ShouldIGetSTDTested.com Experts Recommend Getting to Know Your Sexual Health Risk

CHICAGO, March 31 /PRNewswire/ -- To increase one's sexual health awareness and to draw national attention to an increasingly important issue, visitors to ShouldIGetSTDTested.com can learn about their health risk and encourage their partner to get tested.

When one orders up to eight of the most common tests for sexually transmitted diseases, a partner can order the same tests free during the week of April 1-6. This initiative is a move to encourage the conversation about sexual health between partners. The educational site's companion site for ordering tests, getSTDtested.com, is offering the free tests to highlight April as national STD awareness month.

Increasing the awareness of one particular STD, singer Lady Gaga recently agreed to help MAC AIDS Fund promote HIV testing. Lady Gaga emphasizes the importance of overall sexual health when speaking for the Fund. "Use protection, and be selective and strong about those you love," she said. "Your body is sacred, and it's OK to say no. Make your partners get tested, go together: it will only make your relationship stronger and healthier."

A recent MAC AIDS Fund-sponsored poll of 1,000 American women indicates:

• 73 percent do not know their current HIV status
• 78 percent say they've had unprotected sex
• Over half say they have never had an HIV test
• Nearly six in 10 believe they are in a monogamous relationship and don't get tested

The informative and innovative sites, ShouldIGetSTDTested.com and STDUniversity.org provide interactive, personalized STD test recommendations developed by academic and medical experts. The recommendations include screening guidelines from authorities including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The assessment delivers a personalized test recommendation for the most common and prevalent STDs, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C.

The president of the nation's oldest STD education and advocacy organization agrees that testing is a crucial component in addressing the epidemic. "Determining one's risk for infection is extremely important, as most cases of STDs are unrecognized and undiagnosed," says Lynn Barclay, president of the American Social Health Association. Barclay says partners should have open, frank discussions before having sex. "We've helped millions of people learn how to protect themselves, and also to talk to their partners and know what to do if they have an STD or sexually transmitted infection. Sexual health is important . We all have a responsibility to protect it," she says.

Once your risk is determined, expert medical recommendations from the online site narrow the focus to specific tests based on one's lifestyle and national statistics.

"No matter the age, anyone who is sexually active should consider testing. Getting tested is the first step in helping to control the spread of chlamydia, HIV and other common STDs. Make it a routine part of your medical care and discuss it with your partner. When opportunities arise for free screening, take advantage of the opportunity to actively maintain your sexual health," says Dr. Barbara Van Der Pol of Indiana University Department of Medicine.

The options for learning about appropriate tests and ordering them in a trusted virtual environment are increasing as consumers get extremely comfortable with doing things online.

"Our personal test recommendation tools were developed and reviewed by academic, medical and health experts in response to concerns that consumers were being forced to guess what STD tests they needed. Public health officials complain that some online tools may wrongly guide consumers to test for all STDs. We do not believe in creating unnecessary fear or ordering unnecessary tests. Our expert-based recommendations are convenient and anonymous," says Tracey Powell, CEO of getSTDtested.com the testing arm of the educational sites ShouldIGetSTDTested.com and STDUniversity.org.

About STDUniversity.org

STDUniversity.org is organized as a 501-c(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to provide edutainment-based non-judgmental information about sexually transmitted diseases. It is the first online site to provide an interactive, personalized STD test recommendation developed by academic and medical experts.

About getSTDtested.com & ShouldIGetSTDTested.com

As more consumers turn to the internet for health information, getSTDtested.com is setting the gold standard for online STD awareness and testing, helping to destigmatize, prevent, and control sexually transmitted diseases. The online confidential clinic makes it easy for individuals at risk for STDs to get confidential diagnostic testing as well as professional and peer-to-peer referrals. Visit getSTDtested.com, ShouldIGetSTDTested.com  and the sponsored webisode series at OmissionTheMovie.com.

Contact: Kellee Johnson, 312.751.3959 or [email protected].

SOURCE getSTDtested.com