National HIV Testing Day is June 27th.

In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates there are over 1 million people currently living with HIV/AIDS, about a quarter of whom don’t know they’re infected. Think about that: 1 in 4 Americans living with HIV have no clue. Men who have sex with men (MSM) are among those at greatest risk: although MSM represent only approximately 2% of the US population, they have an HIV diagnosis rate more than 44 times that of other men, and more than 40 times that of women! How’s that for a cold, hard fact?

Social factors also cause poor and disadvantaged communities to be hit especially hard by the HIV epidemic. While some groups are impacted more than others (including blacks/African Americans, and Hispanics/Latinos), HIV affects people from all backgrounds. Anyone who is, or has been, sexually active can be at risk.

It is important that you talk with your health care provider about testing for HIV. Your health care provider can guide you through the testing process and tell you what you need to know. You can find a health care clinic near you by clicking here. To learn more about HIV visit our HIV pages.

Get tested and know your status!

~Connie A.