We all know that Planned Parenthood is in favor of parenthood at the right time. Giving women a place to address every type of reproductive health needs leaves them in better health, so that they are able to have children when it's their time. I found the story of Elizabeth Ann "Libby" Bruce, whose endometriosis was discovered at Planned Parenthood particularly moving, especially her delivery. Planned Parenthood didn't save her life, but it did make new life possible. There's nothing more pro-life than that. It doesn't hurt that her baby was born just 9 weeks ago, on our country's birthday. In Ohio.
The important issue here isn't access to health care, but access to the right health care. We have all known how scary and frustrating it is to feel sick without answers, even where insurance and health care access are assured. It's scary to think that Ms. Bruce might have never found a doctor to treat her condition, and thus found herself unable to have children.
I don't know whether Planned Parenthood is always better than women's other options, but it is important that Planned Parenthood is always an option.
Planned Parenthood has saved the fertility of so many other women, but in ways that are sadly less politically palatable. We've come so far that we can have a woman say "endometriosis" in front of a full political convention, but we'll have come even farther when we can speak openly about chlamydia and other sexual health issues.
The Democrats are obviously way ahead on speaking candidly about women's health. Any guesses on how many decades before anyone will ever say the word "endometriosis" at the Republican convention?
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