Repro Health Hub

A study released by the CDC over the weekend shows that the number of Americans infected with HIV each year is higher than originally thought. The actual number, 56,300 new HIV infections in 2006, is 40% higher than the annual estimate used for the past 12 years.

In better news, another CDC report shows that from 1991 to 2007, the percentage of U.S. high school students engaging in sexual behaviors that may spread HIV infection fell dramatically.

By Tara Sweeney

The XVII International AIDS Conference kicked off in Mexico City last night and will run until August 8. The conference is attended by approximately 22,000 health professionals, policymakers, activists, and international dignitaries. The conference is an opportunity for the worldwide community to share its research and experience in working to prevent HIV/AIDS.

Luckily the Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project (CHAMP) has set up a blog, aids2008.com, so we can all share in the news from Mexico City. Visit the aids2008.com to check in on sessions, watch videos, and even sign up for daily e-mail updates about conference happenings.

By Tara Sweeney

Today’s New York Daily News ran a story on the safe sex license—or as the newspaper dubbed it, the “American Sexpress card.”

For $19.99, users can file a detailed sexual profile, including HIV and STI test results with STFree Certifications, a company based in New York City. Customers complete registration either online or inside one of STFree’s vans. Users can then present their safe sex licenses to potential sexual partners.

According to STFree’s Web site, the process of obtaining information about a member’s sexual history is as follows:

So far, more than 15,000 people have signed up for the service. Click here to sign up for a license or to learn more about the program.

By Allison Farer