Cervical Cancer Awareness Month (and more)

[Monster Magnet]

Hi all,

This is a month where the spotlight is on cervical cancer prevention. I think it's also an excellent time to say women should think about their sexual health in general. In addition to regular Pap tests, consider STD testing. All sexually active women age 25 and under should have an annual test for chlamydia, for example.


Think also about the quality of your relationships: are you treated well, are you happy? Talk to your partner about sexual health. Have you both had an HIV test? Make it a two-way conversation.

Make 2011 a year where you are proactive about your health! Pap tests, appropriate STD tests, and insisting on a relationship that gives you the respect and love you deserve.

Learn more about STD testing here.

Read about healthy relationships for you and your partner here!

[ewhite]

I had no idea January was cervical cancer awareness month. The HPV vaccine can prevent cervical cancer so contact your health care provider if you are a woman between ages 9-25 and have not recieved it (this vaccine was also recently approved for boys and young men to prevent genital warts and anal cancer).

Make 2011 a year where you are proactive about your health! Pap tests, appropriate STD tests, and insisting on a relationship that gives you the respect and love you deserve.

You mention "appropriate STD tests." What exactly does that mean?

[Monster Magnet]

Lars asked about "appropriate STD tests"

Great question, Lars. There's no one size fits all answer here, but there are some situations in which STD testing is especially important.

For example,most experts agree with recommendations that call for ALL sexually active women under age 26 to have a chlamydia test annually. This is because chlamydia is so common in younger women and teens, but there are often no symptoms or tell-tale signs. Chlamydia is easy and inexpensive to treat, but you gotta know it's there first!

Also, gay and bisexual men are at increased risk for HIV, hepatitis B, and syphilis.

Everyone should have at least one HIV test in their lives, maybe more depending on individual risk factors.

Pregnant women should be tested for HIV, hep B, syphilis, chlamydia and, depending on their risk profile, potentially gonorrhea and hep C, too.

Really, anyone who has sex...male or female....straight, gay, or bisexual...young or old...is at risk for STDs. It's an important topic for everyone to think about.