Every time I think of Get Yourself Tested that song, “Let’s Talk About Sex” by Salt-n-Pepa, pops into my head.   The lyrics make complete sense; they simply say, “let’s talk about all of the good and bad things about sex,” and the women in that group are referring to an important conversation people should have with their partners.

How easy is it to talk about the three letter word S-E-X? I think a few of us find it quite challenging. The awkwardness associated with discussing sex hangs over young people regardless of whether the word pops up amongst friends or family. I have always wondered why that is when sex causes some of the most common diseases in today’s society. (http://www.cdcnpin.org/stdawareness/gyt_campaign.htm)

We need to bring a change to this problem, to get more people comfortable about discussing sexual health concerns and issues. I believe we’d all be surprised what a small conversation could lead to, so I am going to provide a few talking tips all of us could use revolving around that three letter word “S-E-X.”

When talking to your parents:

• Sit down in a room where you can speak to them without any interruptions.
• Let them know you want to discuss something concerning your health.
• Be honest and upfront. You can say something like, “I want to make an important decision about sex and I want talk to you about getting tested for STI’s.”

Visit Planned Parenthood for more resources and tips at www.plannedparenthood.org/teen-talk

When talking to your friends:

• Try to keep the mood light and friendly.
• Refer to something you may have seen on a popular television network regarding sex.
• Be honest and encourage one another to get tested together.

When talking to your partner:

• Have an idea why you want to discuss STI testing with them.
• Be prepared for questions.
• Honesty is important in all relationships. You may want to start your conversation like this, “I’m not sure how you may feel about STI testing, however I think it’s important for the two of us to consider getting tested.”

For more tips on how to get the S-E-X conversation going and staying calm and relaxed, please visit the websites provided below.

Planned Parenthood offers plenty of information regarding talking about sexual health with parents and teens.

• www.plannedparenthood.org/talk-teen
• www.plannedparenthood.org/parents

Scarleteen, a website that can guide you towards topics for a conversation you may want to carry with your friends, parents, or health care provider.

• www.scareletteen.com

Get Yourself Talking now, it’s never too late chat.

Did you know that by the age 25, an estimated one in two sexually active young adults will contract an STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection)?

Did you know some STI’s show no symptoms?

Wait, one more, did you know those who may be infected may not know it?

It’s scary to think about and even scarier to not to know your status. Getting tested needs to become the norm in today’s society amongst young people. I personally would think the number of STI’s would decrease if some of us took out the time to go get tested.

Some of us out there are not sure where, when or how to get tested or are too scared to go alone. However, I am going to try to simplify those problems by providing some information to help you feel at ease. Just follow these few steps to becoming closer to knowing your status:

1. Locate your local health care provider and call to set up an appointment to be tested. Setting up an appointment for testing will prepare doctors for your visit and they will know what you’re there for.
2. Most health care providers suggest sexually active teens to be tested by the age 18. This is a good time to get tested because you are considered an adult. However, I think it may be a good idea to go earlier just to protect yourself and others. The sooner the better when you want to know if you’re infected with an STI.
3. Testing for STI’s does not come in one form. Testing different STI’s can require different types of testing. This is why it’s a good idea to make an appointment with your health care provider.
4. I’d say, take someone with you. Going with someone can help you relax and put you in good spirits. Ask a parent, friend, or your partner to join you. This way you have more support in taking a huge step towards knowing about your sexual health.

Okay, if I haven’t made your decision easier and you feel like you want or need more information you can check the following websites that I have provided.

MTV’s GYT FAQs page outlines several topics about getting tested.

• http://www.itsyoursexlife.com/gyt/articles/testing-faqs

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provide more information regarding STI testing and the importance of being tested.

• http://www.cdcnpin.org/stdawareness/gyt_campaign.htm

If you don’t have a regular health care provider, please visit Planned Parenthoods website to find a local health center near you for testing.

• http://www.plannedparenthood.org/about-us/where-we-work/health-center-directory-23127.htm

Get yourself tested, because you owe it to yourself. It’s better to know than to be left in the dark.

As we mark the start of a new year, let’s resolve to defeat cervical cancer, the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women.  Every year about 11,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with cervical cancer, and about 4,000 American women die of the disease. If we’re going to defeat cervical cancer, it’s important to know what causes it and how to protect ourselves from it.

Almost all cervical cancers are caused by HPV (human papilloma virus). HPV is a common virus that is spread through sexual intercourse. HPV is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections.There are many types of HPV. Certain high risk types of HPV can cause long-term infections that can lead to cervical cancer. Two types of HPV cause 70 percent of cases of cervical cancer.

Women usually don’t know they have cervical cancer because they don’t have any symptoms. Cancer cells cannot be seen with the naked eye, so women need to visit a gynecologist for routine cancer screenings. Regular screenings are the best way to identify precancerous cells and treat them before they become cancer. The most invasive cervical cancers are found in women who have not had regular Pap tests.

Cervical cancer is a preventable disease that women can protect themselves from. One of the quickest paths to eradicating this disease is through regular cervical cancer screenings and protecting yourself from HPV through consistent and correct condom use and/or the HPV vaccine.

You may find that you have more questions about cervical cancer and HPV, we recommend that you find the answers to your sexual health concerns by talking with your health care provider, or at a local women’s health center, like Planned Parenthood.