It seems like we don’t hear much about HIV and AIDS anymore these days; in fact, South Park even did an episode about how cancer is today’s “big disease” and how AIDs just isn’t important anymore. Many people believe that since there have been so many advances in technology and treatment that HIV isn’t as much of a concern.

But in reality, HIV still develops into AIDS. About 14,000 people die of AIDS every year. Every nine and a half minutes, someone in America is infected with HIV—and of the million people living with the virus, 20% don’t even know they’re infected. The longer you don’t know and treatment is delayed, the more your chances of survival decrease.

And the thing is, people who are in monogamous relationships or are celibate believe that they are completely safe; but that simply isn’t true. Though oral, vaginal and anal sex with an HIV-infected partner is the leading cause of infection, there are other causes—such as sharing injection equipment with an HIV-positive person (which can also occur through contamination) or having the disease passed on through birth or breast milk.

No matter who you are, you should get tested—if nothing else, for some peace of mind. Since today is National HIV Testing Day, there are tons of places available for testing right now. To find a testing site near you, click here, text your zip code to KNOWIT (566948) or call 1-800-CDC-INFO.

To reduce your risk of acquiring HIV, follow these tips:

• Practice abstinence and simply refrain from sex (including oral sex).
• If you choose to have sex, always use protection (a condom). Birth control pills and other forms of contraceptives will not protect you from STDs (but don’t you think they should?).
•  Keep your sexual relationships monogamous, and talk to your partner about his or her sexual history. Be sure to share your own as well.
• When you use a condom, only use one; while using two may sound like it offers more protection, it actually increases the risk of breakage or slipping off.

Though the Bush Administration—as well as the Catholic Church—has been famous in denying the effectiveness of condoms in preventing STDs, the fact is that, while the only perfect way to not get an STD is to not have sex, ever, condoms do reduce STD risk by at least 85%. And if you’re going to have sex anyway, this cuts your odds of infection tremendously.