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Planned Parenthood Federation of America

Planned Parenthood Federation of America is a nonprofit organization that seeks to advance reproductive freedom in the United States and abroad through (a) the provision of reproductive health services, (b) sex education, and (c) advocacy. Planned Parenthood originated in 1916 when Margaret Sanger, Ethel Byrne, and Fania Mindell opened a birth control clinic in Brooklyn, New York. In the 1920s, Sanger formally established both the American Birth Control League and the Birth Control Clinical Research Bureau. These two organizations merged in 1939 to form the Birth Control Federation of America. In 1942, the Birth Control Federation of America changed its name to Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The name remains unchanged to this day.

Health Services

Planned Parenthood is probably most well-known for providing health care services. It has 860 health centers across the United States that provide medical services to nearly 3 million people each year. Planned Parenthood clinics offer a wide range of services, including birth control; routine gynecological care, such as pap smears and breast exams; testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections; pregnancy testing; emergency contraception; abortion; and voluntary sterilization for men and women. While Planned Parenthood is often thought of as a women's health clinic, the number of men turning to Planned Parenthood for reproductive health services has been significantly increasing in recent years.

Sex Education

In addition to direct patient services, Planned Parenthood provides comprehensive sex education. It offers education for parents and teens through family-oriented programs; brings expert speakers to schools, churches, and community centers; and holds workshops and training seminars for teachers and health care professionals. Planned Parenthood publishes a number of resources that are available to the public, including pamphlets, books, newsletters, and videotapes. Through its many Web sites, it also uses the Internet to distribute information. On its teen Web sites (http://www.teenwire.com), for example, people can find interactive videos that illustrate a wide range of normal-looking genitalia and demonstrate how to put on a condom. The Web sites have expanded, however, to do more than simply offer educational resources. They now have an online store, where people can purchase items such as T-shirts, books, and Planned Parenthood logo condoms. In Oregon and Washington, people can order birth control and emergency contraception online.

Advocacy

Planned Parenthood also spends considerable time, financial resources, and organizational capacity doing advocacy work. Staff members and volunteers lobby lawmakers, engage in litigation, and conduct voter education. The goal of their advocacy work is to protect women's access to safe and legal abortion and to promote family planning. Planned Parenthood is a key player in policy debates on reproductive health care and reproductive rights in the United States and abroad. The international division of Planned Parenthood is active in over 20 developing nations. It is also a founding member of the International Planned Parenthood Federation and maintains three regional offices in Nairobi (Kenya), Bangkok (Thailand), and Miami (United States).

  • Planned Parenthood Federation of America
  • birth control
Rachael B.Kulick
http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781412964517.n326
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