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Safer Sex Being trans can sometimes mean there is already a lot to talk about with new sexual partners without adding on safer sex.  But talking about protection and STI testing is an important way to lower your chances of STIs. With...

Safer Sex Your chances of getting an STI depend on the kind of sex you are having, whether or not you are using protection and how many other people in your group have the STI. STI testing In BC, rates of STI and HIV are high among men who...

Safer Sex STIs are usually less common among women who have sex with women*.  *Here women refers to individuals with vaginas or internal genitals, including trans men and non-binary individuals. The chances of getting an STI...

Coming out can be a very positive experience when friends and family are supportive and the person feels they can finally be themselves. For some people, the idea of coming out can be scary. Some fear negative reactions or rejection from...

Compulsive sex is not about how you have sex, how often you have sex or with whom you have sex. It refers to times when thoughts about sex or your behaviour causes problems in your life and with relationships. There are no set criteria for...

A Pap test is often done at the same time as sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing. Cells from the cervix are spread on a glass slide and sent to the Cervical Cancer Screening Laboratory (CCSL) in Vancouver. It generally takes...

There are many types of birth control to choose from and it is important to find the method that works best for you. Most methods of birth control do not prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Condoms can lower the chances of...

Some common terms used to describe sexual orientation: Bisexual – attracted to both sexes Heterosexual/straight – attracted to a different sex Homosexual – attracted to the same sex Lesbian –  women attracted to women Gay –...

In a fluid bond, partners may exchange bodily fluids such as semen, ejaculate, secretions, blood or saliva.  The risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and pregnancy is higher in a fluid bond, because barrier protection (such...

Here are ten tips that will help make these conversations relevant and comfortable for all involved. These tips have been generously provided by Jennifer Gibson, Community Education Services Coordinator with Island Sexual Health.  Want to...

Sometimes mental health can affect the decisions we make about sex, for example, choosing to have sex when we feel lonely or anxious. Sexual health concerns and diagnoses can also lead us to feel worried, anxious, sad, or even hopeless. If...

How does it work? The INSTI® HIV Self-Test is an HIV antibody test which detects antibodies produced in response to HIV. Antibodies to HIV can take time to develop after an exposure. It can take 3 to 12 weeks for this test to detect...

You can print off the checklist provided below (under Additional Resources) and bring it with you on your next visit to your health care provider. Call ahead if you have questions about: If you need to bring ID, such as BC driver’s...

Antibiotics cannot cure STIs caused by viruses such as herpes simplex  (HSV), genital warts (HPV) or HIV. There are many different types of antibiotics and it is important to get the right antibiotis. It is not a good idea to take...

HAART prevents the HIV virus from making copies of itself and limits how much virus is in the body. The level of virus in the blood is called ‘viral load’. When the viral load is low or “undetectable”, there is less harm to the body’s...

Some people clear hepatitis C from their body, meaning the virus goes away on its own. Most people will not clear the virus and hepatitis C can become a long-term (chronic) condition. However, hepatitis C can be managed and usually cured...

The INSTI test kit is the only rapid HIV test that is licenced for use in Canada. The test uses a few drops of blood, which are taken from a finger poke. People who test negative will know their result within a few minutes. If the test is...

If this is a concern for you, feel free to chat with us or ask a question through this website. Common Concerns Notifying sex partners about a positive STI: The BC Centre for Disease Control, and public health nurses in each Health...

For many people, sexual desire and pleasure is experienced throughout the lifetime; it is not uncommon for people to masturbate at any age. Your sexual desires may also change over time, and masturbation is a great way to explore different...

Gender identity is how a person sees themselves. It is their own internal sense and personal experience of gender.  Gender expression includes all the ways a person communicates their gender based on societal factors such as gender...