SCARY BUT TRUE!!!

So we all know that AIDS is a serious thing. That virus that gives everyone the chills and running to their closets.... According to the CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black/African Americans were accounted for as being infected with the AIDS Virus in all areas of the U.S. except for the West. In the West, Whites were accounted for as the majority. If this is not surprising, check it out the numbers!!

AIDS Diagnoses in 2007 by Region

To see by Race in different regions go to this website:
 http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/geographic.htm#ref

 SO HOW DO YOU PROTECT YOURSELVES???

On the real, don't have sex!! Practice abstinence..lol yea right. Although this is no laughing matter, this is actually the safest way to protect yourselves. Now realistically, if this is not one of your options, the best is to use condoms! Both female and male. Don't be fooled, you can contract the virus by oral sex as well! Be smart, be safe. A few minutes of pleasure is not worth a whole life of pain!

SHOULD YOU GET TESTED??

Yes everyone should get tested, especially if you are currently sexually active! Be aware that if you take the test once, another one should be followed about 3 months after being exposed. This is called the window period, where antibodies that were hidden before may become present. This will truly detect if you have the virus or not.

WHERE CAN YOU GET TESTED??

You can ask your health care provider about getting tested, or, for information on where to find an HIV testing site, visit the National HIV Testing Resources Web site at http://www.hivtest.org or call CDC-INFO 24 Hours/Day at 1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636), 1-888-232-6348 (TTY), in English, en Español.