No doubt they hate to hear it, but the latest annual report confirms that “When you think abortion, think Planned Parenthood.”
Even as the overall number of abortions continues to decline, Planned Parenthood aborts more and more babies—a jump of 3.88% in 2018. PPFA took the lives of 332,757 unborn babies in 2017 but 345, 672 in 2018.
Put another way, its market share, always hefty, grows larger virtually every year. It is now approximately 40%.
You can read PPFA’s “Annual Report 2018-2019” here.
I will offer a brief, broad brush summary. Dr. Randall K. O’Bannon, NRLC Director of Education & Research, will provide many more important details.
*As noted above, 345,672 unborn babies lost their lives at PPFA abortion clinics.
*If you look on page 23, you see a graphic that contains the same consciously misleading role of abortion in PPFA’s “services.” Instead of the customary “3%,” you see “4%.”
As everyone up to and including the Factchecker at the Washington Post has made clear, this is highly misleading.
In 2018, the Post’s Ye Hee Lee wrote
The 3 percent figure that Planned Parenthood uses is misleading, comparing abortion services to every other service that it provides. The organization treats each service — pregnancy test, STD test, abortion, birth control — equally. Yet there are obvious difference between a surgical (or even medical) abortion, and offering a urine (or even blood) pregnancy test. These services are not all comparable in how much they cost or how extensive the service or procedure is.
*“Planned Parenthood receives nearly $1.7 million dollars every day from U.S. taxpayers,” as Carole Novielli explained.
*PPFA’s and its affiliates’ total revenue exceeded $1.6 billion ($1,638,600) in 2018. PPFA’s national office and its affiliates’ net assets for 2018 totaled nearly $2 billion–$1,993,000, to be exact.
*As Dr. O’Bannon will detail, 2018 saw a continuation of the recent pattern of PPFA providing fewer of its signature product—contraception—and even fewer of something it never did much of to begin with—adoption referrals.
Planned Parenthood has released its latest annual report, revealing a significant increase in the number of abortions performed. The report indicates that the organization conducted nearly 13,000 more abortions than in the previous year. This development has sparked a fresh wave of debate over the role and impact of Planned Parenthood in the broader landscape of reproductive health services.
According to the report, Planned Parenthood performed 354,871 abortions during the reporting period, an increase from 345,672 in the previous year. This uptick has drawn considerable attention from both supporters and critics of the organization. For pro-choice advocates, the increase underscores the ongoing demand for abortion services and the importance of maintaining access to safe and legal abortions. They argue that Planned Parenthood provides critical health services, including cancer screenings, birth control, and sexual health education, in addition to abortion.
Supporters of Planned Parenthood emphasize that the organization’s comprehensive approach to reproductive health care is essential for millions of women, particularly those from low-income backgrounds who might not otherwise have access to such services. They highlight that the increase in the number of abortions performed by Planned Parenthood is indicative of the broader need for accessible reproductive health services. The organization’s commitment to offering a wide range of health care options, including abortions, is seen as a fundamental aspect of women’s health and rights.
Conversely, critics of Planned Parenthood have seized on the increase in abortions as evidence that the organization prioritizes abortion over other health services. They argue that the rise in the number of abortions performed is concerning and reflects a growing reliance on abortion as a primary service. Critics contend that Planned Parenthood’s focus on abortion detracts from its ability to provide other vital health services, such as prenatal care and adoption referrals.
The increase in abortions has also intensified the political and ideological battle over funding for Planned Parenthood. In the United States, federal and state funding for the organization has been a contentious issue, with pro-life advocates pushing for cuts to its funding, arguing that taxpayer dollars should not support an organization that performs abortions. Although federal funds are not used for abortions due to the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits the use of federal funds for abortion services except in cases of rape, incest, or to save the life of the mother, the debate over funding continues to be a major point of contention.
Planned Parenthood’s report also sheds light on the broader context of reproductive health services in the United States. The organization remains a significant provider of reproductive health care, serving millions of patients annually. Despite the focus on abortion, the report details the wide array of services provided, including nearly 9.8 million total services related to birth control, sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and treatment, cancer screenings, and other preventive care.
The data from the report highlights the complex landscape of reproductive health care and the diverse needs of patients. While abortion services are a critical component of what Planned Parenthood offers, the organization’s impact extends far beyond that. The report shows that Planned Parenthood conducted over 2.4 million STI tests and treatments, over 598,000 cancer screenings, and provided over 2.5 million birth control services.
For pro-life advocates, the rise in abortion numbers is seen as a call to action to redouble efforts to promote alternatives to abortion and support policies that restrict access to the procedure. They advocate for increased support for pregnancy resource centers, adoption services, and policies that promote family and child welfare. Pro-life groups argue that a focus on life-affirming solutions and support for pregnant women can reduce the number of abortions and provide better outcomes for both women and their children.
On the other hand, pro-choice advocates view the increase in abortion numbers as a reflection of the persistent barriers to contraceptive access and comprehensive sex education. They argue that the need for abortion services underscores the importance of ensuring that all individuals have access to a full range of reproductive health options, including effective contraception and education on sexual health. They contend that removing barriers to these services can help reduce the incidence of unintended pregnancies and, consequently, the demand for abortion.
In conclusion, the increase in abortions reported by Planned Parenthood has reignited the debate over the organization’s role in reproductive health care. The report underscores the ongoing demand for abortion services and the complex factors influencing reproductive health in the United States. As the debate continues, it is clear that Planned Parenthood will remain at the center of discussions on reproductive rights, health care access, and the ethical dimensions of abortion. Both supporters and critics of the organization are likely to use this data to bolster their arguments and influence public policy in the years to come.
Chelsea Garcia is a political writer with a special interest in international relations and social issues. Events surrounding the war in Ukraine and the war in Israel are a major focus for political journalists. But as a former local reporter, she is also interested in national politics.
Chelsea Garcia studied media, communication and political science in Texas, USA, and learned the journalistic trade during an internship at a daily newspaper. In addition to her political writing, she is pursuing a master's degree in multimedia and writing at Texas.
