Planned Parenthood

Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), usually referred to simply as Planned Parenthood, is a non-profit organization that provides reproductive health services in the United States and internationally. PPFA is an affiliate of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and one of its larger members. PPFA has its roots in Brooklyn, New York, where Margaret Sanger opened the first birth control clinic in the U.S. She founded the American Birth Control League in 1921, which changed its name to "Planned Parenthood" in 1942. Planned Parenthood reports that it consists of approximately 174 affiliates and 700 health clinics in the United States and abroad. Planned Parenthood directly provides a variety of reproductive health services, is involved in sexual education efforts, contributes to research in reproductive technology, and engages in legal and political efforts aimed at protecting and expanding reproductive rights.