It's STD Awareness Month, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests these screening recommendations:

—Everyone from ages 13 to 64 should be tested at least once for HIV.

—Yearly chlamydia screening for all sexually active women age 25 and younger, as well as older women with risk factors such as new or multiple sex partners.

—Yearly gonorrhea screening for at-risk sexually active women (e.g., those with new or multiple sex partners, and women who live in communities with a high burden of disease).

—Syphilis, HIV, chlamydia and hepatitis B screening for all pregnant women, and gonorrhea screening for at-risk pregnant women starting early in pregnancy, with repeat testing as needed, to protect the health of mothers and their unborn babies.

—Screening at least once a year for syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea for all sexually active gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM). MSM who have multiple or anonymous partners should be screened more frequently for STDs (i.e., at 3-to-6 month intervals).

—Anyone who has unsafe sex or shares injection drug equipment should get tested for HIV at least once a year. Sexually active gay and bisexual men may benefit from more frequent testing (e.g., every 3 to 6 months).

Because black women bear the brunt of STD and HIV epidemics, we add "use condoms" to this list.

Read more about STD testing at BlackHealthMatters.Com. 
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