When I was in university, I was switching from the birth control patch to the Nuva Ring. My prescription from my regular doctor had run out, and I needed a new one as soon as possible. I was so busy: working, finishing a mental health program after a significant mental breakdown, taking a university class, driving back and forth from Seattle to see my boyfriend in Vancouver every few weeks, and helping out at home. I managed to get a convenient appointment at the Planned Parenthood in Bellingham, a stop in between my travels. They were understanding and helpful, and I was able to stay on schedule with my birth control.

This not only helped me avoid an unplanned pregnancy; staying on schedule with medications kept my moods from being affected by the hormone swings, which helped my mental health recovery continue successfully.

It may not be the most dramatic situation, but it’s important to note that Planned Parenthood doesn’t just exist for the dramatic cases. They exist to catch those of us that might otherwise have slipped through the cracks. They exist to help those of us who, through chosen and unchosen circumstances, run into barriers of access to health care services.