Planned Parenthood’s latest annual report has thrown up some pretty surprising figures, showing a significant uptick in the number of abortions despite fewer people walking through their doors. In the fiscal year that wrapped up in fall 2022, the organization reported performing a total of 392,715 abortions. This is up by over 18,000, or 5%, from the year before, and a sharp 20% jump from their ten-year average, as analyzed by the Charlotte Lozier Institute.

What’s more striking is how these abortion services compare to other forms of pregnancy-related care they provide. Prenatal care, miscarriage management, and adoption referrals together made up less than 3% of their services. To put it in perspective, for every adoption referral, Planned Parenthood performed 228 abortions last year, which points to a heavy lean towards abortion over other options.

Rising Concerns Over Service Focus

This pattern has raised more than a few eyebrows. Marjorie Dannenfelser, the president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, expressed her concerns quite bluntly. She told the Daily Wire, “Planned Parenthood’s business is abortion, abortion, and more abortion,” highlighting how the organization’s abortion figures now place them among the top four causes of death in the U.S., just behind heart disease, cancer, and COVID-19.

Besides the increase in abortions, there’s been a noticeable drop in overall patient numbers. From 2.05 million in 2021, the figure fell to just under 1.97 million in 2022. This decline is part of a long-term trend, with total services down 17% since 2010. Specific services have seen even steeper declines—prenatal services dropped by 80% since 2009, contraceptive services by 39%, and cancer prevention services, including breast exams and pap tests, have plummeted by 71%.

Prioritization and Political Play

Critics argue that Planned Parenthood seems to be prioritizing abortion services heavily over other healthcare options. Michael New from the Charlotte Lozier Institute pointed out that the report “consistently provides solid evidence that Planned Parenthood continues to prioritize abortion.” This focus has sparked a debate about the balance between their healthcare services and their political activities, especially as they spend heavily on lobbying against policies protecting babies born alive after failed abortions.

Our Take

The data from Planned Parenthood’s report is quite alarming, revealing a trend that sees a significant shift towards increasing abortion services, overshadowing other vital healthcare services for women. From a conservative viewpoint, this trend is concerning not just because it raises moral and ethical questions, but it also suggests that the organization may not be meeting the broader health needs of women effectively.

This situation should be a call to action for both policymakers and the public to reassess the role and function of organizations like Planned Parenthood. Looking ahead, it’s crucial to ensure that comprehensive healthcare services that truly offer choice and support throughout all stages of pregnancy and general health are available. This means bolstering services that provide alternatives to abortion and making sure that organizations do not disproportionately focus on abortion at the expense of other critical healthcare services. As this debate unfolds, it’s essential to keep the focus on providing balanced, comprehensive healthcare for all women.