5 Reasons to Get Yourself Tested for STDs

Did you know that half of all sexually active young people in the U.S. will contract a sexually transmitted disease by the time they're 25--and that most won't even know it? This April, STD Awareness Month, Planned Parenthood of New York City is encouraging New Yorkers to educate themselves on sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and to get themselves tested. We've joined with MTV, the Kaiser Family Foundation, and other organizations for the seventh year of the award-winning Get Yourself Tested (GYT) campaign. GYT is a national campaign that includes online and on-the-ground activities to promote sexual health among young people. STDs impact young people the hardest. Half of the estimated 20 million sexually transmitted diseases in this country each year are in people under 25, although they represent only a quarter of people having sex. In New York City, females ages 15 to 19 have the highest rate of gonorrhea and Chlamydia, compared with females in all other age groups. Among males, those ages 20 to 24 have the highest rates of both gonorrhea and Chlamydia. Far more HIV diagnoses in New York City are in those ages 20 to 29 than in any other age group. Everyone deserves a sex life that is safe and healthy. Many sexually active young people may not realize that getting tested is part of basic preventive health care and can actually help improve their sex lives. Here are five things that young people should know about getting tested and STDs: 1. Getting yourself teste...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news