Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Friday, April 12, 2013
(UNDATED) - Free sexually transmitted disease screenings are being offered today, thanks to Planned Parenthood of Indiana.
Today's screenings are open to women and men at 18 and older. It is part of the 5th annual "Get Yourself Tested" campaign and National STD Awareness month. Planned Parenthood's vice president for patient services, Liz Carroll, says these screenings are important for the community.
"Getting tested is simply a basic part of staying healthy and taking control of your sex life. Many STDs cause no symptoms, so the only way to know your status for sure is to get tested. We know that when not treated, STDs can cause serious health problems - but that virtually all STDs, including HIV, are treatable and many are curable. The sooner you know your status, the sooner you can get treated," said Carrol.
These free tests are made possible by the nonprofit's Women's Health Fund, which provides reproductive health care for low-income women and men around the state.
Get Yourself Tested is a national effort designed to promote sexual health and address the high rates of STDs among those under age 25.
"Once you know your status, you can take action to stay healthy and protect yourself against future STDs," Carroll added. "We want everyone - men, women, and young people - to lead the healthiest lives possible."
The following 18 centers will offer free screenings for gonorrhea and chlamydia: Avon, Bloomington, Columbus, Evansville, Fishers, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis-Eastside, Indianapolis-Midtown, Indianapolis-Southside, Hammond, Lafayette, Madison, Merrillville, Muncie, Richmond, Terre Haute, Valparaiso and Warsaw.
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