Planned Parenthood of Illinois (PPIL) is urging sexually active individuals to talk with their partners about the need to use condoms to protect against sexually transmitted diseases during National Condom Week.
"Many people who have an sexually transmitted infection don't even realize it," said Beth Kanter, senior vice president of external affairs for Planned Parenthood of Illinois. "It's important to let your partner know that you want to use condoms every time you have sex to keep both of you healthy."
During this week, PPIL is giving away free condoms at all PPIL health centers across the state, Feb. 14-21.
In Springfield, the education staff of PPIL will be distributing condoms and information on sexually transmitted infections at University of Illinois at Springfield, Lincoln Land Community College and Illinois College, and hosting an after school program on relationships.
Teen peer educators from PPIL's Teen Awareness Groups (TAG) will also be utilizing popular social media accounts such as Facebook, MySpace and Twitter to blitz education facts about condoms during this week.
"It is critical that young women, men and teens know how to protect themselves against sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies," said Kanter.
Illinois ranked eighth out of 50 states for the most gonorrhea cases in 2008 and ninth out of 50 states in chlamydia cases.
