Anyone who’s heard about Planned Parenthood has surely heard the line that “Abortion is only 3% of the services we provide.” In fact, this little 3% claim is Planned Parenthood’s personal, self-reported, oft-repeated abortion statistic. But saying something over and over doesn’t make it true. Is it honest to claim that abortion is only 3% of what Planned Parenthood does?
Well, if numbers and statistics actually matter (and they should), the 3% abortion claim is completely bogus. Even Slate, a liberal media outlet, has called this “the most meaningless abortion statistic ever.” The Washington Post – not exactly a paragon of conservative thought – awarded Planned Parenthood three Pinocchios for its 3% claim, calling it “very misleading.”
To see how Planned Parenthood came up with the 3% deception, and to see the reality that the numbers actually spell out, watch this brand new motion graphics video from Live Action:
So what is the real truth behind Planned Parenthood’s abortion marketshare? Here are five things to know:
1) Planned Parenthood commits 30.6% of the nation’s abortions.
The CDC’s latest reported statistics demonstrate a decrease in abortions numbers and rates throughout the U.S.
Compared with 2011, the total number and ratio of reported abortions for 2012 decreased 4%, and the abortion rate decreased 5%. Additionally, from 2003 to 2012, the number, rate, and ratio of reported abortions decreased 17%, 18%, and 14%, respectively. Given the large decreases in the total number, rate, and ratio of reported abortions from 2011 to 2012, in combination with decreases that occurred during 2008–2011, all three measures reached historic lows.
And yet, during this same period of time, Planned Parenthood’s market share of the nation’s abortions has only increased, solidifying its position as the Abortion Corporation of America. From 2000 to 2011, Planned Parenthood increased its abortions from 197,070 to 333,964.
Its marketshare shot through the roof.
In 2000, Planned Parenthood had 15% of the abortion market, but quickly left this behind to embrace a solid third of the market at 32% in 2011. Recently, Planned Parenthood has barely slipped, to capture 30.6% of the nation’s 1.06 million annual abortions, committing 323,999 in the 2014-2015 fiscal year.
2) Planned Parenthood performs 1.8% of clinical breast exams, 0.97% of Pap tests, and 0% of mammograms reported in the U.S.
Clinical Breast Exams (not mammograms)
According to the MammaCareFoundation (who, along with the National Cancer Institute and the National Science Foundation, developed the recognized standard for physical examination of the breast), 20 million clinical breast exams are performed annually in the U.S.
Planned Parenthood reports performing 363,803 of these, amounting to a mere 1.8% in 2014-2015.
Pap Tests
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are 121.4 million women in the U.S. 18 years and over. The CDC reports that 69.4% of these women have had a Pap test within the past three years. This means 84.3 million women have had a Pap test in this time period. Pap tests are now generally recommended every three years, so the average number of women per year who received Pap tests is 28.1 million.
Of this 28.1 million Pap tests in one year, Planned Parenthood reports performing 271,539. That’s an embarrassing 0.97% for 2014-2015.
Mammograms
Despite claims by Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards to the contrary, Planned Parenthood performs exactly zero mammograms every year. (Richards finally admitted the truth before a Congressional panel.) Incidentally, The Washington Post gave Planned Parenthood’s false mammograms claims a three Pinocchio rating back in 2015, writing:
Planned Parenthood does not administer mammograms, but it keeps being perpetuated by the group’s supporters, including celebrities whose claims have a wide reach.
3) 1 out of 8 Planned Parenthood clients gets an abortion.
When you look at the three “options” Planned Parenthood tells pregnant women they have – parenting (which requires prenatal services), adoption, and abortion – it’s patently clear which option Planned Parenthood pushes. 1 out of every 8 Planned Parenthood patients get an abortion (out of 2.5 million patients, 323,999 got abortions in FY 2014-2015.) That’s not 3%.
4) Planned Parenthood commits 160 abortions for every 1 adoption referral.
According to its own annual report, in FY 2014-2015, Planned Parenthood committed 323,999 abortions and gave out 2,024 adoption referrals. Note that an adoption referral is as simple as giving out a phone number or an email address…far less complicated or time consuming than an abortion. And yet, Planned Parenthood counts each one equally as a “service.”
5) Planned Parenthood commits one abortion every 97 seconds.
This is a stat that won’t come from Planned Parenthood because it’s stunning both in its violence and in its meaning. Planned Parenthood commits 887 abortions every day, 37 abortions every hour, and one abortion every 97 seconds. Every 97 seconds, a family loses a child. Every 97 seconds, another life is taken. Every 97 seconds, one of these procedures is committed on an innocent, defenseless human being.
Now that you know the truth about Planned Parenthood’s abortion marketshare, share this article and the new motion graphics video with your friends. Let’s spread the truth!
