Posts Tagged ‘GYT’

It is perfectly normal to feel nervous talking with your partner about STDs.   Many people do! But don’t let that stop you.

Millions of people have to deal with STDs every year, you are not alone!

Here are some tips on how to get yourself talking with your partner

Get in the Know

Read up and know the facts.  This will help you feel more confident and you can help answer questions your partner might have.  Check out our website to learn.

Time it Right

Start the conversation when you have time and privacy and before things heat up.  Explain that this isn’t about trust, it is about the fact that STDs are really common and most people who have one, don’t know it.   All STDs, including HIV, are treatable and many are curable, so it’s better to know.

If you have an STD, it’s important to talk with your partner before you have sex- including oral sex.  It might help to have a pamphlet or information available to give them.

Take Charge

Don’t wait for your partner to bring up getting tested.  They may be nervous too and relieved that you bring it up.  You could try something like this, “I’m kind of nervous to put this out there, but I think it’s important that we go get tested together.”

Listen

After you’ve brought it up, listen.  If your partner doesn’t respond, ask them what they thing about getting tested.  If your partner is reluctant to get tested, encourage them and think it over, is this someone you really want to be in a relationship with. After all this is about health.  If your partner reveals they have an STD, be supportive and recognize their courage in sharing with you.  It is still important to get tested and while you’re there you can talk to the doctor about treatment and protecting yourself.

Planned Parenthood is proud to be apart of GYT Campaign, a part of It’s Your (Sex) Life, a long-standing public information partnership of MTV and the Kaiser Family Foundation, Center for Disease Control, Planned Parenthood, National Coalition of STD Directors and the American College Health Association.

April is Get Yourself Tested Month, Get Yourself Talking and Get Yourself Tested.

You most likely haven’t thought of earning a badge since your girl scout or boy scout days.

Unless of course, you use foursquare-a service where you earn points and badges by sharing your location with friends.

This week MTV and Foursquare announced they will be introducing a badge that will encourage people to check-in when they get tested for sexually transmitted diseases.

This new partnership builds upon the long running campaign, GYT- Get Yourself Tested, which is a collaborative effort by MTV, the Kaiser Family Foundation, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

What is GYT? GYT is about creating a youthful, empowering social movement around getting tested for STDs.  GYT presents testing as an act of pride, not shame- promoting open communication about STDs and encouraging your people to ask to be tested.

The GYT badge, why and how do you get it:
First the why: 1) you’re a social networking star with as many friends, followers, fans, etc as Robert Patterson,  2) you’re a reproductive rights advocate who thinks, “Of course, everyone should get tested, duh!!!” and 3) you want to win a trip for two to NYC to watch a taping of MTV’s “10 on top.”

Ok, now for the how: 1)sign up for foursquare on your smartphone. (doesn’t work without a smartphone, maybe that should be number 1,)  2) follow MTV on foursquare,  3) head to a local testing center and then check in on foursquare (you can text your zipcode to GYTNOW to get the location of the nearest testing center.)

how do you feel about foursquare in general and particularly around STD testing?  Check out Digits blog on the subject.  I’m thinking this pushes the envelope.