Planned Parenthood Federation of America

Reflect the rich diversity of people who seek abortion care. Characters should include parents, people of color, people with different gender identities and sexualities, people with low incomes, people with disabilities, incarcerated people, immigrants, and more.

Don't portray abortion patients as a monolithic group or reinforce stereotypes by depicting only one type of person seeking care.

Acknowledge that the vast majority of people in the U.S. (77%) support Planned Parenthood and its mission as providers and advocates of sexual and reproductive health care — including abortion care.

Don't portray Planned Parenthood as a controversial or unpopular or as an unreliable place to get sexual and reproductive health care.

Simply say “pregnancy” without a qualifier or judgment. If a characterization of the pregnancy is necessary, say "unintended" pregnancy.

Don't say “unwanted pregnancy” or “unplanned” as this implies judgment.

Depict abortion accurately as a safe and common form of health care.

Don't depict abortion as dangerous. Abortion is one of the safest medical procedures, with a rate of major complications of less than one percent. (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine)

Reference Planned Parenthood facilities as "health centers."

Don't use the term "clinic" as it doesn’t communicate the broad range of sexual and reproductive health care services provided.

Say “Abortion later in pregnancy.”

Don't say “late-term abortion.” This is not a medical term, and there is no such thing

Portray Planned Parenthood health centers as warm, professional, and non-judgmental environments that provide a full range of high-quality, affordable sexual and reproductive health care services — including birth control, abortion, STI testing and treatment, cancer screenings, wellness exams, vasectomies, and gender-affirming care, where legal, and more — where every patient is treated with dignity and respect.

Don't portray Planned Parenthood health centers as in ill-repair or unwelcoming or their staff as judgmental.

Say a person makes a "decision" to have an abortion. Describe people who support the right to abortion as “pro-abortion” or “pro-sexual and reproductive health” when referring to the whole range of care. Use anti-abortion for those opposed to anyone receiving abortion care.

Don't use the terms “pro-choice” or “pro-life.” For the many people who have little or no access to care due to factors like inequality, systemic racism and discrimination (i.e. LGBTQ+ people, people with low incomes, people in rural areas, and people of color), having "choice" is a privilege. No one is anti-life. Terms like r “pro-choice” or “pro-life” do not reflect nuanced views that people have about abortion. Someone hostile to reproductive freedom is more accurately anti-abortion — not necessarily "pro-life."