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Whenever you have sex, there’s always a chance of getting a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Make sure you know how to protect yourself and what to do if you have one.

Fighting the Stigma of HIV with Openness and Honesty

By Yannick LeJacq, 18, Staff Writer

At age 16, Chris wasn’t interested in being tested. “I was at a health fair and a counselor kept preaching to me the importance of taking an HIV test. So I decided to take one,” Chris explains. That’s when he found out he was HIV positive.

What are the different kinds of STDs? What are some common symptoms of STDs? I think I might have a sexually transmitted disease (STD). How do I find out for sure, and what do I tell my partner? When should I get tested for STDs?

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Your boyfriend/girlfriend forgets to bring a condom and you're thinking about having sex. You say…

A“Let’s wait till we buy some condoms. I want to be safe.”
B“This one time won’t matter. We’ll find condoms later.”
CYou don’t say anything because you are afraid he or she will get angry.
DI have no idea; I wouldn’t ever be in that situation.

Tags: abstinence, AIDS, communication, condoms, HIV, sex, sex ed, STD, testing

Here are some of the best Web sites, hotlines and books about STDs and STD testing.