Sexual Health
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
Many sexually transmitted infections (STIs) have no visible symptoms. Lots of STIs are treatable. Although the highest rates are in young adults 15 to 24 years of age, STIs are a risk at all ages.
The ONLY way to know if you have HIV or another STI is to get tested. Regular testing is an important part of sexual health. Knowing if you have an STI is the first step to keeping yourself and your partners healthy.
- By appointment: Call the clinic at 613-564-3950 or book an appointment (often available that same day) for STI and HIV testing with your family physician or nurse practitioner. If you don’t yet have a family physician at BWFHT you can register online and then book an appointment.
STI and HIV Testing is also available at these locations in the Ottawa Area:
- Ottawa Public Health Sexual Health Centre, 179 Clarence Street, 613-234-4641
STBBIs – Sexually Transmitted Blood-borne Infections Testing
- Concerned you might have an STI? You can see a physician or nurse practitioner. Book an appointment with your family health care provider.
- HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) – Looking for confidential and fast testing for HIV? Go to University of Ottawa Health Promotion (located at University Centre – 203) on Wednesdays from September-April for free, rapid and anonymous HIV testing. You can drop by or call to book an appointment at 613-562-5800 ext 4372.
- Looking for another place to get STI testing? The Ottawa Public Health Sexual Health Clinic offers similar services, If you live in Gatineau, you can go to Clinique Santé Sexualité du Plateau.
Are you at risk? Should you get tested? Take the test!
Looking to get a Pap test? Book an appointment with your family physician or nurse practitioner.
HPVinfo: Spread the word, not the disease. The facts on the human papillomavirus from Canada’s experts.
What is HPV?
The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the world. Around 75% of sexually active Canadians will get at least one HPV infection in their lifetime.
There are many strains of HPV, some of which cause no symptoms and others that can cause anogenital warts and certain cancers.
What are the symptoms?
Many HPV infections will cause no symptoms and will go away on their own within 24 months. However, HPV can stay in the body and cause anal and genital warts and cancers of the head and neck, cervix, vagina, vulva, anus and penis.
How does HPV spread?
HPV is spread through skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity, which includes vaginal, anal and oral sex. It can also be spread through other intimate contact with the genital areas. As most HPV infections do not cause symptoms, the virus easily passes from person-to –person.
Who is at risk for HPV?
Individuals of any age, gender or sexual orientation are at risk. Those with previous sexually transmitted infections (STIs), weakened immune systems and/or men who have sex with men are at a higher risk of HPV infection.
In general, the more sexual encounters one has, the greater the risk of being infected by HPV. However, HPV can be transmitted on the first sexual encounter if that partner is infected.
How do I prevent HPV infection?
Condoms and monogamous relationships do not adequately protect against HPV infections. Immunization with the HPV vaccine is the most effective way to protect yourself against 9 strains of HPV that cause certain cancers and genital warts.
What is the HPV vaccine?
Gardasil-9 is the HPV vaccine that protects against 9 strains of HPV (6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, 58) that cause:
- 90% of cervical cancer cases
- at least 25% of vulvar cases
- 74% of vaginal cancers
- 80–90% of anal cancers and precancers
- 70% of certain head and neck cancers, such as throat and back of mouth cancers
- and the 2 HPV types that cause over 90% of genital warts
Gardasil-9 does not treat a current HPV infection or types of HPV that a person may have already been exposed to. It does, however, prevent infection from the HPV types that a person has not yet been exposed to.
Who should get Gardasil-9?
Individuals aged 9-45 are eligible to receive the Gardasil vaccine.
Getting vaccinated at a younger age before becoming sexually active ensures that the individual is protected against HPV when they do engage in sexual activities. However, individuals who are already sexually active can still benefit from vaccination, as Gardasil will protect against HPV types that the person has not yet been exposed to.
What to expect from Gardasil-9?
Gardasil is vaccine that is injected into the muscle of the arm. Depending on your age, Gardasil is given as 1 or 2 doses spaced 6 months apart.
If you have a weakened immune system, 3 doses are recommended, given at 0, 2 and 6 months.
How effective is Gardasil-9?
Gardasil-9 is very effective at preventing infection with 9 strains of HPV that can cause cancers and genital warts.
What are the side effects of Gardasil-9?
The most common side effects include:
- Pain, swelling, redness, itching, bruising, bleeding and a lump where you received the vaccine
- Headache
- Fever
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Tiredness
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Sore throat
These are not all of the side effects. Please speak with your health care provider or pharmacist for a complete list of side effects.
What is the cost of Gardasil-9?
The Gardasil-9 vaccine is covered by the Ontario provincial government when students are in Grade 7. If the vaccine series is missed in Grade 7, it will be covered until Grade 12. After that, it is only covered by the province for the following high-risk groups:
- Men who have sex with men (MSM), who are 26 years of age or younger, and who identify as gay and/or bisexual
- Some individuals who identify as trans and who have not started their HPV vaccine series before September 5, 2017
Most private drug insurance plans will cover most or all the cost of the vaccine. Please contact your private insurer directly to inquire.
If purchasing Gardasil-9 without provincial or private coverage, 1 dose of the vaccine is approximately $240.
How do I access the Gardasil-9 vaccine?
For those who are not eligible for Gardasil through the provincial program, a prescription can be requested from your health care provider. Please contact the clinic to book an appointment with your prescriber to discuss.
Concerned you might have a UTI? You can book an appointment with a physician or nurse practitioner.
- Want an IUD/IUC insertion? Talk to your health care provider and have them refer you to this service using the IUC referral form located on our website.
- What to expect at an IUC visit.
- It’sAPlan: Helping you make decisions about contraception.
- Book an appointment with your family physician or nurse practitioner to discuss options.
- Looking for emergency birth control? The LINK can help explain the options.
Gynecology
- Have concerns about your reproductive (women’s) health? Check out the services offered at our clinic.
- YourPeriod: The facts on menstruation from Canada’s experts.
- Concerned about incontinence and the muscles of your pelvic floor? Here is a list of pelvic floor physiotherapists in the Ottawa region.
- Want to track your period and ovulation cycle? There’s an App for that. Check out Clue.
- MenopauseandU: The facts on menopause from Canada’s experts.
Obstetrics
- Are you newly pregnant and need a care provider? Our specialists can provide care during your pregnancy.
- PregnancyInfo: The facts on pregnancy and childbirth from Canada’s experts.
Unplanned Pregnancy
- Considering parenting, adoption or abortion? Planned Parenthood Ottawa can provide all-options counselling and direct you to your desired services. You can access similar services at Clinique des femmes in the Outaouais region.
- The Sexual Assault and Partner Abuse Program at the Ottawa Hospital have 24/7 services available for you.
- Want to speak to someone now? Call a crisis line.
- Need a safe place to stay? Here is a list of shelters.
- Want to report a sexual assault? The Ottawa Police have a victim crisis unit to help.
- If you are a uOttawa student or staff, uOttawa Human Rights Office can help you too.
- The Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre offers counselling.
- Ottawa Victims Services can connect you with resources like access to safe transportation.
- If you are looking for counselling services in French, CALACS can guide you.
