The public is often led to believe that we need Planned Parenthood, which presents itself as a health care organization, to prevent pregnancies and reduce abortions. But while abortions have been decreasing nationwide, they are actually increasing at Planned Parenthood, despite the fact that other health care services at Planned Parenthood are plummeting.
According to the most recently published CDC numbers, in 2015, 638,169 abortions were reported, reaching their lowest level since Roe v. Wade. Yet, that same year Planned Parenthood committed 328,348 abortions and then increased that number in 2017 to 332,757. Then, in 2017, the Guttmacher Institute — Planned Parenthood’s former “special affiliate,” which publishes more comprehensive abortion numbers than the CDC — reported 862,320 abortions that year. Planned Parenthood’s 2018-2019 annual report reveals the organization committed 345,672 of those abortions —40% of all abortions, up from its previous 35% market share.
Planned Parenthood’s abortion market share:
Earlier this year, Planned Parenthood doubled down on its commitment to focus on its most profitable “service” (abortion) by releasing a “master plan” detailing its effort to expand, not reduce, abortions. Past Planned Parenthood president Leana Wen admitted that it was this hyper focus — the corporation’s overwhelming desire to focus on abortion rather than broaden its role in providing health care — that caused her departure.
Again, despite decreasing abortion numbers nationally, the abortion corporation’s market share of abortions has steadily climbed from roughly 35% in 2014 to nearly 40 percent in 2018.
Planned Parenthood 2018 abortion numbers and taxpayer dollars 2000 to 2018
While the nation’s largest abortion corporation has convinced the public that they are needed to reduce abortions and should be taxpayer funded, nothing could be further from the truth. Live Action News has previously documented how Federally Qualified Health Centers offer women more comprehensive care than Planned Parenthood, and has documented that:
- Planned Parenthood uses its celebrity to recruit supporters not help women.
- Taxpayer funding actually increases abortions.
- Planned Parenthood doesn’t offer pregnant women much more than abortion.
- Planned Parenthood considers all abortions “medically necessary.“
Contraceptive services at Planned Parenthood are decreasing
A previous Live Action News report documented that even though contraception services make up one quarter of the report’s numbers:
- Contraception services dropped by three percent between 2016 and 2017 and two percent (2.46%) from 2,620,867 in 2017 to 2,556,413 in 2018.
- Since 2009, contraception services [at PP] have fallen nearly 35 percent (34.63%).
- In the past ten years, (3,813,875 in 2008 to 2,556,413 2018) contraception services have decreased nearly 33 percent (32.97%)
Former employees say there are abortion quotas
Former Planned Parenthood staffers claim the organization has abortion quotas and treats women like cattle. An analysis by Live Action News found that the corporation’s estimated abortion revenue totaled an estimated $190 million in just 2017. This has resulted in Planned Parenthood collecting a whopping $244.8 million in excess revenue over spending in just one year, according to its 2017-2018 annual report.
Planned Parenthood dominates abortion numbers and facilities in various states
Previous Live Action News analyses, here and here, by selected states show that Planned Parenthood’s state market share of abortions is also increasing.
- Alabama: In 2017, Planned Parenthood operated 40% of the licensed abortion facilities in the state, maintaining that percentage into 2019.
- Arizona: In 2017, PP of Arizona committed 47 percent (5,938 out of 12,533) of reported abortions, and by 2019, half (50 percent) of the state’s licensed abortion facilities were Planned Parenthood facilities.
- Arkansas: Planned Parenthood accounted for two-thirds (66%) of licensed abortion facilities as of September 2019.
- Florida: A 2019 query of licensed abortion facilities in Florida reveal 30 percent (17 of 56 facilities) are Planned Parenthood.
- Indiana: In 2018, Planned Parenthood was responsible for 63 percent (5,579) of the 8,037 abortions reported in the state and by 2019, PP made up nearly 67 percent of the state’s abortion facilities.
- Maine: read previous analysis here.
- Maryland: In 2019, PP made up 18 percent of licensed abortion facilities in Maryland.
- Minnesota: In 2017, PP was responsible for 61 percent (6,232) of the state’s 10,134 abortions. Then, when reported abortions decreased in 2018 to 9,910, PP’s portion rose to 63 percent (6,292).
- Missouri: In 2019, PP made up 100 percent of state licensed abortion facilities.
- New Hampshire: read previous analysis here.
- North Carolina: In 2019, Planned Parenthood accounted for nearly 36 percent of the state’s abortion facilities.
- Oklahoma: In 2019, Planned Parenthood made up one-fourth of the state’s licensed abortion facilities.
- Pennsylvania: In 2019, Planned Parenthood made up nearly 59 percent of the states abortion facilities.
- South Carolina: Two-thirds of licensed abortion facilities in 2019 were Planned Parenthoods.
- South Dakota: In 2019, one third of the abortion facilities in the state were Planned Parenthoods.
- Texas: There are currently six licensed Planned Parenthood abortion facilities in the state.
- Virginia: In 2016, PP committed nearly 38 percent (6,432) of the 17,039 reported in the state and even though reported abortions fell in 2017 to 15,381, PP maintained 37 percent (5,714) of the state’s abortions.
- West Virginia: read previous analysis here.
READ: U.S. abortion rate hits lowest point since Roe v. Wade
Why are national abortion numbers falling?
Dr. Michael New details plausible reasons for abortion decreases (here and here):
- CDC abortion numbers are not a complete compilation of all states.
- Smaller percentage of unintended pregnancies now result in an abortion.
- Pro-life legislative, political, and educational efforts have had a measurable positive effect.
- State pro-life laws are playing an increasingly important role in defending pregnancy help centers, allowing them to continue their lifesaving work.
- More people identify as pro-life: “Gallup data clearly indicates that since the mid-1990s, there has been both a long-term and durable increase in the percentage of Americans who identify as “pro-life.” Other surveys, like the General Social Survey (GSS), which has been asking the same six questions on abortion since the early 1970s, have also found long-term gains in pro-life sentiment.”
- Young people’s attitudes may be driving numbers down: “[D]uring the 1970s, the GSS found that young adults aged 18-29 were the age demographic most sympathetic toward legal abortion. However, starting in 2000, young adults became the age demographic most opposed to abortion.”
New added, “A body of research also suggests young adults are now more likely than older Americans to support a range of incremental pro-life laws, such as informed consent laws and late-term abortion bans. Since decisions about obtaining abortions are made by young women, these changes in sentiment among young people might be having a substantial effect on abortion rates.”
An updated analysis on declining abortion numbers by Dr. New can be viewed here, or listen to Dr. New discuss this here.
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