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Tag Archives: health center

 Teen Mom 2: Episode 4 

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This week’s episode featured Kailyn’s decision to use a different method of protection.   First off, major props to Kailyn for talking with her health care provider about the best method of protection for her.  It’s important to know that while birth control methods protect against unintended pregnancy (like the IUD that Kailyn chooses), the only method that protects against unintended pregnancy AND STDs is using condoms correctly, each and every time you have sex.   For more information about What Works and What Doesn’t to prevent unintended pregnancy, click here.

And besides taking control and bringing up using protection with her doctor, Kailyn also brought up the conversation of safe sex and preventing unintended pregnancy with Jordan too.   This Teen Mom knows how to speak up for herself- she’s firm about her decision to use protection, she wants to be responsible after already having one child, and she knows it’s important to be open and honest with Jordan.   Even though Jordan has a hard time talking about it, he eventually comes around and tells Kailyn how much he respects her for taking the lead and that he appreciates her looking out for the oth of them.   So when you think that you or your partner might not be able to handle the awkwardness of a conversation, just remember: there is nothing more awkward than silence.   For tips on how to talk to your partner about using protection, click here.

 

 Give Thanks 

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Thanksgiving- the time of the year when we eat too much food and think back on all the things we are grateful for, like friends, family, relationships and our health.   And a big part of our health is living GYT: talking about STDs and testing with partners, using protection and getting tested.   Whether it’s talking with your partner about going to get tested or about using condoms or actually going to get yourself tested, it’s all about knowing yourself.   Like knowing what you want and knowing if you’re on the same page with your partner.   Your partner will probably be so grateful that you had the guts to bring up STDs and testing.   And if you’re going to GYT, you’ll thank yourself later once you have the peace of mind of knowing your status.   So why not give and receive some extra thanks this Thanksgiving season?   Get yourself talking and get yourself tested.

 

 Interview: GYT Campus Ambassador Kirstie 

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GYT sat down with college student Kirstie to talk about why and how she lives GYT.   So get inspired- check out this interview with Kirstie!

Kirstie: My name is Kirstie, and I am a 21 year old senior with an Individualized Major in Visual Arts, Criminal Justice, and Psychology at Roger Williams University in Bristol, RI.   On campus, I am one of 10 Health and Wellness Educators (HAWEs). The HAWEs educate and promote how to life a healthy lifestyle for college students. We do workshops, presentations, one on one motivational interviewing, and campus wide campaigns on alcohol and other drugs, safe sex, fitness, nutrition, stress management, and other general wellness topics.

GYT: What’s the most played song on your ipod?

Kirstie: “Take it off” by Ke$ha

GYT: What is the best thing you learned from MTV’s 10 Most Outrageous Sex Myths show?

Kirstie: The best thing I learned from MTV’s 10 Most Outrageous Sex Myths show was about “double bagging”. I didn’t actually even know that people believed wearing two condoms was better than just one! It was a great thing for me to learn, because if another student came to ask me questions about double bagging, I would have had no idea what to tell them!

 

GYT: What inspired you to be a GYT ambassador?

Kirstie: I received my first condom demonstration and sex education my freshman year through a popular health group on our campus that had a huge impact on my college life, the Health and Wellness Educators (HAWEs), which I joined at the end of my freshman year and have been involved with ever since. In April 2010, I lead my school to win the GYT Campus Challenge with the help and support of other HAWEs, my supervisor, and our Health Services’ Office. I was amazed at how many students did not know that they could get tested and have it be covered under our student health insurance at school. I loved working with our Health Services’ office staff, and other Health and Wellness Educators (HAWEs) about how to spread the word to our student body.

GYT: Tell us about your school joining the GYT campaign

Kirstie:   Back in April 2010, my campus won the GYT Campus Challenge.   Our Health Services’ Office ran out of rapid HIV testing kits during that time because so many students went and got tested there! We spread the word about GYT through creative flyers designed by MTV as well as flyers we created ourselves specific for our campus, Facebook event invitations, emails from our Student Senate Office, and business card sized handouts to give to people as they walked around campus.   Since last April, GYT has been incorporated into every sex workshop we offer through our office, which are our most requested workshops.

We’ve had a great response to GYT on our campus from both the student body and our professional staff. The student body at Roger Williams University takes their health very seriously, and the number of students who went and got tested sky-rocketed after they found out the shocking statistic that 1 in 2 sexually active young people would get an STD by 25.   Our Health Services’ Office provides testing for students for little or no cost, and our student health insurance covers $100 in testing costs every academic year, so even for the testing that does cost money, students can get tested at least once a year and have it be completely covered under the student insurance.

GYT:   Sounds like your school has a lot going on, so how can students best get involved on campus?

Kirstie: First, it’s important to start with yourself. You can’t fully spread the word on GYT if you don’t know your own status. So Get Yourself Tested… then get your partner(s), family, friends, peers, etc to GYT too. You can brag about how easy it was to GYT to others so that more people will listen to you.

If you are a student at Roger Williams University, you can apply to work in the Health Education Office. We have work study positions available, as well as internships and independent studies for up to 3 credits. In these positions, you would work both directly and indirectly with the HAWEs and Director of Health Education on health topics, including safe sex and GYT!

If you are a local Rhode Island resident, you can volunteer or donate to an organization that provides testing and other services, like Planned Parenthood or AIDS Care Ocean State in Providence, RI. You can find these places, and others that are similar, by searching for a local clinic on GYTNOW.org

 

 GET INSPIRED: Spotlight on Ohio State University Student Health Services 

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College students!   Health Center Staff!   Peer Health Educators!   Looking for some ideas on how to spread the word about GYT on campus?   Get inspired by Ohio State University’s Student Health Services Blog.   OSU’s Student Health Center is all about helping their students to get the facts, talk openly with their clinicians, and GYT.   Check out this post to see how OSU is providing all the GYT info that students need.   Want to take action like OSU?   If you’re a high-school or college student, apply to be a GYT Campus Ambassador or if you’re a health center staffer, sign your student health center up to join the GYT campaign.

And if your school doesn’t have a student health center, GYT’s testing center locator will find the STD testing centers nearest you- just enter your zip code here.   It’s that easy.   So what are you waiting for?   GYT today.

 

 It’s National HIV Testing Day: Time to GYT! 

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GYT has been getting the word out all month to lead up to today, June 27th, National HIV Testing Day.   Did you know one in five Americans living with HIV doesn’t even know it?   Know yourself and know your status.   Knowing is greater than doubt, and many testing centers are offering free or low-cost testing, so what are you waiting for?   GYT today.   Find the testing center nearest you by entering your zip code here or by texting your zip code to GYTNOW (498669).   Not sure what to expect when you go to get tested?   GYT can help.   Check out GYT’s HIV 101 here.     Rise up and Be Greater Than AIDS.   Get the facts and Get Yourself Tested.

 

 GYT on Tour 

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All month, GYT and Greater Than AIDS are joining forces to get the word out about HIV testing with  Be Greater Than AIDS: Get Yourself Tested Month.   As part of the outreach efforts to encourage  HIV testing among young people, GYT is going on tour with Emmis Communications in Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles.

At Q101’s Jamboree concert in Chicago and Hot 97’s Summer Jam in New York, concert goers stopped by the GYT booth for free giveaways, like GYT condoms with information about where to get tested, upgraded tickets for taking the GYT mobile quiz, t-shirts designed by Team GYT member Jeff Staples, and a custom bike designed by Team GYT member Ube Urban.   Check out more photos here.

And keep an eye out for GYT at Power 106’s Powerhouse concert in LA on June 25th!

Rise up, stand tall and know your HIV status.  GYT today!

 

 Congratulations to GYT’s Sweepstakes Winner! 

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Congratulations to GYT’s lucky winner who got to hang with all the most popular celebs at the MTV Movie Awards on Sunday night, courtesy of GYT.   Pretty awesome prize for finding your nearest STD testing center.   And all it took was just entering in a zip code- so easy.   Even though the contest has ended, you can always find a testing center near you by entering your zip code into  GYT’s STD testing center locator.   Or text in your zip code to GYTNOW (498669).  It’s that simple.  So what are you waiting for?  GYT today!  And check out this recap of the MTV Movie Awards!

 

 Rise Up and Be Greater Than AIDS: Get Yourself Tested 

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This June, GYT is teaming up again with Greater Than AIDS to bring you Be Greater Than AIDS: Get Yourself Tested Month.

Living GYT is all about knowing yourself and knowing your status.   So what’s the status of your HIV status?   This June, rise up and Be Greater Than AIDS.   GYT today for HIV.   All you have to do is go  find your nearest STD testing center.

Get the facts on HIV/AIDS here.

Know yourself. Know your status. GYT.

 

 Recap: GYT and the Take Action Tour 

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If you weren’t one of the lucky music fans who got to see bands like Bayside and Silverstein on the Take Action Tour last month, check out this recap from MTV’s ACT blog.   Just because you missed out doesn’t mean you can’t take action…you can always find your local testing center by entering your zip code here or by texting your zipcode to GYTNOW (498669).

 

 Naomi from Real World GYTs 

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On a recent episode of MTV’s The Real World: Las Vegas, one cast member, Naomi goes to GYT after worrying that she might have an STD after having unprotected sex with another cast member, Leroy. Leroy believes the outrageous myth that “I would know if I had an STD” (which GYT debunked on MTV’s 10 Most Outrageous Sex Myths Show). Here are the facts: STDs often have no symptoms, so many people who have an STD don’t know it. And you can’t tell by looking. The only way to know for sure is to GYT. And part of living GYT is respecting yourself and your partner (boyfriend, girlfriend, friend with benefits, hook-up buddy) enough to protect yourself ALWAYS, no excuses.

Despite all the worries, Naomi and Leroy seem to have a newfound love of latex since condoms are the only method that protect against BOTH unintended pregnancy and STDs.

 Watch: MTV’s 10 Most Outrageous Sex Myths! 

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Ever heard someone claim that you can get an STD from sitting on a toilet seat? Or how about the myth that withdrawal prevents pregnancy? MTV sets the record straight on STDs, testing, and preventing pregnancy on the new special, 10 Most Outrageous Sex Myths. You’ll hear from Teen Moms and Vinny from Jersey Shore on what the biggest myth they’ve ever heard is.

Doctors and experts take on debunking the most outrageous myths and explain the facts to know. And GYT has all the info and recap here.

Checkout these highlights from the show.

 GYT NOW! 

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Welcome one and all to the GYT blog! GYT has the info you need about STDs, testing, protection and other sexual health issues. Have you ever wondered…what the symptoms of various STDs are? Here you go. Where you can get tested? GYT has you covered. Want to know how to protect yourself from STDs? Done. Or see how others are living their lives GYT? Here’s some inspiration. Think talking about STDs is awkward? GYT can help. Did you know that Chlamydia is the most commonly reported STD? Or that ALL STDs are treatable and many are curable? GYT answers all your questions and points you in the direction of other resources if you need them.

One in 2 sexually active young people will get an STD by age 25, and most won’t know it. Living GYT is all about respecting yourself and your community by making GYT a part of your everyday life. GYT- no fear, no shame. Be proud that you respect yourself and your community enough to protect yourself.

Know yourself. Know your status. GYT.