*•.¸♡ N♥a♥t♥i♥o♥n♥a♥l♥ C♥o♥u♥p♥l♥e♥s♥ A♥p♥p♥r♥e♥c♥i♥a♥t♥i♥o♥n♥ M♥o♥n♥t♥h♥ ♡¸.•*

April is National Couple Appreciation Month and this is special to many. I chose to make this blog about some couples that I think is cute and I've watched. I also asked some people who were in relationships to give me their take on their relationship and why does it work so well for them. Sadly I did it last minute so I was unable to get a nice amount but, you will hear from me and my husband on what makes our relationship works. I hope you enjoy the blog and stay tune for more to come...

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Our Lovely First Lady and President Obama

Their love shines through everything, you can feel the love just by looking at them. Aside from my RL mom and dad, they are by far my fave couple. ❤

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Beyonce and Jay Z

They have shown us that they are not perfect but their love surpasses it all. And I love that they are so private with their life. ❤

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Jada and Will Smith

They have such a warming relationship and such wisdom. Jada's Red Round table puts us more into her and their lives and their struggles as a couple. I love that they are so real. ❤

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Queen Naija and Clarence White

Still somewhat new in their relationship but when you see them it makes your heart smile how loving they are. It's cute especially when you've seen it grow. ❤

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Destiny and Remy Davis

Destiny - What makes us work? The fact that we've been through a lot and came out on the other side stronger than we was before. When things happen you learn to grow and take in a lot. If we go through things we've learned to talk them through and remember that your love is bigger than the non problem. He gets me and I get him and that is what helps us work. We're not perfect but we are definitely perfect for each other. I couldn't imagine being with anyone else. I love my hubby. :)

Remy - Whats her love does for me? Picks me up when I have fallen and lets me lean on her for strength, makes my dark days brighter no matter how dark it may seem her love brings a light in my life like no other. When I have pain, her voice, her touch, and her presence calm the pain making it feel like it was never there.  When I need a hug, she wraps her loving arms around me and makes me feel loved even when she is angry with me, she stays and sits with me cuddles with me until we talk it out. She goes above and beyond to make people feel welcomed in our home. She's a Doctor,  Mother Teacher, Child, Sister, Friend, Homemaker, Designer, Bestie, Nurturer, lifeline, dancer, soulmate, lover and my WIFE. There no one like her and I am thankful. God made her just for me and me alone and she sprinkles her love on our children, family, friends, and anyone who crosses her path. Thank you for being my sidekick, my partner, my baby, my love, my best friend, and my WIFE I love you Destiny. ❤

                                                    ******************************

When’s the last time you went out of your way to show some true affection to your other half? If your romantic memories all consist of Hulu and pizza, maybe it’s time for some passion.

Couple Appreciation Month Activities

• Put it in writing - Want to add a special touch? Jot down a line or two from a romantic poem or love song.
• Remember when? -  Instead of dropping cash on a big gesture, take your one-and-only to the spot where you proposed or where you first met.
• Cook - Making food together seems to stir up passion. Don't know how? Choose from about 175 million recipes online. You do have an internet connection, yes?

Signing Out

 ~ Dr. Destiny Davis-Santiago

                       aka Big Sister On Point

National Picnic Day

                                                                     *•.¸('*•.¸ ♥ ¸.•*´)¸.• *
                                                                .•*♥¨`•NATIONAL•¨`♥*•.
                                                                   ¸.•*(¸.•*´ ♥ `*•.¸)`*•.¸ 
                                                                        PICNIC DAY
      National Picnic Day is celebrated on April 23rd, and there is nothing more fun then spending the day enjoying the sunshine and outdoors atmosphere with those you love. I plan to spend this holiday with my children, by pulling out my grill and packing an assortment of meats and treats to take to the park across the way from our home, and have a BBQ picnic! Now, for those of you who don't have children, this doesn't exclude you. If you are in a relationship this could be a day to switch up and make things a little exciting; a little romantic picnic lunch or dinner for two!   I would be creative by having fruit dips and chocolate covered fruits, and adding my own little personal touch here and there. For the young, single and ready to mingle, this day can be utilized as a social gathering for friends, everyone brings a dish to pass, and then spend the day enjoying each others company and breaking bread. National Picnic Day is a day to spend time with those you love, and nothing says, "I love you", more than food made from your heart.

           Coming from yours truly,
                  Dr. Sugababy Brite AKA Big Sister Keep It 100

🏃‍♀️ Every Kid Healthy Week 🏃‍♂️

Launched by Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK) in 2013, Every Kid Healthy Week is an annual observance on the calendar of National Health Observances that celebrates school wellness achievements. Observed the last week of April each year, this special week shines spotlight on the link between nutrition, physical activity, and learning and the great efforts schools are making to improve the health and wellness of students— because healthy kids are better prepared to learn!

Every Kid Healthy Week is all about celebrating your school’s wellness initiatives and inspiring new ideas to promote healthy eating, nutrition education and physical activity. Schools can show their commitment to wellness by hosting an event that focuses on healthy kids and families.

More than 7,000 schools have hosted events since 2013, and more than 3 million students, staff, family, and community members have participated in tasting new, nutritious foods at taste tests; learning health tips at school health fairs; competing in field days, running in fun runs; and much, much more.

Making sure your child is eating healthy and getting all of the right nutrition needed throughout the day is not hard but can be time consuming for a parent on the go. One easy fix to that is prepare lunches for the whole week. One stop shop! Label each day and put it in the refrigerator. 

Kids health is very importance especially since children these days seem to be overweight so we must help them stay healthy and avoid different illnesses. 

Encourage youth to get up and get outside!

The facts:

• One in three kids in the U.S. is overweight or obese.
• One in two U.S. students does not receive physical education in an average week
• Severely obese children miss school 4 times as often as children of a healthy weight.
• Schools lack the resources and support necessary to implement changes that can positively impact not only health outcomes for students but also their readiness to learn and succeed in school and beyond.
• The U.S. spends $119 billion annually on obesity-related health care costs.

Signing out

Dr. Destiny Davis-Santiago aka 

                        Big Sister On Point

*•.¸♡ нυsвαη∂ αρρяεcιαтιση ∂αү! ♡¸.•*

The History of Husband Appreciation Day

For as long as there have been wives, there have been husbands, and these two companions have worked together to maintain their families and homes. Of course, the role of husbands in families has changed over the years, but they aren’t any less (or more!) worthy of that appreciation! Traditionally, if such a thing can be said to exist, husbands were the bread winners of the family, going out to work each day to bring in the money needed to support their families. Looking back even further the husband was the hunter of the hunter-gatherer set, so bringing home the bacon was even more literal than it was when it merely referred to the money they earned to buy the bacon!

Now, anyone who lives in today’s world (that’s all of us) knows that the reality of the single earner family is no longer true to our day to day existence. Instead it is typical that both partners work, (or more partners in poly relationships), or in some cases it’s the wife that is the bread-winner, bringing about the term ‘house-husband’ for the stay at home male partner.

The most important role of a husband isn’t the money they bring in, or even the work they do taking care of the home in the case of a house-husband. But the love and support they give to their partners. This emotional element is so much more important than anything else they do, and they are as tireless in this as in all other things.

I chose to do this blog because this means something to me. My husband is not only my soulmate, my confidante, my biggest supporter, the Clyde to my Bonnie, the most loving and caring person but he is also my very best friend.

When I think of what a husband should be, I think about him and how special he makes me feel. When I'm sad he's my shoulder, when I'm happy we are silly together, when I'm sick he is my medicine. 

I appreciate him every single day but today I would like to put emphasis on why he means so much to me and to let him know that he is appreciated.

Ladies be sure to let your hubbies know exactly how you feel about them, tomorrow is not promised and sometimes we forget our husbands need to hear how much they are appreciated too. 

Every day they’re out there, caring for their families in a million different ways. Things have changed over the years, and Husband’s roles have changed with it. What hasn’t changed is the appreciation they deserve for all their tireless efforts. Husband Appreciation Day reminds us to take a little time each year to celebrate these wonderful men and everything they do.

All the reasons I love you....

He protects and watches over us

Get down and dance with me showing support always

Always by my side

When I'm sick you are right there trying to make me feel better. 

All in all you have my back always....

Show the husbands some love and appreciation. 

Signing out

Destiny Davis-Santiago MD

                   aka Big Sister On Point

Distracted Driving Awareness

Welcome to my first blog. On a more serious note, driving and being easily distracted is very dangerous and should not be taken lightly. listed below are several reasons why we need to all be more careful. driving and texting or looking for your cell phones, answering calls or anything else is dangerous can end up fatal.. Please talk to your children as well, you never want to get a phone call from the police with bad news followed behind it...

Distracted driving is any activity that diverts attention from driving, including talking or texting on your phone, eating and drinking, talking to people in your vehicle, fiddling with the stereo, entertainment or navigation system—anything that takes your attention away from the task of safe driving. Texting is the most alarming distraction.

• Over 2.5 million people in the U.S. are involved in road accidents each year. The population of the US is just 318.9 million. At this rate, the American people could be extinct in two human lifespans. This is an astounding number of car accidents.
• Of these, 1.6 million have a cell phone involved in them. That’s 64% of all the road accidents in the United States. Over half the road accidents in the States have cell phones involved, and if this doesn’t make you realize just how potent it is, what will?

• 37,000+ people die in automobile crashes in the U.S every year

• According to Kansas City car accident attorney Sam Wendt, 3450 people were killed as a result of distracted driving in 2016.  However, due to difficulty in measuring distraction in fatal crashes, this is likely a severe undercount.
• Every year, about 421,000 people are injured in crashes that have involved a driver who was distracted in some way.
• Each year, over 330,000 accidents caused by texting while driving lead to severe injuries. This means that over 78% of all distracted drivers are distracted because they have been texting while driving.

• 1 out of 4 car accidents in the US are caused by texting while driving.

• Texting and driving is 6 times more likely to get you into an accident than drunk driving. That’s right, it is actually safer for someone to get wasted and get behind the wheel than to text and do it.
• It takes an average of three seconds after a driver’s mind is taken off the road for any road accident to occur. This is the bare minimum amount of time it takes, and it is surprisingly small. Three seconds is the time it takes to turn your ignition when starting your car.
• Reading a text message while driving successfully distracts a driver for a minimum of five seconds each time. This means that the chances of an accident occurring while reading a text is extremely high indeed.
• The average speed in the US is about 55mph. Taking five seconds to read a text in this time means that the driver travels the length of a football field without looking at the road, or being distracted. There are so many vehicles on the road now that this means there is a huge chance of something terrible happening in this distance.
• When you text while driving, the time that you spend with your eyes off the road increases by about 400%. It is already dangerous enough to be distracted by NATURE while driving. So why make things 4 times as bad by texting?
• The chances of a crash because of any reason is increased by 23 times when you are texting. Even if the crash is another driver’s fault, you will probably have been able to avoid it if you had been looking at the road instead of the phone.
• When you compare this to the 2.8 times more risk that dialing a number on a phone imparts, you know that you are playing with fire.
• Every day, 11 teenagers die because they were texting while driving.
• 94% of teenagers understand the consequences of texting and driving, but 35% of them admitted that they do it anyway.
• Of all the teenagers ever involved in fatal accidents every year, 21% were using a cell phone at the time of the accident.
• Teen drivers have a 400% higher chance of being in a car crash when texting while driving than adults.
• 25% of teens respond to at least one text while driving, every single time.
• 10% of adults and 20% of teenagers have admitted that they have entire conversations over text message platforms while driving.
• 82% of American teenagers own a cell phone, and use it regularly to call and text message.
• 52% of these talk on the phone while driving, and 32% text on the road.
• When polled, 77% of adults and 55% of teenage drivers say that they can easily manage texting while driving.
• When teens text while they drive, they veer off lane 10% of their total drive time.
• A study at the University of Utah found out that the reaction time for a teen using a cell phone is the same as that of a 70 year old who isn’t using one.
• 48% of kids in their younger teenage years have been in a car while the driver was texting. Over 1600 children in the same age group are killed each year because of crashes involving texters.
• https://binged.it/2GlDHzZ
• 
  

 

Posted Yesterday by Pinky Rufus

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Sexual Assault Awareness

I'm coming to you tonight on a serious note. My previous blog was about siblings and while they mean the world to me, my heart sinks to write this next blog. If you ask anyone about me, they will say I am the silly one, that I am always making people laugh or smile, however when it comes to this certain topic, nothing about it is funny, silly, or happy about it. April is Autism Awareness month, and among many other things, but also April stands for something else, its also Sexual Assault Awareness month. While getting my fact checker together, and trying to prep for some notes for this blog, I was amazed at the statistics I was seeing. Very informative but very heartbreaking at the same time. I hope this blog helps or informs someone in some way. Here's a few facts and statistics to get us started.

• One in five women and one in 71 men will be raped at some point in their lives 
• In the U.S., one in three women and one in six men experienced some form of contact sexual violence in their lifetime
• 51.1% of female victims of rape reported being raped by an intimate partner and 40.8% by an acquaintance
• 52.4% of male victims report being raped by an acquaintance and 15.1% by a stranger (a)
• Almost half (49.5%) of multiracial women and over 45% of American Indian/Alaska Native women were subjected to some form of contact sexual violence in their lifetime (o)
• 91% of victims of rape and sexual assault are female, and nine percent are male (m)
• In eight out of 10 cases of rape, the victim knew the perpetrator 
• Eight percent of rapes occur while the victim is at work 

ONE IN FIVE WOMEN--- Think about you standing with 4 other women in a room. One of those women have been raped at some point in their lives. My heart breaks for anyone who has experienced this type of pain. NO ONE should ever have to experience this. NO ONE should ever have to be a statistic on a website. EVERY ONE has the right to say no, and it bothers me to my core that every one in 5 women, and one in 71 men had that option took from them. Eight out 10 rapes, the victim knew their perpetrator. Think about that. Someone they loved, trusted, knew violated them in the worst possible way. How sad is that. Not only did they strip them of their right to choice, but they also violated the trust that the victim had for them. It makes me wonder,  We as a country need to be more involved in our friends and families lives, we need to step up and watch out for one another. Speak up and say ENOUGH is ENOUGH! As a woman, a mother, a sister, a niece, a aunt, and a friend, I am saying we need to be more involved in watching out for one another, more involved in protecting our sisters and brothers, and we need to watch out not just for women, but for men and our children. 

• One in four girls and one in six boys will be sexually abused before they turn 18 years old
• 30% of women were between the ages of 11 and 17 at the time of their first completed rape
• 12.3% of women were age 10 or younger at the time of their first completed rape victimization 
• 27.8% of men were age 10 or younger at the time of their first completed rape victimization
• More than one third of women who report being raped before age 18 also experience rape as an adult
• 96% of people who sexually abuse children are male, and 76.8% of people who sexually abuse children are adults 
• 34% of people who sexually abuse a child are family members of the child
• It is estimated that 325,000 children per year are currently at risk of becoming victims of commercial child sexual exploitation
• The average age at which girls first become victims of prostitution is 12-14 years old, and the average age at which boys first become victims of prostitution is 11-13 years old
• Only 12% of child sexual abuse is ever reported to the authorities

I am honestly shocked at the numbers I just posted above. I wished I could say we live in a perfect world, but we do not. Evil is at an all time high, which is why I am coming to you with these staggering results. Sexual Assault does not discriminate against a color, a religion, a social status, or even a race. It can happen at any time, any where, to anyone. This blog has been an eye opener for me, and It is my vow, that after this blog, I will be more cautious of my surroundings, the people in my life, and I will do more and be more involved to make sexual assault stop, against any man, woman, or child. If you want to be more involved, I will be listing some websites down below. Thank you for reading. Until next time, take care of yourself and take care of each other.

If you or anyone you know has been sexually assaulted, I encourage you to reach out and call

National Sexual Assault Hotline

Call 1-800-656-4673

Available 24 hours everyday

https://www.nsvrc.org/get-involved

Christy Blazewood

ღ(¯`◕‿◕´¯) ᗩᑌ丅Ꭵᔕᗰ ᗩᗯᗩᖇᗴᑎᗴᔕᔕ ᗰᗝᑎ丅ᕼ (¯`◕‿◕´¯)ღ

Autism Awareness Month aims to put a spotlight on the hurdles that people with autism – and others living with autism – face every day. As a growing global health issue owing to its increasing exposure in the press and common knowledge, autism is an issue that is only gaining more understanding.

What’s more, Autism Awareness Month goes one step further to celebrate the unique talents of those with autism, while putting a huge focus on the warm embrace and welcome that these skills deserve through community events around the globe.

This month is special to a lot of people for a lot of different reasons. For me, it is special to me because I used to work with children with Autism and let me tell you, they are the most awesome people on this planet. The eager to learn and the sweetness. Not only that by my SL Sister Reececupz is a parent of a child with Autism and when she posts pictures of this lil guy it just melts my heart. As she stated last year in her blog it is challenging, but also rewarding at the same time. There are different levels of Autism on the spectrum. It can range from high functioning to severe. Some individuals may be extremely smart or gifted in areas, others may be need a lot of assistance with learning, communications etc.

What is Autism?

When people refer to “Autism” today, they are usually talking about Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), which is a brain-based disorder characterized by social-communication challenges and restricted repetitive behaviors, activities, and interests. The Centers for Disease Control describes ASDs as: “a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. There is often nothing about how people with ASD look that sets them apart from other people, but people with ASD may communicate, interact, behave, and learn in ways that are different from most other people.

Possible signs of autism in babies and toddlers:

• By 6 months, no social smiles or other warm, joyful expressions directed at people
• By 6 months, limited or no eye contact
• By 9 months, no sharing of vocal sounds, smiles or other nonverbal communication
• By 12 months, no babbling
• By 12 months, no use of gestures to communicate (e.g. pointing, reaching, waving etc.)
• By 12 months, no response to name when called
• By 16 months, no words
• By 24 months, no meaningful, two-word phrases
• Any loss of any previously acquired speech, babbling or social skills

Possible signs of autism at any age:

• Avoids eye contact and prefers to be alone
• Struggles with understanding other people’s feelings
• Remains nonverbal or has delayed language development
• Repeats words or phrases over and over (echolalia)
• Gets upset by minor changes in routine or surroundings
• Has highly restricted interests
• Performs repetitive behaviors such as flapping, rocking or spinning
• Has unusual and often intense reactions to sounds, smells, tastes, textures, lights and/or colors
• The learning, thinking, and problem-solving abilities of people with ASD can range from gifted to severely challenged. Some people with ASD need a lot of help in their daily lives; others need less.”Autism is about 4.5 times more likely to affect boys than girls, and is found in all racial, ethnic, and social groups. There is no known single cause for autism, although the best available science points to important genetic components. Through twin studies, scientists have determined that autism is a genetically based condition.

Talk with your healthcare provider

Depending on the screening results, your doctor may refer your child to a specialist for a full diagnostic evaluation for autism. However, you don’t need an autism diagnosis for your child to begin receiving services for related developmental delays or learning challenges. So keep in mind that you can begin accessing services to help your child while you wait on a full evaluation.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by social-interaction difficulties, communication challenges and a tendency to engage in repetitive behaviors. However, symptoms and their severity vary widely across these three core areas. Taken together, they may result in relatively mild challenges for someone on the high functioning end of the autism spectrum. For others, symptoms may be more severe, as when repetitive behaviors and lack of spoken language interfere with everyday life.

In honor of Autism Awareness Month, Eta Sigma Delta is selling Autism clothing to raise money for Autism Awareness. All proceeds will be donated. Want to help make a difference? Check out the clothing here... Shop Autism Awareness Clothing

Also join us on April 29th 2019 for our 4th Annual Chuck E Cheese's Event for Autism. 

Signing out

Dr. Destiny Davis-Santiago aka

Big Sister On Point

📝STD Awareness Month

April is STD Awareness Month. STD Awareness Month is here, along with the alarming news that sexually-transmitted diseases (STDs) are on the rise. Recent CDC data for three nationally-reported STDs-chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis-show staggering numbers, with cases of all three diseases increasing for the first time since 2006.

⚕️What are Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are passed from one person to another through intimate physical contact – such as heavy petting – and from sexual activity including vaginal, oral, and anal sex. STDs are very common. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates 20 million new infections occur every year in the United States. STDs can mostly be prevented by not having sex. If you do have sex, you can lower your risk by using condoms and being in a sexual relationship with a partner who does not have an STD. STDs do not always cause symptoms, so it is possible to have an infection and not know it. That is why it is important to get tested if you are having sex. If you are diagnosed with an STD, know that all can be treated with medicine and some can be cured entirely.

⚕️Increase in Sexually Transmitted Diseases
On September 26, 2017, the CDC issued a statement that STDs were at a record high.  Jackson County, Oregon has also seen increases in chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis over the past five years. Preliminary data shows that in 2018, Jackson County saw the highest number of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis cases. In 2018, Jackson County saw an increase in the number of syphilis cases among females.  This includes an increase in the number of cases of syphilis in pregnant women and women of reproductive age.

⚕️Some reasons to why STDs are increasing are:

1. Increases in intercourse without condoms due to reduced risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission from people with HIV who take anti-retroviral medicines²
2. Reduced local public health infrastructure and capacity to investigate cases, notify partners and bring them in for screening and treatment³
3. Abundance of mobile apps facilitating “hook-ups” with anonymous sexual partners⁴
4. Use of methamphetamine and other stimulants, increasing sexual drive while decreasing inhibition

Tips To Prevent Getting An STD

⚕️The good news is that STDs are preventable.  There are steps you can take to keep yourself and your partner(s) healthy:

• Practice Abstinence: The most reliable way to avoid infection is to not have sex (i.e., anal, vaginal, or oral)
• Have Fewer Partners: Reducing your number of sex partners can decrease your risk for STDs. It is still important that you and your partner get tested, and that you share your test results with one another.
• Mutual Monogamy: This means you agree to be sexually active with only one person, who has agreed to be sexually active with only you.  Being in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner is one of the most reliable ways to avoid STDs. But you must both be certain you are not infected with STDs. It is important to have an open and honest conversation with your partner.

• Use Condoms: Correct and consistent use of the male latex condom is highly effective in reducing STD transmission. Use a condom every time you have anal, vaginal, or oral sex. If you have latex allergies, synthetic non-latex condoms can be used. But it is important to note that these condoms have higher breakage rates than latex condoms. Natural membrane condoms are not recommended for STD prevention. Know your CONDOM DOs & DON'Ts. The Right Way to Use a Male Condom.
• Talk with Your Partner: Talk with your sex partner(s) about STDs and staying safe before having sex. It might be uncomfortable to start the conversation, but protecting your health is your responsibility.

STD Testing

⚕️Many STDs don’t have symptoms, but they can still cause health problems. Getting an STD is not the end! Many STDs are curable and all are treatable. If either you or your partner is infected with an STD that can be cured, both of you need to start treatment immediately to avoid getting re-infected. Find a STD testing site near you!

⚕️Screening recommendations:

• All adults and adolescents from ages 13 to 64 should be tested at least once for HIV.
• Annual chlamydia screening of all sexually active women younger than 25 years, as well as older women with risk factors such as new or multiple sex partners, or a sex partner who has a sexually transmitted infection.
• Annual gonorrhea screening for all sexually active women younger than 25 years, as well as older women with risk factors such as new or multiple sex partners, or a sex partner who has a sexually transmitted infection.
• Syphilis, HIV, chlamydia, and hepatitis B screening for all pregnant women, and gonorrhea screening for at-risk pregnant women starting early in pregnancy, with repeat testing as needed, to protect the health of mothers and their infants.
• Screening at least once a year for syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea for all sexually active gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM). MSM who have multiple or anonymous partners should be screened more frequently for STDs (e.g., at 3-to-6 month intervals).
• Sexually active gay and bisexual men may benefit from more frequent HIV testing (e.g., every 3 to 6 months).
• Anyone who has unsafe sex or shares injection drug equipment should get tested for HIV at least once a year.

⚕️Each April, recognizes STD Awareness Month. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• There are 20 million new STI cases in the U.S. every year
• The medical costs for these new cases are $16 billion
• Adding the new cases each year with existing infection, there are an estimated 110 million total STIs among Americans

⚕️STDs are common, but people may not know they have an STD because many don’t have symptoms. But left undetected and untreated, STDs can cause serious health consequences. For example, chlamydia or gonorrhea left untreated can put a woman at risk for pelvic inflammatory disease, a condition that can lead to infertility

⚕️The only way to know if you have an STD to get tested. To learn what tests are recommended for you, you can talk to your healthcare provider.

⚕️STD testing can be confidential and free or low-cost, and common STDs, such as chlamydia or gonorrhea, are usually easily treated with antibiotics. For more information about STDs, YES Means TEST, or how and where to get tested, YESmeansTEST.org. Join the conversation online with #YESmeansTEST.

Talking about Sexual Health

• How to talk to your kids about STDs and sexual health
• Ten questions to ask your healthcare provider
• For healthcare professionals: Herpes and HPV toolkits, patient counseling guides, and more

STD Testing

• Learn about STD tests and find a clinic in your area.

⚕️Understanding Sexual Transmitted Disease Prevention

To prevent getting a sexually transmitted disease, or STD, always avoid sex with anyone who has genital sores, a rash, discharge, or other symptoms. The only time unprotected sex is safe is if you and your partner have sex only with each other, and if it's been at least six months since you each tested negative for STDs. Otherwise you should:

• Use latex condoms every time you have sex. If you use a lubricant, make sure it's water-based. Use condoms for the entire sex act. Condoms are not 100% effective at preventing disease or pregnancy. However, they are extremely effective if used properly. Learn how to use condoms correctly.

• Avoid sharing towels or underclothing.
• Wash before and after intercourse.
• Get a vaccination for hepatitis B. This is a series of three shots.
• Get tested for HIV.
• If you have a problem with drug or alcohol abuse, get help. People who are drunk or on drugs often fail to have safe sex.
• Consider that not having sex is the only sure way to prevent STDs.

⚕️It was once thought that using condoms with nonoxynol-9 helped to prevent STDs by killing the organisms that can cause disease. New research shows that doing so also irritates a woman's vagina and cervix and may increase the risk of an STD infection. Current recommendations are to avoid using condoms with nonoxynol-9.

⚕️How Can I Prevent Spreading an STD?

To prevent giving an STD to someone else:

• Stop having sex until you see a doctor and are treated.
• Follow your doctor's instructions for treatment.
• Use condoms whenever you have sex, especially with new partners.
• Don't resume having sex unless your doctor says it's OK.
• Return to your doctor to get rechecked.
• Be sure your sex partner or partners also are treated.

⚕️Which STD Test Should I get?

If you are sexually active, getting tested for STDs is one of the most important things you can do to protect your health. Make sure you have an open and honest conversation about your sexual history and STD testing with your doctor and ask whether you should be tested for STDs. If you are not comfortable talking with your regular health care provider about STDs, there are many clinics that provide confidential and free or low-cost testing.

⚕️Below is a brief overview of STD testing recommendations. STD screening information for healthcare providers can be found here.

• All adults and adolescents from ages 13 to 64 should be tested at least once for HIV.
• All sexually active women younger than 25 years should be tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia every year. Women 25 years and older with risk factors such as new or multiple sex partners or a sex partner who has an STD should also be tested for gonorrhea and chlamydia every year.
• All pregnant women should be tested for syphilis, HIV, and hepatitis B starting early in pregnancy. At-risk pregnant women should also be tested for chlamydia and gonorrhea starting early in pregnancy. Testing should be repeated as needed to protect the health of mothers and their infants.
• All sexually active gay and bisexual men should be tested at least once a year for syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea. Those who have multiple or anonymous partners should be tested more frequently for STDs (i.e., at 3- to 6-month intervals).
• Sexually active gay and bisexual men may benefit from more frequent HIV testing (e.g., every 3 to 6 months).
• Anyone who has unsafe sex or shares injection drug equipment should get tested for HIV at least once a year.

⚕️Adolescents And Young Adults

While sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) affect individuals of all ages, STDs take a particularly heavy toll on young people. CDC estimates that youth ages 15-24 make up just over one quarter of the sexually active population, but account for half of the 20 million new sexually transmitted infections that occur in the United States each year. The resources on this page provide information about the impact of STDs on youth as well as resources for reaching this population.

STD Fact Sheets – Disease-specific information about symptoms, prevention, and treatment.

https://www.cdc.gov/std/life-stages-populations/adolescents-youngadults.htm

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ESD Baroness

{aka} Big Sister Southern Heat 🎗️