Planned Parenthood is most notorious for their role in committing abortions; they are the largest abortion chain in the country, with 40% of the nation’s market share in taking the lives of preborn human beings. Yet that isn’t all they do; Planned Parenthood has also been branching out into so-called “gender-affirming care,” peddling cross-sex hormones and surgery referrals — in some cases, even for minors. In fact, Planned Parenthood is hoping to expand this service for minors — and as they’re doing this, they continue to receive nearly $700 million in taxpayer dollars each year.
Cat Cattinson, a detransitioner, had previously struggled with mental health issues. Cattinson is also autistic, had suffered eating disorders and suicidal ideation, and also had a history of trauma. When she began feeling like she wanted to identify as male, she contacted Planned Parenthood.
In 2020, she called her local facility. After just one 30-minute phone call, she was approved to begin receiving testosterone shots. This was surprising to her; she thought “there would be at least some kind of process to get the hormones” or “just some kind of psychological evaluation,” but that wasn’t the case. As for the doctor on staff, Cattinson said “it was pretty clear she didn’t look at my chart.”
After beginning testosterone at age 27, she asked about undergoing a mastectomy, known in transgender-identifying circles as “top” surgery. Again, she was approved and received a referral without much examination.
“I just called, and this time they transferred me to another clinic, where I talked to a different doctor who I’d never met in person,” she said, adding that after 45 minutes, “[the doctor] wrote me a letter for top surgery without ever meeting me in person. My surgeon said that the insurance wouldn’t cover it if I didn’t have a letter.”
Cattinson, now in her early 30s, ultimately chose not to have her breasts removed and later detransitioned after identifying as male for 15 years. The testosterone she was taking was made her feel sick, with symptoms including nausea and heart palpitations. Cattinson ultimately realized she was happier as her biological sex: female.
She now says she can’t believe how easily Planned Parenthood dispensed the hormones to her, with little examination or testing done to see if she needed legitimate mental health care instead of cross-sex hormones. “I felt like I’d never be happy as a woman. It was so easy to get testosterone — they didn’t require any tests or therapy. I was surprised at how quickly they gave it to me,” she said.
It took her a year to fully detransition, with drastic medical effects. “I was bedridden because it was a big comedown from taking the testosterone every day,” she said. “But now I’m happier with myself and my body and I’ve realized a lot of my feelings of wanting to be a boy stemmed from that trauma as a child. My parents are now supportive and I know their reactions stemmed from worry for me. I’ve had to re-learn how to sing and my voice is still different, but I still have a love for music.”
Cattinson’s story shows Planned Parenthood’s lack of care provided to individuals who are in need of real health care. This corporation should not be receiving taxpayer funding.
