Planned Parenthood vs. Pregnancy Centers: How We’re Different… and Better!

Do you ever have a community member ask, “So how are you different from Planned Parenthood?”

It can be a tough question, especially if you don’t know where they stand politically or personally. You might sense that they see Planned Parenthood as the “standard” for women’s healthcare, and that can make you hesitate or worry about sounding judgmental.

But here’s the truth: these conversations are golden opportunities. They’re your chance to gently reframe perceptions, communicate your mission, and show the heart behind what you do.

This article will help you clearly and confidently explain how pregnancy medical centers differ from Planned Parenthood in purpose, services, and approach and why those differences matter for the women and families you serve.

Mission and Purpose

Pregnancy Medical Centers exist to provide compassionate, free pregnancy help focused on education, emotional support, and long-term care. Our goal is to empower women to make fully informed decisions in a safe, judgment-free environment.

Planned Parenthood, on the other hand, is a nationwide healthcare organization primarily focused on reproductive services like contraception & STI testing, but their largest income, by far, comes from elective abortion. When someone asks about the difference, you might say:

“Our center’s mission is to walk with women through pregnancy decisions with care and support, no pressure, no profit. Everything we do is designed to help women feel safe, informed, and cared for.”

Services: Short-Term vs. Whole-Person

Pregnancy centers typically offer:

• Free pregnancy testing and limited obstetric ultrasounds

• Options consultations (education on abortion, adoption, and parenting)

• STI/STD testing and treatment (varies by center)

• Ongoing classes mentoring, and emotional support for men and women.

Planned Parenthood focuses more on:

• Abortion services

• STI/STD testing and treatment

• Birth control and contraception

  
  

You can frame the difference like this:

“Planned Parenthood offers short-term, clinical services. We offer whole-person care walking with women through pregnancy decisions and beyond.”

Cost of Care

At pregnancy medical centers, cost is never a barrier. Every service from pregnancy testing, to ultrasounds to options consultations, is completely free and confidential.

Planned Parenthood, while sometimes offering sliding scale fees or insurance billing, charges for most services, including pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, and abortion.

A clear, simple response:

“Everything we provide is free and confidential no insurance, no billing, and no hidden costs.”

Approach to Pregnancy Options

Pregnancy medical centers educate women on all their options including abortion, adoption, and parenting, without any financial interest in what a woman chooses.

Planned Parenthood is one of the largest abortion providers in the U.S. Because abortion is a primary service, their counseling often centers on access to abortion.

You can explain it this way:

“We don’t benefit from any choice a woman makes. Our role is to provide medically accurate information and emotional support so she can make a decision she feels confident about — not one she feels pressured into.”

Long-Term Support

Pregnancy centers are known for staying in the story, offering parenting classes, life skills training, baby supplies, referrals, and even post-abortion support for both the mother and the father.

Planned Parenthood typically provides short-term medical care without follow-up support.

Try saying:

“We don’t just see women for an appointment; we walk with them through every season of their journey, before, during, and after pregnancy.”

Representing the Heart of What We Do

When these conversations come up, remember: your goal isn’t to debate, it’s to communicate value. You represent a movement built on compassion, truth, and real help.

So when someone asks how you differ from Planned Parenthood, you can confidently say:

“We’re here for women, not just for an appointment, but for the long haul. Our care is free, compassionate, and focused on her whole story, not just her medical chart.”

“Our services are free because our organization believes every woman deserves access to quality care and support, regardless of her financial situation."

"Local individuals, churches, and businesses partner with us so that cost is never a barrier to care. Their generosity makes it possible for us to focus entirely on what matters most: helping women feel seen, supported, and equipped for whatever comes next.”

You don’t have to prove you’re better, just let the difference speak for itself. Because in a world where many organizations offer “services,” you offer genuine care, relationship, and hope.