The Significance of STI Screening – Infographic

Every year in America, 10 million new cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are diagnosed in people aged 15-24, while more than 1.5 million Americans have been diagnosed with chlamydia. This is just in the U.S., not worldwide. Those figures lay bare just how easily STIs can spread, with any form of skin-on-skin contact potentially transferring an infection from one person to another.

Some Facts and Stats On Sexually Transmitted Infections [Infographic]

The 1800s, and the birth of the industrial revolution, is deemed by many historians to have been the beginning of a sexual revolution also. More and more people were pushed together in densely populated areas, and attitudes to sex began to become more liberal. The 1960s also acted as a catalyst for increased sex due to the invention of the birth control pill, enabling women and men to have the opportunity to act on impulse and have sex for pleasure, as opposed to having sex for procreation alone.

Of course not all countries and cultures have evolved and developed sexual liberalisation at an equal rate. Ireland for example, prohibited the sale of condoms from 1935 to 1978 due to heavy influence from the Catholic Church. There has also been evidence to suggest that the number of sexual partners varies in different regions. Swedish people generally have many partners, while the Chinese tend not to have many.

Tiwa Savage Pretty In Pink As She Cautions Young Ugandan Students On Unsafe Abortions

Tiwa Savage is still in Uganda and she looked absolutely pretty in pink while delivering an inspirational message about unsafe abortions to young students at Mariam High School in Kampala, as part of a one week campaign to create awareness on teenage pregnancy. She spoke to the students and advised them to shun unproductive lifestyles that deter them from achieving their potential.

According to Reach a Hand Foundation in Uganda – one of the hosts of the 1 week campaign – every year about 3 million girls aged 15 to 19 undergo unsafe abortions, and that is why they felt a need to touch on the subject with young girls through a cultural icon they can connect with. They said Tiwa Savage’s visit to Mariam High School was fun and yet informative. See photos below...

Waconzy Says Girlfriend Is a Virgin, Encourages Fans To Go For HIV Test

Nigerian rapper Waconzy posted the photo above on his Instagram to show that he has recently taken a HIV test which certified him virus free. He also insinuates that he is celibate for now as his girlfriend is a virgin and encourages his fans to abstain or use condoms, and also have regular HIV tests. Read his post below..

When Your Boyfriend Wants To Have Sex Without Protection

So we're still talking about using protection during sex. Two days ago, it was 17-year-old Swedish singer who had a message for the men, read here. Now, Toke is discussing the same topic. She talks about a lady who emailed her complaining that her man wants to have sex without a condom. Check out Toke's advice to her below...

The funniest part - HIV/AIDS is not written on the face - in Toke's razz accent, LOL...

World AIDS Day - Kenny Brandmuse of Orange Academy Speaks On Living With HIV For 15 Years

Today December 1 is World AIDS Day, and Orange Academy founder, Kenny Brandmuse [real names Kehinde Bademosi], has spoken out about living a healthy and fulfilled life with HIV for the last 15 years on his Facebook page to inspire others and mark the day. He wrote...

Today, Monday December 1st, is World AIDS day, and I'm celebrating my resolve to live with this damn virus all these many years without letting it define who I am. Every journey I take, every picture of me you see, and every new challenge I take on are all huge reminders that I must never stop living my best life. So, I decided to share my journey with you today. Honestly, I don’t know what exactly you are dealing with but I’m writing you this to hold tight to your dream. Here's a quick sketch of my journey from the first day I tested positive, 15 years ago. My upcoming book tells the full story.

Giant Condom Erected Over A Statue In Sydney

The giant condom was erected over a large obelisk statue at Hyde Park in Sydney, Australia as part of an advance World AIDS Day campaign to raise awareness of the need to use protection against AIDS, HIV and other STD’s.

42-Year-Old Mother Speaks Out After Being Deliberately Infected With HIV By Sick Lover

Kara Wilkinson, 42, a mother from Cumbria (pictured left in 2009 and right today), says she has suffered four heart attacks, pneumonia, osteoporosis and severe hair loss since she was infected with HIV by boyfriend Alan Mason, 45 (inset), in 2011.

According to Wilkinson, Mason knew he had the virus before asking her for unprotected s*x.

Mason yesterday started serving two years and eight months behind bars for grievous bodily harm, but Miss Wilkinson is still pained saying she has been condemned to 'a life sentence of misery'.

'Before I had HIV, I was never ill and had loads of energy. Now I seem to be permanently ill. My long blonde hair has started to fall out and I look much older than I am.

Man Jailed For Deliberately Infecting Lover With HIV

A 45 year old man identified as Alan Mason has been jailed for deliberately infecting his girlfriend with HIV, and “ruining her life”, a court heard today.

Alan Mason, knew he had the virus but still had unprotected sex with his 39-year-old lover. She only learned the truth when she visited her doctor because she was feeling ill.

Mason had known for five years that he had the virus.

He was sentenced to two years and eight months in jail after pleading guilty to grievous bodily harm.

An Open Letter to Women Living With HIV - Be Informed and Take Charge of Your Health

This is an expansion of very short letter I wrote on a blog to a young lady living with HIV who contracted the disease when she was raped by two strangers at the market.

This vulnerable young woman has recently been raped again by a friend, and then taken advantage of by someone in position of power. She believes she has infected them with the virus and is not very remorseful.

To this young lady I wrote this open letter, and to other women living with HIV who feel vulnerable and yet think like they have an edge to get back at men whom they hate.

I may not fully understand your life since I don't have HIV, but I can imagine that if someone harms me, I may feel good if I think I got my revenge on them in my own way.

BUT! And this is a big but, with HIV, going on a spree to infect others may actually backfire for a woman!

Man Gets 95-Year Jail Term for 'Knowingly' Infecting 15-Year-Old Virgin with HIV

A 31-year-old man knew he had HIV when he had sex with a 15-year-old virgin he'd met on a chat line - but she didn't know until she became infected with the disease.

Reese met the girl, who is now 17, when she called a chat line in December 2012 and when her parents caught them talking on the phone, he assured them he was 18.

The two embarked on a seven-month relationship between 2012 and 2013 and after they met at a Dallas movie theater, Reese persuaded her to have sex with him in his car.

When she told him she was a virgin and had never had a boyfriend, he said it was probably because she'd never had sex. He said if she didn't have sex 'it would make a man want to cheat'. 'He told me he could see himself being with me,' she told Judge Pat McDowell in court. 'He was saying all the right things. He was telling me what I wanted to hear.'

Married Women Who Contract HIV While Seeking For Babies

This is a long article, but do try to read to the end. In this in-depth article in the Punch, Toyosi Ogunseye tells the stories of women who contracted HIV while desperately seeking to have children and the societal pressure that pushes them into the hands of quacks and pseudo-medical centres.

Shuga Season 3, Episode 1 – Home Coming

Shuga is a lifestyle based TV series produced by MTV Staying Alive Foundation and MTV Base Africa as part of the drive to curb the spread of HIV as well as create awareness for AIDS. They are calling this season 3, Shuga Naija as it is shot entirely in Nigeria with a predominantly Nigerian cast and Nigerian director Biyi Bandele who also did Half of a Yellow Sun movie. Enjoy...