If not, Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota will be offering a free STD testing day at both of our South Dakota clinics on June 18th!

Sioux Falls Free STD Testing Day

June 18, 2013

10:00 AM CDT - 4:30 PM CDT

6511 West 41st Street

Sioux Falls, SD 57106

Rapid City Free STD Testing Day

June 18, 2013

10:00 AM MDT - 2:00 PM MDT

619 Mountain View Road

Rapid City, SD 57702

If you are able to volunteer to help in Rapid City or Sioux Falls contact Megan. Volunteer opportunities with this event will mainly be in advance of the day. We will be looking for help getting flyers out in both Rapid City and Sioux Falls. There are some other volunteer opportunities around this event as well.

We will be offering this free testing day in conjunction with the release of our South Dakota STD Report that examines the alarming epidemic that South Dakota is currently facing.

Be watching for more information on the Free STD Testing Day, the South Dakota STD Report, and other volunteer opportunities coming soon!

May marks the National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month. And in the state of South Dakota this is an important month because teen pregnancy rates remain too high despite the fact that they have dropped nationally. In 2008 the pregnancy rate (number of pregnancies per 1,000 women aged 15-19) of teens was 53. While this has dropped over the years, and in data from another source the rate was as low as 35 in 2010, this doesn’t mean South Dakota shouldn’t be cautious.

What can we do to continue to make sure that the teen pregnancy rate in South Dakota declines?

Make sure that teens in South Dakota have access to sex education and birth control first and foremost. Communication is also vital. Parents and schools need to have these conversations about sex with teens.

Currently most South Dakota schools teach abstinence until marriage or abstinence only sex education. This is not going to help our state in the battle against unplanned pregnancies, teen pregnancies, or STDs.

Some people will claim that comprehensive sex education will encourage sexual activity among teens, but statistics have shown otherwise.

However, in a review of 48 studies of comprehensive sex and STD/HIV education programmes in US schools, there was found to be strong evidence that such programmes did not increase sexual activity. Some of them reduced sexual activity, or increased rates of condom use or other contraceptives, or both.

Comprehensive sex education is proven to work. 2010 statistics showed that New Hampshire had the lowest teen pregnancy rate. New Hampshire also requires comprehensive sex education in schools that includes abstinence, information about condoms, and education on contraception.

South Dakota needs comprehensive sex education.

The 2011 South Dakota Youth Risk Behavior Survey indicated the importance of a major change in sex education in South Dakota even though teen pregnancies have declined. Of the students who took the survey 47% had already had sexual intercourse. 15% of the students surveyed had already had sexual intercourse with four or more people during their life. Of those that had already had sexual intercourse, 39% of them didn’t use a condom during their last sexual intercourse.

Communication is also very important. Parents need to be having conversations about sex with their teens and make sure that the teens are informed on how to protect themselves when they are ready to have sexual intercourse. Advocates for Youth offers some great tips on talking to teens about contraception here.

While South Dakota’s teen pregnancy rates are declining, the battle will never end and South Dakota needs to do more to prepare itself moving forward in order to protect our youth.

Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, touted the major advancements for women made by the President. From passing the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, renewing the Violence Against Women Act, and, most significantly, championing the Affordable Care Act, which allows young adults to stay on their parents health insurance until age 26, provides no-cost birth control, prohibits denying coverage because of pre-existing conditions, removes discriminatory gender-based premiums, and so much more.

In his speech President Obama called out extreme anti choice legislation passed in North Dakota outlawing a woman’s right to choose to terminate a pregnancy as early as six weeks- even if she has been raped. He also referenced the state level efforts, like in Mississippi, to pass Personhood laws that would have far reaching consequences including limiting access to invitro fertilization and some forms of contraception- a battle which is looming on the horizon in North Dakota.

Watch the President’s address in its entirety here…

~Amy Jacobson ND Public Affairs Manager at PPMNS

You will often see both STD and STI used when talking about this month. What is the difference? There is not really one, many prefer to use the term Sexually Transmitted Infections because of the stigma associated with the term disease.

Why is it important to Get Yourself Tested?

Up to 75 % of women who have Chlamydia don’t have symptoms. And in 2012 there were 3922 cases of Chlamydia reported in SD.

1 in 2 sexually active people will get a Sexually Transmitted Infection by the age of 25.

Each year, there are about 19 million new sexually transmitted infections in the United States and about half of those occur in people aged 15-24.

There were 707 cases of Gonorrhea reported in South Dakota in 2012. Teens and young adults account for more than half of the cases of Gonorrhea in South Dakota.

So what can we do to change this?

Education. Comprehensive education is so important in the battle with STIs in South Dakota.

However, in this state that is not likely anytime soon, if ever.

So what else can we do?

We all need to protect ourselves.  Always using condoms and talking about sexual histories with partners before engaging with them is the best practice.

Get yourself tested. Talk to your doctor. Ask questions.

Know that some STIs are curable and all are treatable.

And do what you can to educate those around you. Sex happens. Unfortunately, unprotected sex happens. But the first step to changing the consequences is being prepared and educated.

Make yourself an appointment today to get tested---what are you waiting for? 

We need to help educate the public in North Dakota  about everything this amendment could affect.

And we need your help in doing so.

Would this have affected you if already enacted?

Will it potentially affect you?

Do you know someone it might affect?

Help us fight back by sharing your story with us today.

Download Story Release Form

If you have a story you are willing to share to help educate the public please email it to advocacy@ppmns.org.

Personal stories are the best way to show the public what is really in jeopardy with this amendment.

Please take the time to share your story and help us fight this amendment.

3/26/13

Governor Dalrymple Signs Virtual Abortion Ban;

North Dakota Braces for Litigation as “Personhood” Heads to 2014 Ballot

Fargo, ND – Today, Governor Dalrymple signed a near total abortion ban into law, effectively making North Dakota one of the most hostile states in the country towards women’s health. Governor Dalrymple secured North Dakota’s place in history as the state with the most extreme ban on abortion by signing one bill that will ban safe and legal abortion as early as 6 weeks — before a woman may even know she is pregnant. There are no exceptions if a woman has been the victim of rape, if her health is threatened, or if she will lose the pregnancy due to fetal anomalies. This comes on the heels of last week’s actions by the North Dakota Legislature which launched the state into a bitter, 20-month battle over “personhood” leading up to the 2014 election. Planned Parenthood will work in partnership with a broad coalition of doctors, patients, teachers, lawyers and others to educate our fellow North Dakotans about the far-reaching consequences and impact of “personhood.”

The following is a statement by Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota President and CEO, Sarah Stoesz.

“With his signature, today Governor Dalrymple severely compromised the health and well-being of all North Dakota women and their families.”

“This sweeping package of bills will not stand up to constitutional scrutiny. But as a result of North Dakota’s leaders’ disregard for women’s health, the state will endure months and years of drawn-out litigation costing taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. What a reckless and appalling waste of resources.”

“One thing became clear during the last few weeks: North Dakotans do not want to see politicians interfering with the personal medical decisions of women. Hundreds of grassroots activists spoke loudly and clearly as these bills moved through the legislature. Planned Parenthood was proud to play a role in amplifying the voices of North Dakotans who bravely stood in opposition to this abortion ban.”

“What’s left of the legislature’s all-out assault on women’s health is what will no doubt be a grueling, months-long battle over “personhood” leading up to the 2014 election. “Personhood” measures are so extreme even the most conservative states, like Mississippi, have rejected them. North Dakotans know that decisions about pregnancy and abortion are deeply personal and very complex. The grassroots uprising we saw in Bismarck and Fargo was just a taste of what’s to come as voters in the state learn about the dangers of this constitutional amendment. In 2014, North Dakotans will have the opportunity to stand up to these politicians and say ‘enough is enough.’”

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Mother Jones

What sparked this other than the fact that there has been legislation across the United States already this year against women?

Well March, Women’s History Month has seen some of the worst attacks against women and their right to make their own personal medical decisions.

While South Dakota definitely makes the list, we actually aren’t considered THE WORST.

Yet.

But our neighbors to the North are.

And that means we need to help them.

Do you have family or friends in North Dakota?

Reach out to them. Make sure they understand why the package of bills in North Dakota is so dangerous for women. Make sure that they have contacted their legislators and Governor Dalrymple.  Make sure that they know about volunteer opportunities.

We must help our neighbors to the North when we can because women losing rights in any state is a harm to women everywhere.

You can check out the whole article here.

Have your friends and family in ND check out our Facebook page and our blog to keep up to date on what they can do to help fight this battle.

Remember: No Matter Who Wins, Women Lose

HB 1237, extends the mandatory abortion waiting period by excluding weekends and holidays from counting towards it.

Below is the statement that PPMNS released in regards to Governor Daugaard signing this bill into law.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Today, Governor Daugaard signed a bill into law that will exclude weekends and holidays from the calculation of a 72-hour waiting period for an abortion, which will result in a longer waiting period for many women and a further erosion of access to abortion in the state. The following is a statement from Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota President and CEO Sarah Stoesz.

“Today’s Governor Daugaard signed into law a longer waiting period for abortion, once again proving the state’s hostility to women’s health and partiality to Crisis Pregnancy Centers, which are known for misleading and coercing women.”

“We are very disappointed that the state is further burdening women with medically unnecessary waiting periods for abortion. We will continue to stand with the women of South Dakota and fight for their access to safe and legal abortion, should they need to consider it.”

“These decisions that women and families are faced with are deeply personal and complex. Politicians have no place interfering with the personal medical decisions of women and families.”

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For more than 80 years, Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota has worked in our region to make sure all people have the information and the means to make free and responsible decisions about whether and when to have children.  Planned Parenthood operates 20 clinics in Minnesota and South Dakota and an Online Health Center, providing quality and affordable family planning, reproductive health care services and education to nearly 64,000  women and men each year.

Visit us on the web at www.ppmns.org

We have one last time to make our voices be heard, email Governor Daugaard and ask him to veto this atrocious bill.

HB 1237 does nothing to help women. Instead it is just another piece of legislation aimed at interfering with a woman’s personal medical decisions.

The people of South Dakota decisively voted to protect access to abortion in 2006 and 2008, yet politicians in Pierre continue to eliminate access.

Make your voice be heard, email Governor Daugaard now!

That means it is time to send emails to the committee members asking them to vote no!

HB 1237 is not about helping women. HB 1237 is just another attempt at interfering with a  woman’s personal medical decisions.

It is time to remind the committee members that the voters of South Dakota decisively voted to protect abortion access in 2006 and 2008.

Please take a minute to email the committee members right away.

Stay tuned---we will have more ways for you to get involved and help in this battle against HB 1237 coming soon.