Planned Parenthood offers a wide range of reproductive and sexual health services, from birth control and STI testing to abortion care, cancer screenings, and gender-affirming hormone therapy. While most people associate Planned Parenthood with contraception and abortion, the organization’s roughly 600 health centers across the United States provide care that extends well beyond those two categories.
Birth Control
Contraception is the single most common reason people visit Planned Parenthood. The organization provides nearly every method available, from long-acting options you can set and forget to barrier methods you use each time you have sex.
The most effective options are the implant and the IUD, both 99% effective. The implant is a small rod placed in your upper arm that lasts up to five years. IUDs come in hormonal and copper versions and last anywhere from 3 to 12 years depending on the type. Both require a clinician to place and remove them, and both can be done during a standard office visit.
Hormonal methods that require more regular attention include the birth control shot (given every three months, 96% effective), the vaginal ring (replaced monthly, 93% effective), the patch (replaced weekly, 93% effective), and the pill (taken daily, 93% effective). Those effectiveness numbers reflect typical use, meaning how well they work in real life when people occasionally miss a dose or replace a patch late.
Barrier and non-hormonal options include external condoms (87% effective), internal condoms (79% effective), diaphragms (83% effective), the sponge, spermicide, and cervical caps. Condoms are the only method on this list that also help prevent STIs. Planned Parenthood also provides education on fertility awareness methods, which track your cycle to identify fertile days, and offers permanent options: tubal ligation and vasectomy, both 99% effective and lasting for life.
STI Testing and Treatment
Planned Parenthood tests for most common sexually transmitted infections, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B and C, herpes (when an active sore is present), trichomoniasis, and HPV. HIV testing is typically included as a standard part of a clinic visit unless you already have a positive diagnosis or decline the test.
Testing is only half the equation. Most Planned Parenthood locations also treat bacterial STIs on-site, and they can provide cryotherapy (freezing treatment) for genital warts. For HIV prevention, many clinics offer PrEP, a daily medication that dramatically reduces the risk of contracting HIV. They also provide education and access to PEP, an emergency medication started within 72 hours of a potential HIV exposure.
Vaccines are available at many locations too, including HPV, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B vaccines.
Abortion Services
Planned Parenthood provides two types of abortion: medication abortion and in-clinic procedures. Availability depends heavily on your state’s laws, and not every health center offers abortion care.
Medication abortion uses pills to end a pregnancy and can be started as early as a positive pregnancy test in some locations, though many providers wait until five or six weeks after the last menstrual period. In-clinic abortion has two main forms. Suction abortion (vacuum aspiration) is the most common and is typically available up to 14 to 16 weeks after the last period. Dilation and evacuation, or D&E, is used later in pregnancy, generally from 16 weeks onward. How late you can access either type depends on state law and the specific clinic.
Cancer Screenings
Planned Parenthood provides screenings aimed at catching reproductive cancers early. Pap tests and HPV tests check for abnormal cervical cells before they have a chance to develop into cervical cancer. Clinical breast exams can detect lumps or other changes, and clinicians can refer you for a mammogram when needed. These screenings are a routine part of well-woman visits at most health centers.
Gender-Affirming Care
Most Planned Parenthood health centers offer hormone therapy for transgender and nonbinary patients. This includes estrogen and anti-androgen therapy, testosterone therapy, and puberty blockers. Many locations also provide surgery referrals and support navigating the social and legal aspects of transition. Not every center offers every service, so it’s worth checking with your local clinic before scheduling.
Pregnancy Services and Adoption Referrals
If you’re pregnant and want to explore all your options, Planned Parenthood offers pregnancy testing, prenatal care referrals, and counseling to help you decide what’s right for you. For those considering adoption, some locations partner with adoption agencies to provide free counseling, help selecting an adoptive family, and assistance with medical and legal needs. Open adoption arrangements, where you can stay in contact with your child and the adoptive family, are an option through these partnerships.
Men’s Health
Planned Parenthood isn’t exclusively for women. Men can receive STI testing and treatment, condoms, and vasectomies. Some health centers also provide sexual wellness counseling for concerns like erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation, along with referrals to specialists when needed.
Telehealth Through the Planned Parenthood Direct App
For people who prefer not to visit a clinic, the Planned Parenthood Direct app offers a handful of services remotely. You can get up to a year’s supply of birth control pills with automatic refills for $25 per pack (you’ll need a recent blood pressure reading). The app also provides emergency contraception (the morning-after pill ella) for $75 with overnight shipping, and UTI treatment sent to a pharmacy of your choice for a $25 consultation fee. The app doesn’t replace a full clinic visit, but it covers some of the most time-sensitive needs.
Cost and Financial Assistance
One of the reasons Planned Parenthood remains widely used is affordability. Over half of Planned Parenthood clinics nationwide, 297 locations across 34 states and Washington, D.C., participate in the federal Title X program, which funds free or reduced-cost family planning services for low-income and uninsured patients. Fees are set on a sliding scale based on income.
Medicaid covers family planning services at every Planned Parenthood that accepts it, including contraception, STI services, Pap smears, and pelvic and breast exams with no copay. Private insurance is also accepted at most locations. If you’re uninsured and don’t qualify for Medicaid, the sliding scale through Title X can bring costs down significantly or eliminate them entirely.