When a woman faces an unexpected pregnancy, the last thing she needs is confusion about where to turn for help. Unfortunately, misinformation about pregnancy centers often circulates online and in the media. Critics sometimes claim that pregnancy centers are “fake clinics,” staffed by people with no medical credentials, or suggest they only care about women who choose to carry to term.
The concern is understandable, and, in a way, even good. Women should be cautious about where they seek care. No woman should walk into a place for help only to discover it isn’t legitimate, is driven by an agenda, and seeks to profit from her vulnerability rather than offer genuine support.
While both sides of the issue often tear each other down, there is actually common ground here. Both sides agree women should never be taken advantage of in a vulnerable moment and every woman deserves high quality medical care from people who genuinely care about her and her situation.
That’s exactly why pregnancy centers matter. Reputable centers provide care that encompasses her whole story, not just medical help. They meet women where they are in their decision-making process and care for them as whole people with real stories.
We spoke with pregnancy centers to get the truth. Let’s look at the five most common myths about pregnancy centers.
Myth #1: “Pregnancy centers are fake clinics”
Fact: Many pregnancy centers are legitimate medical clinics that focus on early pregnancy confirmation, options and reproductive education, and whole-women support.
Critics often label them as “fake clinics” simply because they do not provide all reproductive health services including abortion. Like other specialty medical clinics (dermatology, imaging centers, allergy clinics, and many OB/GYNs), they offer specific services within their scope of practice, not every medical service.
Pregnancy centers typically offer lab-quality pregnancy testing, limited OB ultrasounds, STI testing and treatment, and pregnancy, sexual health, and options education.
Many women grow up without ever being taught how their natural bodies work. Pregnancy centers have a heart to fill in this gap by educating women on their bodies, options, and support available to them. Their goal is not to find a quick, easy solution to an unexpected situation, but to help her find the means within herself to know what she’s capable of.
Even something as simple as understanding her menstrual cycle or gestational age changes the whole conversation. She shifts from viewing her body as a burden to recognizing its beauty and strength.
Care Net of Puget Sound, a pregnancy center with nine locations in Washington shares about their mission, “While it is true we do not encourage our clients to have abortions, our care is woman focused. We care for the woman in front of us. Our care is designed to empower women and men facing unplanned pregnancies to explore all their options and support them in making a life-affirming decision.” They also note that, “In 2024, clients reported a 99% satisfaction rate with our services.”
Just like any other specialty clinic, not offering every reproductive health service does not make them a fake clinic. It simply reflects their mission and scope: to empower women with accurate medical information, resources, and support so they can make a pregnancy decision with confidence.
Myth #2: “Pregnancy centers pose as medical facilities but aren’t real clinics.”
Fact: Medical pregnancy centers must meet clear requirements and follow the same standards as any healthcare facility.
These include:
- Physician Oversight: Operates under a licensed Medical Director, who ensures all medical services meet state standards.
- Licensed Medical Staff: The medical team includes Registered Nurses (RNs), Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (RDMS), and a Medical Doctor (MD/DO) who oversees and signs off on patient care.
- Adhere to State Regulations and HIPAA Compliance: Privacy and health information are fully protected and state healthcare regulations are met.
- Professional Standards: Staff maintains continuing education and follow detailed medical policies and procedures (P&P) to ensure safe, accurate care.
Reach Reproductive Health in St. Louis, Missouri expounds on this medical care, “As a pregnancy medical center, we are committed to the highest standards of best practices and medical excellence. Our goal is to ensure every patient receives the most medically accurate, up-to-date information so they can make decisions with true informed consent.”
Some centers even offer expanded women’s health services such as gynecology, midwifery, obstetrics, mental health counseling, and long-term reproductive health care.
Myth #3: “Pregnancy centers pressure women to carry to term or choose adoption.”
Fact: Reputable pregnancy centers remove the pressure to make a quick decision by slowing down the conversation and asking her what she’s feeling pulled toward. Instead of assuming what she wants, centers ask permission before offering information.
Women receive full information on all options including parenting, adoption, and abortion, so they can make a decision that is best for them. Ethical centers follow informed consent and transparency standards.
Unfortunately, in today’s fast-paced, hyper-digital world, having multiple options can feel overwhelming. Many women in Vitae Foundation’s Catch 22 research study expressed that decision fatigue made them wish someone would simply make the decision for them.
Often times women feel like they have only one choice, abortion, because of societal, financial, and relational pressure. Many women don’t know all the resources available to help them.
A recent patient at Care Net of Puget Sound is a great example, “I remember just feeling stuck. I felt like there was nothing I could do. I felt like abortion is the only answer and Care Net really changed all of that for me….my client advocate helped me apply for emergency Medicaid to find a doctor. I would go there and get so much support. I would go there for prayer. They really held my hand. Care Net felt like my family. They helped me know it’s possible to have this child. I had no idea there was anything out there where people would embrace you with love in their heart and no judgment, and it made all the difference.”
Pregnancy centers simply ensure women know their real options and the resources available, not just the one option they may feel cornered into.
The goal is empowerment, not persuasion.
Myth #4: “Pregnancy centers only care about the baby and the women who choose to carry to term.”
Fact: Pregnancy centers exist to support the woman, her health, her safety, her emotional well-being, and her long-term stability – regardless of her decision.
Care Net of Puget Sound explains this clearly, “After visiting our centers, clients know that whatever decision they make, they are welcome to come back to our center. Our Healing Tide program which provides post-abortive support to women, men and families and is a crucial part of what we do because we know some women will end their pregnancies (or are still grieving from ending their pregnancies years ago) and we want to be there to support and care for them.”
Pregnancy centers offer ongoing support and resources that women often say they wish they had before abortion. In Vitae Foundation’s Deeply Rooted study, women were asked to use their own experiences to create the “perfect” organization to help pregnant women who were considering abortion. The most mentioned services were financial assistance, job readiness, and housing resources.
Many centers offer extensive support services, including:
- After-abortion emotional care
- Community and resource referrals
- Medical providers
- Housing initiatives
- Social services
- Financial assistance
- Employment assistance
- Legal assistance
- Substance abuse care
- Domestic Violence care
- Adoption services
- Professional counseling
- Shelters and housing
- Local agency contacts
- Counseling
- Parenting and relationship classes
- Medical screenings
- Maternity and baby supplies
Not every provider provides this kind of long-term care. Even Planned Parenthoods 2023-2024 annual report reflects that prenatal services were offered less than 2% of the time, and only about 3% of their clinics even offer prenatal care at all.
Pregnancy comes with a lot of conflicting emotions and challenges, even for the woman who has no doubt about having the child. Pregnancy centers fill in the gaps many women say they haven’t found elsewhere. This is about whole-woman care. Not conditional support based on whether a woman’s choice reflects their mission.
Myth #5: “Pregnancy centers mislead women or have a hidden religious agenda.”
Fact: Reputable pregnancy centers are committed to honesty and transparency. While it’s true many centers began from a faith-based conviction, that doesn’t mean they have permission to mislead women.
Most successful organizations began with a personal experience or conviction that led to their life’s mission and career. Some of the earliest and largest hospitals were driven by religious groups with a conviction to care for the sick and hurting. Mayo Clinic’s first hospital, St. Mary’s, was funded, built, and staffed by Catholic nuns.
Having a religious origin or mission doesn’t make a clinic deceptive; it gives it values to stand on.
Reach Reproductive Health describes the pregnancy center approach: “At the heart of a pregnancy center is the belief that women deserve authentic choice. Our role is to create a safe, professional, and supportive space where patients can explore their options and receive trustworthy, comprehensive information without pressure or judgment.”
Pregnancy centers clearly disclose their services and policies. Their purpose is not to push an agenda but to ensure no woman feels that abortion is her only choice by offering real support, real information, and real care.
How to respond to misinformation about pregnancy centers:
- Acknowledge shared values
Most criticisms come from concern for women’s safety and privacy, which are values you share. Acknowledge that women should be cautious about where they get care. By highlighting common ground, you show that you both care deeply about women experiencing unexpected pregnancies.
- Ask more questions
Questions always bring clarity. Ask why they believe what they do or what experiences have shaped their perspective. This not only helps uncover gaps in information and belief systems but allows you to understand the heart behind their concerns. This creates space for a thoughtful, informed conversation rather than a debate.
- Respond with empathy, not defensiveness
Empathy shifts the conversation from conflict to understanding. Someone sharing misinformation is a whole person with their own story, just like you. Vitae Foundation’s Saving Grace study shows that attacking Planned Parenthood in response to misinformation only strengthens their brand. Instead, share real stories and outcomes. When women heard directly from their peers who were helped not harmed by pregnancy centers, it undermines misconceptions and humanizes the mission.
At the end of the day, women deserve more than assumptions and divisive noise, they deserve real care from people who see them as whole beings with complex stories, fears, and hopes. Pregnancy centers exist for that very reason.
When myths are stripped away and the facts are clear, it becomes evident that these centers are not obstacles, but valuable community resources dedicated to walking alongside women in some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.
Whatever a woman is facing, she should know this: trustworthy help does exist, and she deserves it.
