Planned Parenthood sees surge in requests for birth control
Nov 21, 2024
LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) –Donald Trump’s re-election to the White House is setting off more alarms for those who favor abortion and reproductive rights.
In fact, some officials say there’s a surge in requests for birth control and the “Plan B” drug nationwide.
Kentucky’s abortion ban became law after Roe V Wade was overturned in 2022.
The statute says that no person may knowingly give any medication that will cause an abortion nor use any procedure with the intent to terminate the life of an unborn human being.
Any violation of the law is a Class D felony.
Rebecca Gibron, the CEO and President of Planned Parenthood for Kentucky, says since the ban went into effect they have been unable to perform abortions.
“But we are helping patients navigate safe pathways to care outside of the state of Kentucky,” said Gibron.
Since President-elect Donald Trump’s win, there has been renewed scrutiny. Not only about abortion bans, but also limitations on birth control and Plan B causing surges in requests for both.
“In the state of Kentucky alone, if you look at the two days following the election, we saw an over 1,000% increase in requests for appointments for long-acting reversible contraceptive devices.”
As of now there are no restrictions on either contraceptive. Gibron says that besides requests for long-term birth control such as IUD’s, they have also been receiving requests from men.
“We’ve also seen a huge increase in requests for vasectomies. So, while we don’t currently provide vasectomy care in our health centers in Kentucky we do have a network of referral providers that we are referring men to.”
Gibron says Planned Parenthood will continue to fight for the right of autonomy over one’s body.
Gibron also says that young women growing up with fewer rights than she had is not a fight she is willing to give up easily.
Currently one woman is suing the state of Kentucky to overturn the state’s abortion ban, saying the ban violates her constitutional rights.
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Tags: abortion ban, Birth Control, Plan B, Planned Parenthood, Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky, President-Elect Donald Trump, Rebecca Gibron, vasectomy, vasectomy requests