Reported by MTV Act.

Photo: (StayTeen.org)

The rate of teen pregnancy has been dropping in the last few decades, but three out of ten teenage girls will still become pregnant before reaching the age of twenty. In hopes of bringing the numbers down more, the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy got started.

+ Get Quizzed

Today is May 1 and many people are excited ’bout that. It’s also a milestone day as National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy turns 12 so Stay Teen has created a fancy, new online quiz. You can actually plug in your name, the name of your crush, and the name of your BFF, and the quiz comes up with little storylines. As you find yourself in different situations (from Halloween parties to prom night), the quiz asks how you’ll respond.

+ Protect Yo Self

To step away from online quizzes and get into IRL stuff, it’s important to be super knowledgeable about protection. If you’re sexually active now, it’s so VITAL you use protection every time. 90% of teens who don’t use protection are pregnant within a year. MTV’s It’s Your [Sex] Life can help you with the deets on protection options and how well each kind works. And if you’re not sexually active, all good, because it’s good to educate yourself on birth control and all that stuff before you jump in bed with your partner. That way you’ll be better prepared and know how to keep yourself protected.

In 2012, more than 700,000 people took part in the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, and hopefully this year will be even bigger and better. Becoming a teen parent is 100% avoidable. Learning about birth control can ensure you only become a parent as an adult, and only if and when you want to. So enjoy this glorious, new month and be safe while you do it!

Reported by MTV Act.

Photo: (facebook.com/denimdayinlaandusa)

It’s time to break out your favorite pair of jeans, because today (April 24) is Denim Day. Founded in 1999 by the non-profit Peace Over Violence, Denim Day is a rape prevention and education campaign. The non-profit was inspired by an Italian court case in the 1990s where a victim of sexual assault was wearing jeans.

We’ve posted about the importance of not joking about rape and more during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, so you know we’re wearing our favorite jeans today. If you want to get involved in the rape prevention/education campaign, we’ve got your covered. Here are four ways you can take a stand against rape on Denim Day.

+ Rock Your Denim

Got your favorite pair of jeans? Pulled that jean jacket out of the back of your closet? Whatever you’re wearing, make sure you tell people why you’re rocking the denim — bonus points if you tie in this year’s slogan: “There is No Excuse and Never an Invitation to Rape.” For friends and strangers who might want more information, send them to RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) to get the facts.

+ Take the Pledge

Head over to the Denim Day site and pledge to wear your favorite denim today. You can also download the tool kit if you want to raise awareness in your neighborhood or at your school. It’s never too late to print out some of these educational posters and pass them out!

+ Support Your Local Rape Crisis Center

You can find your local rape crisis center. Call up your local center to see if you can volunteer and make a difference in the lives of survivors in your area. Encourage your friends to do the same!

+ Raise Your Voice

If you’re stuck with a dress code and can’t wear jeans, make sure you post to Facebook or Twitter to show your support of the campaign. Use the hashtag #DenimDay so others can join in on the conversation about rape prevention and education.

If you or someone you know need someone to talk to, the National Sexual Assault Hotline is free, confidential, and available 24/7 at 1.800.656.HOPE. If you don’t feel comfortable speaking to someone over the phone, you can log on to the National Sexual Assault Online Hotline.

Reported by MTV Act.

Photo: (AIDSVu)

Today is National HIV Testing Day, which means we encourage you to get yourself tested. I know it’s a scary thought, but it is possible to have HIV — and be spreading it — and not realize any of this because you feel fine. According to the CDC, one in five people in the US who are HIV positive don’t even know it! In order to help curb the spread of HIV/AIDS, AIDSVu is setting up new interactive maps to show the prevalence of HIV in America.

Visuals can be a great way to learn and AIDSVu is offering you maps that show how many people have HIV — from an overall look at the country to close-ups on local communities. You can see which parts of the US have a bigger concentration of HIV (like the South, for example) but also see how your county looks, or maybe even your city.

Why are some places redder (meaning more HIV cases) than others? That’s another thing AIDSVu wants to talk about. The places with more HIV tend to have more poverty, which can mean lack of health insurance and lack of education. If you haven’t been taught about how to protect yourself from HIV, or if you don’t have good access to condoms (or you can’t afford them because it’s that or eating dinner tonight), then we start having major problems.

AIDSVu also shows ratios of who has HIV, like men versus women or by ethnic group. Again, things are not created equal here, and it often keeps going back to lack of education and lack of resources. The numbers are scary, but the good news is you can prevent the spread of HIV. That’s why testing is so key. If you get tested, not only will you know your status, you can seek treatment, because it’s def. possible to live a long and healthy life with HIV.

Reported by MTV Act.

Photo: (Getty Images)

One in five people living with HIV in the U.S. don’t even know it. Let me repeat that: ONE in FIVE! That because you can’t always tell if you have an STD, including HIV, by symptoms. The only way to know for sure is to Get Yourself Tested– GYT.

Today marks National HIV Testing Day, a day that keeps us in check with just how important it is to get tested. So important, because folks of every single race, economic background, and age demographic are at risk for HIV. That’s why Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends HIV testing for every American between the ages of 13 and 64.

The whole idea of getting tested can seem scary or irrelevant to you. But the truth is, these HIV tests are fast, pretty painless, and 100% worth it — no matter who you are.

So rise p and be strong. Part of knowing yourself is knowing your status. Now you know you should get tested, but what are the tests actually like? We’ve got some answers.

Do I have to go to a doctor to get tested?

Nope! You can get tested at your community health clinic, local/state health department or hospital. In some states, you can even get tested at the nearby Walgreens for free. Find out the closest HIV testing center near you to get goin’ ASAP.

How much does an HIV test cost?

Costs vary, but many community clinics offer tests for free. If you have health insurance, the tests may be covered.

What does it involve?

HIV tests require a blood sample, a urine sample or an oral swab sample from inside your mouth. Some tests take a few days to hear results, but rapid HIV tests can give you an answer in about 20 minutes.

How does the test work?

When someone’s infected with HIV, their body reacts by producing antibodies, proteins which help fight off the disease. Most HIV tests are antibody tests, which means they detect the presence of these antibodies.

What are rapid HIV tests?

Exactly what they sound like: in as little as 20 minutes, you find out your status. A rapid test can either be a quick cotton swab oral test, finger jab test or blood sample. Easy peasy!

What happens if the test comes back positive?

Take a deep breath — all positive HIV tests must be followed up by another test to make sure the result is correct. If you do ultimately learn you have HIV it’s important to talk to a health care provider right away, even if you don’t feel any symptoms. With the treatments available today many HIV-positive people live long and healthy lives, but getting the right care and talking to your doctor is key.

So, if I think I may have been exposed to HIV, but then get tested and it comes back negative, I’m in the clear?

Not necessarily. It can take as long as three to six months for your body to develop enough antibodies to show up on a test. These months, known as the “window period”, means you can test negative for HIV but ACTUALLY be infected with HIV and transmit it to others. So, let’s say you think you may have been exposed a week ago, you get tested, and the results come back negative. You’re not off the hook, and should def get re-tested in another 3 months or so. You should also make sure to protect yourself and others by abstaining from sex or using a condom every single time.

If I get my blood drawn at the doctor for my physical, does that automatically mean I’m being tested for HIV?

Nope. You have to specifically ask to be tested for HIV.

Will other people find out I got tested?

Not if you don’t want them to! Your results are hundo confidential. You can also choose to get tested anonymously at many testing centers.

If you want to learn more about HIV and HIV testing, check out MTV: Get Yourself Tested and learn more about other STDs while you’re there!

Reported by MTV Act.

Photo: (Teen.com)

Maci Bookout never thought she’d be a teen mom, and even after she got pregnant, she never thought she’d have to be a single parent. Now she’s taking care of her son Bentley, splitting custody with his father Ryan, all while trying to get her degree. If she had one message to share with teens today, which is the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, it’s that being a teen mom takes a ton of sacrifice, and there is nothing glamorous about it. Read our exclusive interview with Maci in which she talks about the most common misconception about her life as a “Teen Mom,” her summer plans and her biggest struggles with Ryan.

ACT: What’s been the most challenging part of being a teen parent that you didn’t expect?

MACI: In the beginning, my biggest struggle was losing my teen years. I didn’t get to do everything that my friends who didn’t have children got to do, like going to prom and graduating from my regular high school and getting to go out and going away to college.

But after Ryan and I split up, my biggest struggle has definitely been to share my time with Bentley with his dad. I feel kind of selfish because I am grateful that his dad is still around and that he actually has a father figure in his life, but at the same time I never would have pictured motherhood with my first child being only half the time, because I have to give him away every other weekend and let him go on vacations with his dad. Holidays are always a rollercoaster. Things like that are definitely the biggest struggle for me and it’s really emotionally challenging to deal with. I never would have thought this is how my life would be when I got pregnant.

Continue reading →

Reported by MTV Act.

Photo: (Getty Images)

One in 2 young people will contract an STD before they’re 25. Marinate on that…50 percent. Of course, not all of these contractions will be HIV/AIDS–but the risk is still present. Getting yourself tested is the only way to ensure you and your partner remain free from infection. And today (June 27), National HIV Testing Day, is a perfect time to do so.

Act has covered just about every famous person’s fight against HIV/AIDS this year–from Lady Gaga to Hillary Clinton. We’ve introduced you to fancy condom lines and clever smartphone apps, we’ve profiled a team of trendsetters who live the “GYT” lifestyle and even promoted a safe sex campaign tool kit.

We’ve done all this so you would do one thing: stay safe. So naturally today, National HIV Testing Day, we want all of our readers to get tested if you’re sexually active, or educate yourself on protection if you’re considering having sex. Believe it or not, HIV tests are quick, painless and often free. You can find your nearest testing center on GYTnow.org.