Anikka Kim

IN PERSON, TELEHEALTH. The Planned Parenthood clinic on Vandalia Ave. in Saint Paul offers a number of low to no cost services. PP is the largest provider of sex education, according to their website

Of the issues in the spot-light in the upcoming general election, access to reproductive healthcare could drastically change the future, depending on gender, under a new administration.

As discussions about reproductive rights take center stage in debates and on the campaign trail, it becomes increasingly necessary for teens to understand how their rights could change.

While election results can affect reproductive healthcare as a whole, teens, specifically, are more at risk when accessibility to services is restricted due to their age.

Reproductive healthcare for teens includes access to clinics, comprehensive sexual education programs, and the right to receive care without parental consent.

The Supreme Court’s overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022 reignited the pro-life movement across the nation, threatening access to reproductive healthcare services by limiting funding to providers, such as Planned Parenthood.

In addition to birth control and abortion, Planned Parenthood offers other amenities, such as cancer screening and gender affirming care that would be impacted if the organization was defunded.

With more than 50 bills across 28 states threatening to limit adolescent access to sex education and 13 states having instituted abortion bans, the impact of losing these rights can be fatal.

Fighting for accessibility to services is critical.

In Minnesota, people under 18 do not need to notify their parents when seeking reproductive care, including birth control and abortion. While the state does require schools teach sex education, there are many limiting factors, and programs are not required to be comprehensive.

Equating reproductive health with abortion limits awareness and impacts action; these services encompasses a wider demographic and range of subjects than simply whether to terminate a pregnancy.

It is more important than ever that the election season comes with informed communication and advocacy for better reproductive healthcare.

Discussions should encompass the full demographic of people affected, as well as the rights and service at risk for everything it covers.