Actors Retta and Jenny Slate Join Planned Parenthood in Promoting STD Testing

For Immediate Release: April 24, 2015

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Exclusive Video Released Today as Part of Annual “Get Yourself Tested” Campaign

New York, NY – Today, Planned Parenthood released an exclusive video with actor/comedian Retta and actor/comedian Jenny Slate encouraging people to get tested for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The video was released as part of the 2015 GYT: Get Yourself Tested campaign, currently underway with online and on-the-ground activities across the country.

You can watch the video here.

“We are thrilled that Retta and Jenny have put their time and talents toward encouraging young people to take control of their sexual and reproductive health by getting tested for STDs,” said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “Everyone deserves a safe and healthy sex life. As a young person, getting tested and knowing your status is a basic part of staying healthy and taking care of your body — like brushing your teeth and exercising regularly.”

Held each year in April (National STD Awareness Month), the GYT campaign encourages young people to get tested and know the facts about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and promotes STD testing among young people as a basic and empowering part of sexual health. GYT increases awareness about STDs, including HIV, and how to prevent them; links young people to STD testing services; and promotes a more open dialogue with partners and health care providers. The campaign is a collaborative effort of the American College Health Association (ACHA), the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), MTV, National Coalition of STD Directors (NCSD), and Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), with technical consultation provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Said Richards, “Getting tested shows that you care about your health, as well as the health of your partner. And Planned Parenthood is here to keep you healthy: We offer STD testing, treatment, and sex education and information.”

Retta, of Parks and Recreation fame, emceed Planned Parenthood’s Annual Gala in Washington, DC, in March, where Slate helped accept the Maggie Award for Film for the groundbreaking film Obvious Child.

STD Facts:

• STDs impact young people the hardest. There will be an estimated 20 million new sexually transmitted infections this year, half in people under 25 — even though they represent only a quarter of people having sex.
• Young people make up the largest percentage of new HIV infections in the U.S. each year.
• If not treated, STDs can lead to serious health problems. Untreated STDs like chlamydia, although easy to cure, make it difficult for about 24,000 women to get pregnant each year.
• The good news is that all STDs, even HIV, are treatable and most are curable. Early treatment can help prevent serious, lifelong health problems that can result from untreated STDs.
• Surveys of U.S. teens and young adults show that people who get tested for STDs are seen as responsible partners and as taking care of themselves. One survey found that:
• 81 percent of youth reported thinking that people who get tested are taking care of their sexual health;
• 58 percent said they’re responsible partners; and
• 56 percent said they should do it regularly as part of their routine health care.

 

STD education and prevention are core parts of Planned Parenthood’s health services and education efforts. Every year, Planned Parenthood health centers provide nearly 4.5 million tests and treatments for sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV. In 2013, Planned Parenthood served more men than ever before — primarily for STD testing.

Planned Parenthood provides education programs in schools and communities and outreach to 1.5 million people every year — including sex education, peer education, parent-teen workshops, and support groups for LGBTQ teens. And Planned Parenthood uses digital education tools, a chat/text program, and social media to get important health information to young people every day.

To find a Planned Parenthood health center near you, or to find more information about STDs, visit plannedparenthood.org.

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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With more than 700 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.