Abortion is a heavily debated issue within America. However, a woman’s right to choose for herself is a right that has been fought for in courts for many years. Planned Parenthood clinics are one of few locations where women can obtain an elective abortion. In many cases, a woman who chooses abortion will go to any measures necessary to make it happen. More than 30% of American women have had an abortion by the time they are 45 years old. However, offering this procedure in a medical clinic is a much safer option for women who want to have an abortion. It is performed by a trained physician, and can protect the woman’s ability to conceive a baby in the future. Having an abortion in this setting can also help to educate women about birth control options to avoid further unwanted pregnancies, since the clinic offers a wide range of contraception and counseling. The clinics follow all state laws regarding abortion, including age limitations and required parental consent. Some women also must have an abortion for medical reasons, such as the baby could damage the mother’s health or potentially be fatal. Whatever the reason for the abortion, Planned Parenthood clinics can help women make the decision.

Many Planned Parenthood clinics provide education about the process, and offer multiple ways to have the abortion. Women have the option of a medication abortion or procedure, and a staff member will help determine which choice is best for each individual. Some clinics also will provide a free ultrasound to mothers who desire this option. The clinics also have on-staff counselors who help women understand all choices available, and what will be involved in each. Offering abortions in Planned Parenthood clinics gives women a safe place to choose abortion, and continues to fight for a woman’s right to choose what is best for her situation and her body.

Many couples encounter problems with their relationships on a daily basis. Some do not know what is okay when dealing with relationship troubles, such as those involved in abusive relationships. Some Planned Parenthood clinics offer relationship counseling for individuals or couples who need guidance from a trained professional. There are many ways people can be hurt in relationships; emotional, verbal, sexual, and physical abuse are more common in many relationships and should never be tolerated. However, some do not understand that what they are experiencing is classified as abuse. Counselors at Planned Parenthood clinics can help individuals understand what constitutes abuse.

If a person at any point feels that they are being abused in any way by their partner, they should not question this instinct. They should instead immediately get themselves (and children, if they are around) into a safe environment, such as a friend or family member’s home, hospital, a center for abused women and children, or a Planned Parenthood clinic. Staff members can help these individuals to discuss the situation and get any necessary treatment. For example, if a person is sexually abused, they may need to be physically examined to remove DNA from their abuser to help protect them in the future, as well as be tested for STDs and pregnancy. No matter what type of abuse is occurring in a relationship, a zero tolerance policy should always exist and no one should have to live with this kind of pain and suffering. There is always a safe place to turn, and a partner who is abusive will almost never change. Individuals who are involved in an abusive relationship deserve better, even if they do not agree, and every person deserves emotional and physical safety. Planned Parenthood staff members are trained to handle these situations, and can help to remove a person from a dangerous situation and find a safe place for them to be away from the abuser.

More than 10% of Americans, both men and women, are unable to conceive children. It is a rapidly increasing problem that affects many, and can be an emotionally and physically painful process. Many people just don’t understand why they can’t create a child. Understanding what causes infertility is often the first step in overcoming this obstacle. Some people may practice behaviors that could contribute to infertility, and they are simply unaware. Some examples of this include a history of or current untreated sexually transmitted diseases, other health problems, previous injury, tobacco and/or alcohol use, and carrying excess weight. All of these factors cause a lot of stress on a body and can make it very difficult to conceive and carry a healthy child. Eliminating these behaviors or getting to a healthier weight may help a person conceive a baby. Educational resources at Planned Parenthood clinics are very useful for couples struggling to conceive. Counselors are on staff to help discuss the problems, as well as emotional struggles, involved with infertility. Both males and females can be infertile, and in some cases, both partners may be contributing to the difficulty in conception.

Once a couple has been counseled and has been trying unsuccessfully for a year, testing and treatments can be available depending on the reason for infertility. Planned Parenthood clinics can also offer other options for couples who have exhausted all options and are still unable to have their own children. Hundreds of babies are born every year who will be placed for adoption and would greatly benefit from a loving and stable home environment. Surrogacy is also a viable option, allowing another body to carry a couple’s child for them. Infertility is a common problem among couples, and while the process is extremely frustrating, Planned Parenthood clinics have plenty of resources to make it a little less overwhelming.

Many teenagers have a lot of questions about sex, but don’t know who to turn to for honest and unbiased answers. If they don’t feel comfortable talking to their parents or other family members, or feel awkward discussing the matters with a health teacher or counselor, they may end up engaging in behaviors without understanding what may result. Planned Parenthood is a great resource for teenagers in this situation. They have information about hundreds of health topics available on the website, as well as counselors and staff members within the clinics who are trained in answering questions on any health-related topic. The website is a great place to turn first because it lists topics alphabetically in great detail, as well as commonly asked questions and answers. It is a very non-threatening way for teens to get more information, since it is completely private and doesn’t even require an account to access the resources. Most of the information presented is also done in a way that is easier for teens to understand and relate to, so they don’t feel like they are talking to a stuffy older person who doesn’t understand their situation.

For a more one-on-one experience, or for questions that are not answered on the Planned Parenthood website, teens can visit a clinic where someone on staff can discuss more personal matters privately and confidentially. Most clinics do not require parental consent, where state law allows, for counseling and contraception, so teens do not have to worry about bringing a parent or getting a lecture. While the clinic policy does encourage honesty between parents and teens, their confidentiality policy protects the information discussed and will not allow anything to be released without the consent of the patient. Planned Parenthood is a great resource for teens to get straightforward answers to difficult questions in a very comfortable and open-minded setting.

Some individuals do not desire to ever have children, or are done with that stage in their life and want a way to remove the uncertainty without having to take a daily pill or use other forms of contraception. Permanent sterilization is the best way for this to occur. Planned Parenthood clinics offer sterilization procedures to both men and women, as well as counseling and lengthy discussion to make sure the patients know exactly what they are getting into and the permanence of this choice. A staff member will discuss the process with the patient, which for women involves blocking or sealing the fallopian tubes, and for men involves severing the vas deferens and then sealing the ends so that sperm cannot escape. Some men think that a vasectomy is reversible, but the process is painful and meant to be permanent. The procedure for both men and women is surgical, and is usually performed as outpatient so patients can return home the same day. They are usually told to take it easy for a few days, since the incision site will be sore. For men, the failure rate is about 1 in 2000, while for women the failure rate is closer to 1 in 300.

Some Planned Parenthood clinics do offer these procedures, but even the ones that don’t will still offer information and counseling. One thing that patients who choose this method of contraception must remember is that they will not be protected in any way against STDs. Unless both partners have been tested for disease and are completely monogamous, individuals should still use a condom for every sexual encounter to ensure complete protection and safety. Permanent sterilization is a way for both men and women who do not desire to ever conceive children to eliminate the worry of an unwanted pregnancy.

Many couples are careful and use protection when they have sex. However, in some instances birth control can fail or a condom can break. Sometimes accidental unprotected sex happens unintentionally for a variety of reasons. Additionally, some women are victims of rape and do not want a pregnancy to result. For these instances, emergency contraception is a great resource, and another service offered at Planned Parenthood clinics.

Emergency contraception, also known as the Morning After Pill, can help to prevent pregnancy if taken between one and five days after having unprotected sex. It is offered in Planned Parenthood clinics to women 17 years of age and older. If someone younger needs emergency contraception, they must go to their physician or other health center, and will often have to have parental consent. Basically the pill works by hormones which prevent the woman’s ovaries from releasing an egg. Additionally, it helps to thicken the mucus from the cervix which blocks sperm from joining with an egg. The pill also can thin the uterus lining, which could prevent an egg from attaching to the uterus. The sooner the pill is taken after unprotected intercourse, the more effective the pill will be. However, contrary to common belief, this pill does not cause an abortion; it will not terminate an existing pregnancy. It will only help in preventing a pregnancy if taken properly. The pill should not be used as regular birth control; there are many options for contraception available through Planned Parenthood clinics. The cost of emergency contraception pills can vary, usually ranging from $10-$70. Some clinics also provide certain intrauterine devices, which are believed to block pregnancy from occurring if placed in the woman within five days of unprotected sex. Some side effects are present in women who have taken the emergency contraception pill, including nausea and vomiting, cramping, and irregular bleeding.

With so many sexually transmitted diseases out there, it can be scary to even consider engaging in sexual activity. However, there are steps that can be taken to prevent certain diseases from being spread. Vaccination is one way to help prevent contracting human papillomavirus (HPV) as well as hepatitis. HPV is an infection that can affect the vagina, vulva, cervix, scrotum, anus, and penis. It can also lead to cervical cancer and cause genital warts. The vaccination for HPV is called Gardasil, and is given over a series of three injections. It helps to protect against types 16 and 18 of HPV, which are the most common strains and cause 70% of cervical cancer. It also protects against types 6 and 11, which cause 90% of genital warts. The vaccine has been tested and proven to be safe; the side effects are generally mild and can include swelling and bruising at the injection site, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, and low fever. Planned Parenthood clinics offer the vaccine, and recommend it for females beginning at age 11. It can also be given to men, although its effectiveness for males is not widely known.

A vaccine can also be administered to protect against hepatitis B, which is given over three or four injections. Hepatitis B is a disease that affects the liver; short-term effects of the illness are fatigue, muscle and joint pain, gastrointestinal distress, and jaundice, while long term, the illness can cause cirrhosis of the liver as well as liver cancer, both of which can lead to death. It is passed through blood or other body fluids from an infected person, so it can be contracted through unprotected sexual encounters. Vaccination is an important step in limiting the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, and Planned Parenthood clinics offer these vaccinations to help protect individuals from being infected.

Home accidents account for over thirty percent of cases seen in most emergency rooms. Most home accidents involve falling down stairs or incidences with furniture. One of the most frequently occurring household accidents are situations that happen in the kitchen including grease fires, knife cuts, spills and falls on liquids in the floor and stove or ovens that are left on absentmindedly.

To decrease the likelihood of kitchen accidents, there are several things you can do to avoid problems in the kitchen and to practice kitchen safety:

1. Always monitor items that are on the stove. Never leave items cooking unattended, not even in the microwave. Set a timer to help you remember how long something has been cooking and check the temperature on the item as often as possible. It only takes a few seconds for a fire to blaze and get out of control.

2. Clean and store knives and sharp objects immediately after using them. This reduces chances of accidental cuts and the sharp objects falling onto the floor.

3. Never pour hot liquids, including oil, down the kitchen drain. Wait for the liquids to cool first before discarding them. The steam from hot water and hot oils can cause second degree burns on the body.

4. Keep a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit in the kitchen for emergency use. Make sure the fire extinguisher is within reach of but not too close to the stove area. The first aid kit should contain everything needed to take care of minor scrapes and burns like small cuts and bruises. Stock the kit with gauze, band-aids, anti-bacterial ointment and alcohol swabs. Go to the emergency room for any accidents that cannot be controlled using items in the first aid kit.

5. Taking items out of a hot stove should be done slowly and carefully. Decrease burns by using oven mitts and pot-holders to handle hot items. Make sure the material is thick and made for kitchen use.

It is also helpful to keep a short list of these safety tips in your kitchen to refer to on occasion. These tips can help you eliminate kitchen accidents and reduce hospital emergency visits.

After a woman takes a pregnancy test that has a positive result, she must visit a doctor’s office or clinic as soon as possible to begin learning about and receiving prenatal care. Planned Parenthood is a great place to turn to begin the prenatal care. This care usually involves taking supplements to ensure that all necessary vitamins and minerals are being ingested into the body so that the fetus can receive everything it needs to grow strong and healthy. The doctor or staff will also discuss things to avoid while pregnant, such as drugs (even some over the counter or prescription drugs are unsafe for a growing baby), alcohol, tobacco, and certain foods. In this visit, they can help to answer any questions that the newly pregnant woman may have, or squash rumors the woman may have heard that are causing her fear and anxiety about the pregnancy.

The doctor will also perform a full physical examination and discuss past medical history to make sure the woman’s body is capable of housing a baby, as well as testing to make sure the woman is healthy and will not pass any disease or infection to the child. Initially, pregnant women will have checkups every 4-6 weeks, and then as the due date nears, the visits become more frequent. If blood pressure is high or other risk factors present during pregnancy, visits may have to become more frequent to monitor these conditions. Some Planned Parenthood clinics cannot offer full term prenatal care, but will assist pregnant women in finding a nearby clinic that can. Prenatal care is a vital part of ensuring that an unborn baby will be healthy and be born without severe health complications, so as soon as a woman learns she is pregnant, she should visit a clinic to establish care and begin the journey safely.

Some people may think that the services offered at Planned Parenthood can only benefit women; however this is simply not true. Many clinics offer a full range of services for men’s health, including basic sexual health checkups for reproductive or other problems, as well as physical examinations. Routine checkups are one of the best ways to prevent disease, or catch symptoms early before conditions worsen and become dangerous or untreatable. Physicians within the clinic are trained in an array of problems and can give treatment to protect the overall health of men. The clinics also offer contraception and cancer screenings for testicular and prostate cancer. Many men do not think cancer can affect them, especially if they are young. However, both testicular and prostate cancer can strike men of any age, and routine screenings and self-examination are the only ways to catch warning signs early. Some Planned Parenthood clinics also give treatment for sexual problems including premature ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, and sexually transmitted diseases. Not only can the physicians provide treatment, but there are trained counselors on staff who can offer education and discuss the problems with men who might be embarrassed by their conditions. Since these counselors are trained in sexual problems, they are able to provide information and often can simply offer a listening ear. Many clinics also are able to provide permanent sterilization procedures, such as vasectomy, to men who are done having children and are interested in this option of contraception.

Many Planned Parenthood clinics can bill private health insurance plans, or state or federal programs. Additionally, some clinics are now able to offer discounted services based on income, or assist patients in applying for Medicaid or similar state-funded health insurance programs to those who will qualify. This allows all individuals, regardless of income or financial situation to receive quality sexual healthcare, as well as contraception to protect themselves and others from spreading sexually transmitted disease or causing unwanted pregnancy.