Planned Parenthood is prescribing life-altering hormones to minors as young as 16 with minimal medical oversight, often on the same day as their first appointment, according to a shocking undercover investigation by Live Action.
Key Takeaways
- Planned Parenthood has dramatically expanded its cross-sex hormone services to nearly 600 centers nationwide, up from just 32 in 2016, with a 49% increase in “gender-affirming care” from 2021 to 2022.
- Undercover investigations revealed minors as young as 16 can access cross-sex hormones from Planned Parenthood with no therapy requirement and minimal medical oversight, sometimes on their first visit.
- These hormonal treatments can cause irreversible side effects including permanent infertility in developing adolescents.
- Planned Parenthood received over $670 million in taxpayer funding during the 2021-2022 fiscal year while becoming the second-largest provider of gender hormone therapies in America.
- Congressional Republicans are considering measures to defund Planned Parenthood amidst growing concerns about their youth hormone practices.
Undercover Investigation Exposes Concerning Practices
Live Action’s recent undercover investigation has revealed alarming practices at Planned Parenthood facilities across the country. Through recorded phone calls, investigators discovered that Planned Parenthood routinely offers cross-sex hormonal treatments to teenagers as young as 16 with surprisingly little medical oversight. Many facilities assured callers they could receive hormone prescriptions rapidly, sometimes even during their first appointment, without requiring prior therapy or mental health evaluations.
“Planned Parenthood is fast-tracking vulnerable children into irreversible hormone treatments with almost no medical oversight,” said Live Action President Lila Rose. “These dangerous drugs can sterilize, stunt growth and leave lifelong scars. This is not healthcare. It is child abuse, and it must be stopped.”
The investigation found that Planned Parenthood clinics often employ what critics describe as an “informed consent” model that allows teenagers to access powerful hormones after just a brief consultation. This approach has raised significant concerns among medical professionals and child welfare advocates who worry about the long-term consequences for developing adolescents.
Dramatic Expansion of Hormone Services
Planned Parenthood has rapidly expanded its hormone therapy services in recent years. According to data from the Heritage Foundation, the organization now offers cross-sex hormones at nearly 600 centers nationwide, a staggering increase from just 32 locations in 2016. This expansion appears to correlate with changes in abortion policy, with critics suggesting the organization is seeking new revenue streams.
“Gender ideologues argue this spike in people ‘identifying’ as transgender, nonbinary, and so forth simply reflects a more accepting American culture,” notes a report from the Heritage Foundation.
Planned Parenthood’s own reporting shows their “gender-affirming care” services increased by 49% between 2021 and 2022 alone. The organization has now become the second largest provider of gender hormone therapies in the United States, according to information cited by Senator Bill Cassidy’s office. This represents a major shift in the organization’s service portfolio in a relatively short timeframe.
Health Concerns and Lack of Transparency
Medical experts have raised serious concerns about providing cross-sex hormones to minors, particularly regarding permanent side effects like infertility. Research from Heritage Foundation senior fellow Jay Greene suggests that “easier access to puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones by minors without parental consent is associated with higher youth suicide rates.”
“This finding contradicts the claim that medical treatments for gender dysphoria are ‘lifesaving,'” noted research by Heritage’s Jay Greene.
Senator Bill Cassidy has publicly criticized Planned Parenthood for opacity in their reporting practices regarding hormone treatments. Planned Parenthood’s annual report showed a massive jump in “Other Procedures” from 17,791 in 2020 to 256,550 in 2021, a category believed to include hormone therapies. This lack of transparency is particularly concerning given the significant taxpayer funding the organization receives.
Calls for Congressional Action
Live Action’s investigation has prompted renewed calls to defund Planned Parenthood. The organization received $670.4 million in taxpayer funding during the 2021-2022 fiscal year according to government reports. House Republicans are now considering measures that would end federal funding for the organization as part of broader budget deliberations.
“I am troubled that your organization buried data on the breadth of the services it provides. Gender transition services are experimental at best and permanently damaging at worst,” said Dr. Cassidy in a letter demanding transparency from Planned Parenthood. “Therefore, the American people deserve to have the full picture of the gender transition services your organization provides to ensure no taxpayer dollars fund these procedures.”
President Trump’s administration has previously signaled support for redirecting federal funding away from organizations that provide controversial gender services to minors. With growing evidence and public concern about hormone treatments for teenagers, the pressure on Congress to take action is likely to intensify in the coming months.
