We need to take responsibility for transmitting infections and diseases to others. Save lives, money, heartache, and emotional burden by getting tested. If you could prevent yourself from passing along a life-threatening infection, disease, or inconvenience to someone, wouldn't you?

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TAKE ACTION TODAY

  1. Call your physician or locate a testing facility near you and make an appointment to get tested for Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) and HIV. Testing is anonymous and can be free of charge.
  2. Get the information you need before getting tested. Counseling and support are available to help assess your risks and understand your results.
  3. If your test results are negative and you are sexually active, use a condom. Abstinence is always the safest policy.
  4. If you test positive, be responsible: get treated and tell your intimate partner. Be honest and give full disclosure.
  5. Don't use drugs. If you do, don't share the needle.

FACTS

  • The U.S. has the highest rate of STDs in the industrialized world, with over 65 million people infected.
  • 19 million new cases of STDs are diagnosed every year.
  • 1 in 4 teens contracts an STD each year.
  • 1 in 2 sexually active persons will contract an STD by age 25.
  • Over $15.3 billion is spent each year to diagnose and treat STDs, excluding HIV.
  • Nearly 1.2 million people are estimated to have HIV, and 25% are unaware of their infection.
  • 50% of the population will likely have an STD at some point in their lifetime.
  • STDs and HIV and preventable.

More Ways to Make Your Mondays Matter
Register to donate your organs
Learn CPR
Help the hungry
Excerpted from: Every Monday Matters: 52 Ways to Make a Difference by Matthew Emerzian and Kelly Bozza. Copyright © 2008 Every Monday Matters LLC. Excerpted by permission of Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Published 12/25/2009

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