Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio Launches Gender-Affirming Care Program in Bedford Heights
For Immediate Release: July 10, 2023 (Updated: July 10, 2023, 9 a.m.)
BEDFORD HEIGHTS, Ohio—Today, Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio (PPGOH) announced the expansion of gender-affirming care services to its Bedford Heights Health Center, making it the eighth PPGOH health center in Ohio to offer such care for patients. This opening is a critical step toward PPGOH fulfilling its goal to bring gender-affirming care to all of its health centers in the state.
First launched by PPGOH in 2021 to support transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming Ohioans in accessing the care they need to become their most authentic and complete selves, gender-affirming care is currently available at PPGOH’s Akron, Athens, Franklinton, Kent, Mansfield, Old Brooklyn, and Toledo Health Centers.
“Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio is committed to improving the way transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people receive health care in our region,” said Erica Wilson-Domer, president and CEO of PPGOH. “We are proudly expanding our gender-affirming care to our Bedford Heights Health Center to make this care more accessible. We know that when people are truly seen and cared for with dignity and respect, their lives, their families’ lives, and their communities are better and healthier.”
Services PPGOH provides under its gender-affirming care program include gender-affirming hormone therapy, as well as birth control, cancer screenings, care coordination, HIV prevention, testing and counseling, patient navigation services, primary care, and STI testing and treatment.
From 2021 to 2022, PPGOH experienced a 544% increase in gender-affirming care visits, indicating high demand and need for this care among Ohioans. However, Ohio has also seen an unprecedented rise in anti-LGBTQ legislation this year. Gender-affirming care services are lifesaving – research shows that gender-affirming care is associated with positive effects on body image and lower odds of depression and suicidality.
“In a time where access to gender-affirming care is being challenged daily, we are proud to increase access to this lifesaving care,” said Melissa Braden, PPGOH’s director of gender-affirming care. “Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio is here to provide compassionate support for our patients and provide them with the resources needed to live their most authentic lives.”
“We are providing this essential health care to our adult patients and allowing them to live their lives as their true authentic selves,” said Dr. Adarsh Krishen, chief medical officer at PPGOH. “Expanding our gender-affirming care to our Bedford Heights Health Center allows us to better care for folks in our communities, especially those in Northeast Ohio. We’re committed to improving our patients’ quality of life through supportive, accessible health care.”
###
Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio operates 17 health centers throughout Ohio, offering reproductive health care services for generations of Ohioans; supporting people of color, those with low incomes, and the LGBTQ+ community. PPGOH is committed to the health and safety of Ohio residents by doing everything they can to ensure everyone has access to the full range of reproductive health care, including safe and legal abortion.