A Planned Parenthood representative came to my high school when I was about 15, in 1975, to teach sex ed. She was basically selling abortion. She stressed the dangers of various birth control methods, while assuring us that abortion is “perfectly safe.” She insisted that birth control is highly likely to fail, thereby implying that we might as well not bother with it. She discussed the rhythm method, which she (correctly) said is not reliable—but she made sure to give info that makes it even less reliable by telling us that what I know now are signs of ovulation are the times when it is safe to have sex.
She also scoffed at the idea that a fetus is alive—“well, some people can believe it’s alive (snicker), some people even believe that a sperm or egg is alive (guffaws)!” And then she proceeded to tell us that if we have menstrual cramps, we can get rid of them by having a late abortion because it stretches the uterus, which would eliminate the cramps. I know now that cramps are a result of hormone flux during the cycle, and have nothing to do with whether one has been pregnant.
Lastly, she discussed what happens when a young pregnant girl comes to PP. She said that the girl often comes in wanting to have a baby, but once they counsel her on how much trouble and effort a baby is, she’ll have an abortion. Of course, what she was describing was high-pressure sales tactics to sell abortions.
This was over 40 years ago, when abortion was newly legal. At the time, I was puzzled at the presentation—I still believed that PP had good intentions, so it made no sense that they were promoting abortion and discouraging birth control. As an adult, I understand exactly what the PP saleswoman was doing. PP has remained very active since that time.
The reported efficacy of birth control methods is much lower now than it was then, e.g. going from 99.9% efficacy for the pill to maybe 95% effective now. This is not because birth control methods are worse, but because women who do not have much incentive to avoid pregnancy (they count on abortion to eliminate “mistakes”) are less likely to use the methods correctly.
I am not surprised that PP prioritized its abortion industry over receiving federal health care funds. Abortion profits dwarf the federal funds, and they do not provide healthcare anyway.
PP is a front group for the farther of lies.