The July 24 letter about Planned Parenthood simply needs to be challenged.

For 90 years, Planned Parenthood has been tireless in its mission to ensure access to full and factual health information and services that enable women and families to plan their childbearing and protect their health.

Planned Parenthood’s four health centers in southern Maine provide quality health care and turn no one away. They served 12,000 Maine women, men, and teens last year, many of whom had no insurance and no resources to pay the full cost of their care.

They are one of the largest reproductive cancer screening organizations in Maine. They understand what it is like to be young or menopausal, poor or fully insured, wanting to be pregnant or afraid of being pregnant, nervous or confident – because no matter what our circumstances, we all want the same thing: skilled practitioners, straight talk and good information about our sexual health.

I agree that Planned Parenthood has contributed to changing the American way of life – for the better.

Understanding our bodies; planning our pregnancies; being educated about sexual violence, abuse and coercion and having resources following sexual assault; learning about intimacy and relationships; and being told that health care is my right – these are amazing steps forward – brought to you by Planned Parenthood.

One in every four American women visits a Planned Parenthood health center in her lifetime. I am proud and grateful to be one of them.

Elizabeth Hartfield, Lewiston