Get Tested on National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
For Immediate Release: Jan. 30, 2014
All women need to know that they are at risk of exposure to human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Unprotected sex is the main way that HIV is spread. 80 percent of new HIV infections in American women and girls results from sex with an infected male partner. HIV can also be spread through the abuse of injection drugs or from mother to baby during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding.
African American women and girls are disproportionately affected by HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS is now the leading cause of death for African American women aged 25 to 34.
All women and girls who are or have been sexually active should be tested for HIV. Women and girls can receive free rapid HIV testing at Planned Parenthood’s health center at 1407 Union Avenue, Suite 300. The test is painless and results are available in just 20 minutes.
HIV testing is always available and free for both men and women at Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region. For more information, call (901) 725-1717 or log on to ppgmr.org.
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Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region (PPGMR), founded in 1938, is an affiliate of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. PPGMR’s mission is to ensure broad public access to reproductive and related health care through clinic services, education, advocacy and community partnerships in serving 42 counties in West Tennessee, North Mississippi and East Arkansas.