As a Wisconsin health professional who has served women of all ages in Madison and Milwaukee, I am outraged at the comments made by Mark Tuttle, communications director for Pro-Life Wisconsin, in the Sept. 29 edition of The Marquette Tribune.

In his statement that "family planning services are typically used by healthy women and do nothing to improve women's health," Mr. Tuttle disregards the fact that women of all ages depend on comprehensive reproductive health services and information to improve their own health as well as their families. Further, I am deeply offended by his remark that providing services that allow women to choose when to begin their families is somehow "morally reprehensible." I believe that it is in the best interest of women, children, families and society as a whole to support family planning services and prevent unintended pregnancies.

Contrary to Mr. Tuttle's remarks, family planning works. The benefits of investing in reproductive health care include fewer high-risk pregnancies, lower infant and maternal mortality rates, lower abortion rates and the prevention of sexually transmitted infections.

Birth control pills are often used to address serious and painful health conditions, such as endometriosis.

In light of the fact that more than half of the pregnancies conceived each year in the United States are unintended, improved access to contraception must remain a priority in women's health care.

Finally, it is clear that Mr. Tuttle is misinformed about the mode of action of emergency contraception. "Plan B" (the most commonly used form of EC) acts primarily by preventing ovulation. It seems to me that if Mr. Tuttle is interested in reducing rates of abortion that he would support the use of a medication that can, with very few risks and side effects, prevent ovulation and subsequent unplanned pregnancy.

If we're going to truly support the women and families of our communities, we need to improve access to comprehensive women's health care and integrate all aspects that contribute to their well-being. This includes improved access to mental health services and domestic violence prevention, adequate prenatal care and child care services, nutrition assistance and health promoting activities including contraceptive coverage. We need to ensure that we look at a woman's mind, body and spirit as a whole and no longer allow individuals to marginalize reproductive health care and threaten this critical component of women's general health.

Osborne is a certified nurse midwife for Health Professionals for Reproductive Care.