I am not one to usually voice my opinion on controversial topics, because of the fear of backlash that would come my way. The Planned Parenthood funding debate seems to be the only thing I hear people around me talking about. Don't worry, this is not an article expressing pro-life or pro-choice, that is your own personal opinion. What I hope to accomplish through this article is to educate people on all that Planned Parenthood does for all people.

When the funding is cut to medical programs in the United States, it takes a hit on all social classes. It runs the risk of people losing access to contraception, cancer screenings, and basic preventive care, and this is especially true in low-income communities.

Planned Parenthood prides themselves on being one of the nation's leading providers of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men and young people, all while being the nation's leader in sexual education. They are educating people on sexual and reproductive health; this information and their teachings reach more than five million women, men, and adolescents worldwide each year. And of those five million, 84 percent of them are under the age of 20.

"2.7 million women and men in the United States annually visit Planned Parenthood affiliate health centers for trusted health care services and information (www.plannedparenthood.org)."

OF ALL THE WORK PLANNED PARENTHOOD DOES ONLY THREE PERCENT (3 percent!) ARE ABORTION SERVICES!

THE FACTS:

1. In 2013, Planned Parenthood performed 500,000 (HALF A MILLION) breast exams.

• MYTH: Any lump on the breast is cancer but luckily men can not get breast cancer.
• FACT: A mammogram, or x-ray of the breast, currently remains the gold standard for the early detection of breast cancer.Each year it is estimated that approximately 2,190 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 410 will die. Early detection and treatment is crucial in increasing the survival rate.

2. In 2013, Planned Parenthood performed 400,000 pap tests.

• MYTH: I'm too young to worry about cervical cancer.
• FACT: While it's not common, women can be diagnosed even in their 20s with cervical cancer. HPV infection and the precancerous condition dysplasia are common in younger women.The Pap test collects cells from the cervix and are sent to a lab for examination. In a pelvic exam, the doctor physically examines the cervix and other parts of a woman's anatomy.

3. Planned Parenthood helps prevent OVER half a million pregnancies each year.

Abstinence is hard to come by in current society, so if that is not in your life style you need to know about safe sex. Planned Parenthood offers free to low-cost birth control methods. These methods include:

• The Pill
• The Patch
• IUDs
• Condoms

And in case of an emergency, they offer emergency contraceptive such as Plan B.

Morning After Pill:

• MYTH: Plan B is the "abortion pill" and can terminate a pregnancy.
• FACT: Plan B can NOT terminate a pregnancy! It is similar to a football defensive line, it is in charge of blocking the sperm from getting to their destination, but if they have already gotten through they are going to score.

4. In 2013, Planned parenthood provided nearly 4.5 million tests and treatments for sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.

STIs:

• MYTH: I used a condom I can't get a STI.Condoms are a great way to practice safe sex, and prevent pregnancy but they do not protect against all sexually transmitted infections.
• FACT: Some STIs are treatable, but the best way to go about treatment is early detection.
  • The STIs that can be cured with antibiotics are (including but not limited to):
    
    • Chlamydia
    • Gonorrhea
    • Syphilis
    • Trichomoniasis
  • The STIs that cannot be cured, but can be treated, are (including but not limited to):
  • HPV (and Genital Warts)
  • Herpes

HIV TESTING:

• MYTH: I do not need to be tested for HIV, I would know if I was infected!
• FACT: One out of six people who have HIV don't know it. Early detection means the options are far greater for treating the disease so it does not develop into AIDS, and also increase life expectancy. There are several current and emerging treatment options, but no cure for HIV.

5. Planned Parenthood helps patients explore all of their options, so they can choose what is best for them, not just abortion. These options include adoption and parenthood.

• MYTH: Planned Parenthood encourages abortion.
• FACT: Planned Parenthood's goal is to make their patients aware of their options. Planned Parenthood educates patients on all options if an unplanned pregnancy occurs. They help young teens and adults make decisions that are smart and healthy, which can include adoption.

Hopefully after reading this, all the other articles being published and social media statuses being thrown your way, you can understand what exactly Planned Parenthood does, and you can formulate your own opinions. This article was not intended to be a pro-life vs. pro-choice, or pro-abortion vs. anti-abortion, it was to deliver the facts. If you found this article helpful then I reached my goal, and that if there is anything all Americans should be it is PRO-HEALTH.