and acne.
All of which are hormonal imbalances that can be regulated by the contraceptive pill.
I can not imagine what it will be like for millions of Americans to have to pay an excessive amount of money once treatments such as the contraceptive pill are no longer free.
P.P. is so much more than abortion services than those against it would like you to believe.
It is a safe haven where one can comfortably be treated no matter what economical status one may be.
What can you do to help?
Planned Parenthood could use all of the support it can get.