50 Facts About Planned Parenthood

The Origins of Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood's history is rich and complex, beginning over a century ago. Let's explore how it all started and evolved.

1. Origins: Planned Parenthood began in Brooklyn, New York, where Margaret Sanger opened the first birth control clinic in the United States in 1916.
2. Margaret Sanger: Sanger was a pioneering figure in the birth control movement. She faced arrest and jail time for violating the Comstock Act, which led to national attention and support for her cause.
3. American Birth Control League: In 1921, Sanger founded the American Birth Control League, which later became Planned Parenthood in 1942.
4. Name Change: The name change from American Birth Control League to Planned Parenthood was facilitated by a group of private citizens who organized the Citizens Committee for Planned Parenthood to aid in spreading scientific knowledge about birth control.

Planned Parenthood's Global Reach

Planned Parenthood isn't just a national organization; it has a significant global presence.

5. Global Presence: Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is a member of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), operating globally with partnerships in 12 countries.
6. Number of Clinics: PPFA consists of 159 medical and non-medical affiliates, operating over 600 health clinics in the United States.
7. Services Provided: Planned Parenthood offers a variety of reproductive health services, including abortions, prenatal care, miscarriage care, adoption referrals, cancer screening, and sexual education.

Abortion Services and Statistics

Abortion services are a significant part of Planned Parenthood's offerings. Here are some key statistics.

8. Abortions Performed: In the 2021-22 fiscal year, Planned Parenthood performed 392,715 abortions, an increase of over 18,000 (5%) from the previous year and a 20% increase over the past 10 years.
9. Abortion Ratio: For every adoption referral in 2021-22, Planned Parenthood performed 228 abortions. Over the past 10 annual reports, this ratio was approximately 134 abortions for every one adoption referral.
10. Patient Numbers: The number of patients seen by Planned Parenthood decreased by 80,000 from the previous year, with 2.05 million patients in 2021-22.

Other Reproductive Health Services

Planned Parenthood provides a range of other reproductive health services beyond abortions.

11. Prenatal Services: Prenatal services accounted for only 1.6% of Planned Parenthood’s services in 2021-22, with 6,316 prenatal services provided.
12. Miscarriage Care: Miscarriage care accounted for 0.9% of services, with 3,604 miscarriage-related services provided in 2021-22.
13. Adoption Referrals: Adoption referrals accounted for 0.4% of services, with 1,721 adoption referrals made in 2021-22.
14. Cancer Screening: Total cancer screening and prevention services have dropped by 71%, including declines of 72% for breast exams and 74% for pap tests since 2010.
15. Contraceptive Services: Contraceptive services are down 39% since their peak in 2009.

Financial Overview

Planned Parenthood's financials reveal a lot about its operations and funding sources.

16. Financials: In its 2022-23 annual report, Planned Parenthood reported nearly $2.1 billion in income and over $2.5 billion in net assets, an increase from the previous report.
17. Private Contributions: $997.5 million came from private contributions, up 44% from the previous report.
18. Taxpayer Funding: Taxpayer funding in the form of government grants, contracts, and Medicaid reimbursements hit $699.3 million, making up 34% of Planned Parenthood’s overall revenue.
19. Government Funding: Planned Parenthood’s taxpayer funding has been a significant source of revenue, with $1.9 million per day in Medicaid reimbursements alone.

Controversies and Criticisms

Planned Parenthood has faced numerous controversies and criticisms throughout its history.

20. History of Controversy: Throughout its history, PPFA and its member clinics have been the subject of support, criticism, controversy, protests, and violent attacks.
21. Margaret Sanger’s Legacy: Margaret Sanger’s legacy is complex, with some viewing her as a champion of women’s rights and others criticizing her for her views on eugenics and racism.
22. Eugenics Criticism: Planned Parenthood has faced criticism for its historical ties to eugenics, with some arguing that Sanger’s views on population control were rooted in racist ideologies.
23. Racial Disparities: There have been allegations of racial disparities in the services provided by Planned Parenthood, with some arguing that clinics are disproportionately located in minority communities.
24. Organ Trafficking Allegations: Planned Parenthood has faced allegations of illegal organ trafficking, although these claims have been largely debunked by fact-checking organizations.

Core Mission and Services

Critics and supporters often debate the core mission of Planned Parenthood.

25. Abortion as Core Mission: Critics argue that abortion is the core mission of Planned Parenthood, with over 97% of pregnancy resolution services being abortions in 2021-22.
26. Alternative Healthcare Providers: Proponents argue that women will not lose necessary healthcare if Planned Parenthood is defunded, as there are over 1,400 federally qualified health centers providing similar services.
27. Global Impact: Planned Parenthood Global works overseas to break down barriers to healthcare and champion reproductive freedom, partnering with over 70 organizations in Africa and Latin America.
28. Sex Education: Planned Parenthood provides sex education globally, aiming to change the way people think about sex and reproductive health.
29. Contraception Provision: Planned Parenthood Global helps its partners provide contraception, increasing access to safe abortion care and advocating for laws promoting women’s health.
30. Abortion Advocacy: The organization advocates for laws to make abortion legal in countries where it is still illegal, providing tens of thousands of people with sex education and reproductive health services.

Services Beyond Reproductive Health

Planned Parenthood offers a variety of services beyond just reproductive health.

31. Ultrasound Services: While Planned Parenthood technically performs ultrasounds, these are often used as a guide during abortions rather than for essential healthcare for pregnant women.
32. Prenatal Care Shortcomings: Planned Parenthood’s prenatal care services are limited, with most clinics referring patients out for prenatal care rather than providing it themselves.
33. Birth Control Risks: Critics argue that Planned Parenthood fails to mention the risks associated with hormonal birth control, including permanent damage or death.
34. Emergency Contraception: The organization offers emergency contraception but does not discuss the potential risks or side effects associated with it.
35. Abortion Pill Risks: Planned Parenthood provides the abortion pill but does not adequately inform patients about the potential risks of hemorrhaging and other complications.
36. Mammogram Services: Despite claims of providing mammograms, Planned Parenthood’s 2022 annual report does not list mammograms as a service, instead referring to breast exams that women can perform themselves.
37. HIV and STD Services: Planned Parenthood offers HIV services, including testing, treatment, and vaccines, as well as STD testing and treatment.
38. Men’s Health Services: The organization provides men’s health services, including general healthcare and reproductive health advice.
39. General Healthcare: Beyond reproductive health services, Planned Parenthood offers general healthcare services to its patients.

Advocacy and Community Outreach

Planned Parenthood is deeply involved in advocacy and community outreach efforts.

40. Historical Impact: The organization has played a significant role in shaping reproductive health policies and laws in the United States and globally.
41. Legal Battles: Planned Parenthood has been involved in numerous legal battles over the years, including challenges to funding and service provision.
42. Public Perception: The organization has faced significant public scrutiny, with some viewing it as a champion of women’s rights and others as an advocate for abortion.
43. Funding Sources: Planned Parenthood receives funding from a variety of sources, including private contributions and taxpayer funding through government grants and Medicaid reimbursements.
44. Revenue Breakdown: The organization’s revenue breakdown includes private contributions, taxpayer funding, and other sources, with private contributions increasing by 44% in the 2022-23 fiscal year.
45. Net Assets: As of the 2022-23 fiscal year, Planned Parenthood reported over $2.5 billion in net assets, indicating significant financial stability.
46. Patient Demographics: The organization serves a diverse patient base, with a focus on providing accessible reproductive health services to underserved communities.
47. Community Outreach: Planned Parenthood engages in extensive community outreach programs, aiming to educate the public about reproductive health and rights.
48. Advocacy Efforts: The organization is actively involved in advocacy efforts, pushing for policies that protect and expand reproductive rights.
49. Global Influence: Beyond its domestic impact, Planned Parenthood has a significant global influence, working with international partners to advance reproductive health and rights worldwide.
50. Service Data Lag: Planned Parenthood’s service data lags behind the rest of the information in their reports, with the 2022-23 report containing information on services provided in 2021-2022.

Final Thoughts on Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood has a long history, starting with Margaret Sanger's first birth control clinic in 1916. Over the years, it has grown into a major provider of reproductive health services, offering everything from abortions and prenatal care to cancer screenings and sex education. Despite facing controversies and criticisms, especially regarding its ties to eugenics and its focus on abortion, the organization remains a key player in reproductive health. With over 600 clinics in the U.S. and partnerships in 12 countries, Planned Parenthood continues to impact millions of lives. Financially, it’s strong, with nearly $2.1 billion in income and significant taxpayer funding. While some argue that other healthcare providers could fill its role, Planned Parenthood's extensive services and advocacy efforts make it a unique and influential entity in the landscape of reproductive health.