Sexual Health

To get tested for an STI:

• Access On Demand HIV & Syphilis testing: Drop into any Interior Health laboratory and ask for HIV & Syphilis testing! You do not need to see a doctor or have a lab requisition. And it's free!
• Find your nearest OPTIONS clinic
• Visit an Urgent and Primary Care Centre (UPCC): Some UPCCs see walk-in patients and others see patients by appointment only. Check out the webpage for the UPCC nearest to you for more information.
• Visit a Sexual & Reproductive Health Clinic: These clinics offer STI testing, treatment, vaccinations, pregnancy testing, emergency contraception, free condoms and more
• GetCheckedOnline in Kamloops, Kimberley and Nelson: Get tested without seeing a doctor through a partnership with BCCDC and LifeLabs

Opt out emergency department testing information:

• English
• Arabic
• Punjabi
• Spanish
• Farsi
• Tagalog

Resources:

• Sexually Transmitted Infections (Options for Sexual Health)
• STIs (The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologist of Canada) 
• Sexually Transmitted Infections Series (HealthLinkBC) 
• My Health is Sexy
• About STIs (Smart Sex Resource)
• Sexually Transmitted Infections (BCCDC) 
• PAP Screening (BC Cancer)

Knowing your HIV status is an important part of a healthy sex life and a good relationship. Did you know that one in seven people who are HIV positive don’t know it?

HIV is treatable and, while it is a chronic infection with no cure, medications can help you to live a healthy and full life. We have awareness, testing, prevention and treatment services to reduce HIV transmission.

Visit our HIV & Health Outreach page to learn more

Resources:

• PrEP: SmartSex Resource
• PEP: SmartSex Resource
   

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum.Check out our awareness page - Worried about Syphilis? Don’t stress. Just test!

To learn more about syphilis, visit the SmartSexResource.com webpage on syphilis.

 Chlamydia/Gonorrhea Clinician Reporting Form

BCCDC: Sexually Transmitted Infections
BCCDC: Bicillin Quick Tips
BCCDC: How to interpret syphilis results

Contraception is a way to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. Some contraceptive choices are available over-the-counter at a drugstore while others require a prescription. In addition to your primary health-care provider, your community may have youth clinics or options for sexual health clinics that provide birth control.

Resources: 

• Your public health nurse is a source of trusted information
• Contraception (The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologist of Canada)  
• Options for Sexual Health
• Birth Control (HealthLinkBC)

Emergency contraception (EC) methods are both available with and without prescription at a drug store. EC must be taken as soon as possible after unprotected intercourse. Some communities have youth clinics or options for sexual health clinics or public health nurses that can provide EC.

• Using Emergency Contraception (Options for Sexual Health)
• Emergency Contraception (EC) (HealthLinkBC)
• Emergency Contraception (The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologist of Canada)

If your pregnancy test is negative

• If you still have not had your period after two more weeks, you should take another pregnancy test
• If you want to avoid pregnancy, ask your health-care provider about birth control options that are right for you

If your pregnancy test is positive

Deciding what to do about an unplanned pregnancy is not easy.  You may want to take some time to think about your options, or talk about them with someone you trust, including your health-care provider.

Consider the pros and cons of each option: 

• Becoming a parent 
• Placing the baby for adoption 
• Having an abortion 

Information and counselling about all these pregnancy options are available toll-free from the Pregnancy Options Service Line at BC Women’s Hospital at 1-888-875-3163 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT).

Abortions are free with current Medical Service Plan coverage. Information and counselling about abortion and pregnancy options are available toll-free from the Pregnancy Options Service Line at BC Women’s Hospital at 1-888-875-3163 (Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. PT).

Types of abortion:

• Aspiration (surgical) abortion is typically performed up to 13 weeks and 6 days and available up to 24 weeks 6 days at some locations
• Medication (medical) abortion is available up to 10 weeks

For more information, including where to access services in your area:

• Abortion services within Interior Health
• Abortion (HealthLinkBC)
• Abortion Resources (Options for Sexual Health) 
• What Now? Pamphlet
• Sex Sense Line: 1-800-739-7367 
• Kelowna General Hospital Women’s Services Clinic: 250-980-1399 (Monday-Thursday)

Visit our Pregnancy & Childbirth section for more information or access the resources below.

• What Now? Pamphlet 
• Options for Sexual Health

Resources for Indigenous peoples include:

• IndigenousSexualHealth.ca 
• Chee Mamuk (BCCDC) 
• Native Youth Sexual Health Network
• QMUNITY: B.C.’s Queer, Trans and Two-Spirit Resource Centre

Resources on this topic include:

• QMUNITY: B.C.’s Queer, Trans and Two-Spirit Resource Centre
• Trans Care BC (Provincial Health Services Authority)  
• ANKORS
• Hormone Injection Supplies toolkit
• TransConnect
• BC Government Gender Equity & LGBTQ2S+ Resources
• Gender Resources BC Children’s Hospital
• What’s on Queer BC resources
• Kelty BC Gender & Sexuality
• Gender Basics Trans Care BC
• SOGI 123
• HealthLink BC Gender Identity and Transgender Issues
• Pflag Canada
• Gender & Sexual Orientation - Foundry - (foundrybc.ca)
• ANKORS BC LGBTQ2IA+ Resources
• Health Initiative for Men (HIM)

• Sexual Wellness - Foundry - (foundrybc.ca)
• YouthCO
• Sexual Health (bcchildrens.ca)
• Native Youth Sexual Health Network
• Sex & U (sexandu.ca)