Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains: Get Yourself Talking, Get Yourself Tested

Get Yourself Talking, Get Yourself Tested
by Daniel Ceballos, Vice President for Community Education, Professional Training and Organizational Diversity at Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains

As many as one in two sexually active people will contract an STD by age 25. According to the CDC, men who have sex with men (MSM) accounted for 53 percent of the estimated new HIV infections in 2006. These startling statistics are a wake up call to us all! In many ways, we are failing to teach our young people the skills and knowledge necessary to prevent STDs.

Currently, members of the Colorado Senate are considering a resolution to recognize the need for science-based, comprehensive, medically-accurate, culturally relevant, and age-appropriate sex education. We applaud this resolution – but it’s not enough - we need to stress the importance of STD awareness and prevention in sex education that is inclusive of the LGBTQ community.

Today, many sex education programs focus primarily on preventing teen pregnancy. While these lessons are extremely important, STD prevention often falls to the wayside and does not receive the equal attention it deserves. Moreover, pregnancy prevention generally does not pertain to LGBTQ students. As a result of this neglect, scores of students and young adults, gay and straight alike, do not understand how STDs are transmitted and STD prevention is not made a priority. Additionally, myths related to STDs continue to flourish… and there is still a powerful stigma associated with simply being responsible and getting oneself tested.

Our goal should be to empower ALL young people to take control of their health and their sex lives-to be personally responsible with how they act in their sexual behaviors. In an effort to reach this goal, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains has joined with MTV, the Kaiser Family Foundation, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in a month long campaign to motivate youth to GYT — Get Yourself Talking and Get Yourself Tested. Components of the campaign include messages around talking with partners and healthcare providers about STDs and STD testing, low cost testing dates, and taking responsibility for one’s sexual life and sexual decisions.

This monthlong campaign should serve as a reminder to us all about the importance of STD prevention and STD testing. STDs do not discriminate! Everyone, young and old, gay and straight, who is sexually active (regardless of whether pregnancy prevention is one’s goal or not), should make GYT a regular part of their lives throughout the year. Let’s get talking- and let’s get tested!

Click here for more information about GYT.


PPRM celebrates National Condom Week!

To kickoff National Condom Week, February 14-19, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains will give away condoms in exchange for a minimal donation at its health centers in Colorado all week; proceeds will then be donated to a Planned Parenthood International (PPI) project to buy condoms in for populations who are at great risk Latin America.

In addition to protecting themselves and their partners from unintended pregnancy and STDs, clientele who participate in this campaign will become part of an effort to increase access to sexual and reproductive health information and services in the most remote and underserved communities around the world.

National Condom Week, which originally began at the University of California, Berkeley in the ‘70s, has great relevance in America too.  Research shows that every year in the United States there are more than three million unintended pregnancies, and approximately 19 million women and men will contract a sexually transmitted disease.  Condoms used consistently and correctly provide the best protection against sexually transmitted infections for sexually active women and men. They also protect against unintended pregnancy.

Yet many people don’t know how to properly use a condom. In a study published in the International Journal of STD and AIDS in 2008, men attending an STD clinic reported that during the previous three month period:

• 29 percent put the condom on upside down and then turned it over;
• 28.4 percent removed the condom before completing intercourse;
• 30 percent experienced problems with fit or feel of the condom;
• 31 percent had a condom break.

PPRM encourages men and women to take responsibility for their sexual health; National Condom Week is an opportunity for sexually active partners to discuss whose responsibility it is to provide condoms.  In fact, Planned Parenthood’s line of Proper Attire condoms are available year‑round at Planned Parenthood health centers, or they can be ordered online by going to www.properattirecondoms.com.

MileHighGayGuy Advertiser Shout Out: Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains provides services for gay men in the Denver metro area including STD Testing and Treatment, HIV Testing and Education, Prostate and Testicular Cancer Screenings, and Education and Referrals.

MileHighGayGuy Advertiser Shout Out: Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains provides services for gay men in the Denver metro area including STD Testing and Treatment, HIV Testing and Education, Prostate and Testicular Cancer Screenings, and Education and Referrals.

MileHighGayGuy Advertiser Shout Out: Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains provides services for gay men in the Denver metro area including STD Testing and Treatment, HIV Testing and Education, Prostate and Testicular Cancer Screenings, and Education and Referrals.

MileHighGayGuy Advertiser Shout Out: Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains provides services for gay men in the Denver metro area including STD Testing and Treatment, HIV Testing and Education, Prostate and Testicular Cancer Screenings, and Education and Referrals.

MileHighGayGuy Advertiser Shout Out: Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains provides services for gay men in the Denver metro area including STD Testing and Treatment, HIV Testing and Education, Prostate and Testicular Cancer Screenings, and Education and Referrals.

PPRM expands Men's Sexual Health Program in Aurora

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains' Aurora health center offers expanded services for men including evaluation and treatment for rapid ejaculation and erectile dysfunction, STD testing and treatment, physical exams and preventive health care.

MileHighGayGuy Advertiser Shout Out: Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains provides services for gay men in the Denver metro area including STD Testing and Treatment, HIV Testing and Education, Prostate and Testicular Cancer Screenings, and Education and Referrals.

MileHighGayGuy Advertiser Shout Out: Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains provides services for gay men in the Denver metro area including STD Testing and Treatment, HIV Testing and Education, Prostate and Testicular Cancer Screenings, and Education and Referrals.

MileHighGayGuy Advertiser Shout Out: Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains provides services for gay men in the Denver metro area including STD Testing and Treatment, HIV Testing and Education, Prostate and Testicular Cancer Screenings, and Education and Referrals.

MileHighGayGuy Advertiser Shout Out: Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains provides services for gay men in the Denver metro area including STD Testing and Treatment, HIV Testing and Education, Prostate and Testicular Cancer Screenings, and Education and Referrals.

MileHighGayGuy Advertiser Shout Out: Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains provides services for gay men in the Denver metro area including STD Testing and Treatment, HIV Testing and Education, Prostate and Testicular Cancer Screenings, and Education and Referrals.

MileHighGayGuy Advertiser Shout Out: Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains provides services for gay men in the Denver metro area including STD Testing and Treatment, HIV Testing and Education, Prostate and Testicular Cancer Screenings, and Education and Referrals.

MileHighGayGuy Advertiser Shout Out: Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains provides services for gay men in the Denver metro area including STD Testing and Treatment, HIV Testing and Education, Prostate and Testicular Cancer Screenings, and Education and Referrals.

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains and Rocky Mountain CARES partner to offer free HIV testing for World AIDS Day

In recognition of World AIDS Day, Dec. 1, Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains is partnering with Rocky Mountain CARES to offer free HIV testing at PPRM’s Aurora and Central health centers.  PPRM’s Central health center is located in Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood.

 

Clients are encouraged to make an appointment or walk in to either health center for testing. PPRM’s HIV test is a simple finger prick and results are available within 12 minutes or less.

 

“PPRM has consistently provided HIV testing and referrals as part of our comprehensive reproductive health care and basic primary care services and we are proud to partner with Rocky Mountain CARES. Our organizations share the common goal of helping communities affected by and infected with HIV and creating an inclusive, safe environment for those we help, free of stigma and discrimination. We believe in empowering individuals to make informed, responsible choices about their sexual and reproductive health,” said Amy Dickson, PPRM Vice President of Clinical Services.

 

PPRM’s 23 health centers throughout the state offer HIV testing and referrals and patient education year-round in addition to working to increase awareness about HIV/AIDS on and leading up to World AIDS Day. PPRM’s Advocates for Choice campus group at Colorado College will recognize World AIDS Day by hosting activities to help foster discussions about HIV/AIDS and the importance of getting tested.

 

“Considering that one in five people who are living with HIV/AIDS are unaware of their status, we are encouraging people to get tested and to make it a part of their annual health check-ups,” said Dickson.

 

The Colorado AIDS Project estimates that as of Sept. 30, 2008, there were 10,613 people known to be living with HIV/AIDS in Colorado. In 2008, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that 85 percent of people living in the United States with AIDS are between the ages of 20 and 50.

 

The CDC recommends routine HIV testing for all individuals age 13 to 64. However, stigma, fear, judgment and other barriers continue to get in the way of yearly testing, which is very easy.

 

For more information about PPRM’s free HIV testing on Dec. 1, please visit pprm.org or contact 1-800-230-PLAN.

MileHighGayGuy Advertiser Shout Out: Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains provides services for gay men in the Denver metro area including STD Testing and Treatment, HIV Testing and Education, Prostate and Testicular Cancer Screenings, and Education and Referrals.

MileHighGayGuy Advertiser Shout Out: Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains provides services for gay men in the Denver metro area including STD Testing and Treatment, HIV Testing and Education, Prostate and Testicular Cancer Screenings, and Education and Referrals.

MileHighGayGuy Advertiser Shout Out: Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains provides services for gay men in the Denver metro area including STD Testing and Treatment, HIV Testing and Education, Prostate and Testicular Cancer Screenings, and Education and Referrals.

MileHighGayGuy Advertiser Shout Out: Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains

Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains provides services for gay men in the Denver metro area including STD Testing and Treatment, HIV Testing and Education, Prostate and Testicular Cancer Screenings, and Education and Referrals.