Sexual Health News - September 2012

Sept. 27 was National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NGMHAAD).

New York City has been trying to reduce the rate of unwanted teenage pregnancies by distributing morning-after pills, such as Plan B, and contraceptives to high school students for the past year.

There has been a lot of excitement over the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's approval of Truvada this past July, which is the first drug that can be prescribed as a preventative measure against HIV.

The Public Health Agency (PHA) of Canada is recommending that students starting college this fall make safe decisions regarding their sex lives, reports Health Canal.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as chlamydia, gonorrhea and genital herpes, are an ongoing issue for public health officials.

Once an individual contracts HIV, the condition may progress to AIDS.

Health officials in San Antonio, Texas, report an increasing number of babies who are born with syphilis, according to the Associated Press.

When an individual contracts HIV, it may be difficult for physicians to tell how long the patient has until the virus transgresses to AIDS.

College may be a popular time to experiment sexually with peers.

Sexually active females may seek physician-prescribed birth control to decrease their chances of pregnancy.

When it comes to sexual health, it's best to know the facts instead of learning the hard way and experiencing a sexually transmitted disease (STD), such as chlamydia or gonorrhea, for yourself.

Teenagers make up almost half of the individuals in the U.S. who are infected with a sexually transmitted disease (STD) such as chlamydia or gonorrhea.

On Sept. 18, The AIDS Institute (TAI) hosted activities for National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day, which took place in Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Texas for the fifth consecutive year.

Whether or not parents are happy about their teenagers having sex, a new study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health found that they prefer that doctors offer birth control pills and condoms, as compared to more long-term contraceptive options like intrauterine devices (IUDs).

Researchers are continuously looking for better ways to slow the progression of HIV into AIDS and combat the virus altogether.

Teaching adolescents about safe sex may be a challenging task, but it gives students the information they need to make responsible decisions that may prevent teenage pregnancies and the transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

HIV is a worldwide epidemic.

In July 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the distribution of Truvada to prevent HIV in adults who did not have the virus, but may engage in sexual activity with an HIV-positive partner.

It's a common misconception that sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), such as chlamydia, gonorrhea and genital herpes, only affect the younger population.

Vaginal rings are currently on the market as a contraceptive option for women.