A service provided by the BC Centre for Disease Control
In the years since SmartSexResource launched, we have developed a library of questions asked by you, and answered by our expert sexual health nurses.
Our answered questions library cover a broad range of sexual health topics and common questions we hear at our clinics.
Hi
Given that you had a negative rapid HIV test at 12 weeks, there is no need for any further testing.
If you want to read more about window periods for STI/HIV you can check out our chart “STI’s At A Glance”.
As for your chances of getting an infection during the blood draw or finger prick, that should never happen in Canada. Healthcare providers follow strict regulations and needles are used one time only. After they are used one time, they are disposed of in a special container.
In addition, the lancet used for the rapid test is designed in such a way that it can only be used once.
Please leave a comment to let us know if this answers your question or if you need more information.
Health Nurse
For other readers, please feel free to leave a comment, or let us know if this was helpful.
Hi
The test you may be talking about is the NAAT test. The window period is shorter than standard HIV antibody testing. It is 90% accurate 10 – 12 days after sexual contact.
This test is available for men and trans people in a few clinics in Vancouver, as part of a study. The aim of this study is to find people when they first get HIV. For the first 2 months after someone gets HIV, it is easy to pass on because there is a high amount of virus in the body.
The clinics that offer HIV NAAT testing :
Bute clinic: always drop – in, with no appointments.
HIM: drop in and appointments, but appointments will guarantee you a time to be seen.
Provincial STI Clinic: mainly by appointment, but you MAY be seen if you drop in.
You can find more details about these clinics in our Clinic Finder.
Please leave a comment to let us know if that answers your question or if you need more information.
Health Nurse
For other readers, please feel free to leave a comment, or let us know if this was helpful.
Hi
Both a family doctor and an STI clinic are reliable places to go for testing. A family doctor is able to order the same tests that you would get at an STI clinic.
The important thing would be to choose a place where you are comfortable talking about your sexual history. This helps your health care provider decide what tests are best for you.
You might want to print out and take along our STI checklist when you go for testing. You can review it with your health care provider to decide what tests you need.
Please leave a comment to let us know if that answers your question or if you need more information.
Health Nurse
For other readers, please feel free to leave a comment, or let us know if this was helpful.
Hi.
In men, we mostly diagnose HPV, when we see the warts. If we don’t see them, we don’t test for HPV on the skin.
We do know that about 90% of people will “clear” the virus within 2 years. That may mean that the virus is completely cleared from your body, or it may mean that the wart virus stays in the cells, but is dormant. The warts may never show up again, but they can also return at some future time.
Pregnancy and some illnesses can cause HPV to return, but sometimes they come back for no obvious reason.
Click here if you want more info on HPV.
Please leave a comment to let us know if that answers your question or if you need more information.
Health Nurse
For other readers, please feel free to leave a comment, or let us know if this was helpful.
Hi.
It’s great that you have been using condoms. When they are used correctly and they don’t break or fall off they offer good protection for many STIs.
There are some STIs, including warts, syphilis and herpes that are passed through skin to skin contact. Since condoms do not cover all skin areas, it is possible for these STIS to be passed with Russian (from behind) and ball licking.
Gonorrhea, Chlamydia and HIV are not passed with covered oral sex. Warts (HPV), herpes and syphilis are not commonly passed this way.
Gonorrhea, Chlamydia and HIV are not commonly passed with covered vaginal or anal sex. It is possible to pass warts, herpes and syphilis this way.
Viruses such as HIV and Hepatitis B and C, could be passed when blood comes in contact with mucous membrane (rectum, urethra, vagina), open skin or sores. Blood contact with unbroken skin is not considered a risk for HIV or Hepatitis B and C. It was a good idea to wash the blood off right away.
Many times people have no symptoms, so not seeing sores does not always mean a person does not have an STI.
If you are not getting routine testing, it may be a good idea to get tested. Check out our clinic finder for a STI clinic in BC.
Please leave a comment to let us know if this answers your questions or if you need more info.
Health Nurse
For other readers, please feel free to leave a comment, or let us know if this was helpful.
Hi.
Concern about penis size and shape is pretty normal. Penises are similar to other parts of our bodies ….they are same but a little different between people.
The penis starts growing in puberty, when other body changes also start to happen. That usually happens anywhere between 9 and 18 years of age.
The average adult penis is between five and seven inches long when erect, and much smaller when soft. Some are wider and some thinner.
The penis can get much bigger or just a little bigger with an erection. The size of the penis when it is soft does not relate to size it will be with an erection.
The size of the penis usually has little to do with how sex feels or what kind of sexual partner you are.
Please leave a comment to let us know if this answers your question or if you need more info.
Health Nurse
The most common STIs passed with condomless oral sex are gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia and human papillomavirus (HPV).
Herpes can be passed from the mouth or genitals to a partner’s mouth or genitals.
The chances of getting HIV is considered low. If you had a throat infection, bleeding gums or sores in your mouth, your chances of getting HIV may increase.
Have a look at our ‘Oral sex’ and ‘My chances’ pages for more information.
Hi.
This is an issue for many men, and it can be problem when you want or need to use condoms. There are a few things you can try.
You can start by trying to link condom use with pleasure.
One way to do this is by masturbating with a condom on when you are alone. You can also try masturbating until you are close to ejaculation, and then putting a condom on.
Sometimes it helps to have a partner put on the condom while you continue to do things that arouse you like kissing and touching.
Try a few types of condoms. Sometimes the fit makes a difference. If the condom is too tight it can be uncomfortable, and cause you to lose an erection.
Some men find that the female condom works for them.
Please leave a comment to let us know if this answers your question or if you need more info.
Health Nurse
Hi.
These days you usually don’t need to get a swab in your penis. Most of the time all you have to do for Chlamydia and Gonorrhoea testing, is pee in a cup.
If you have been treated for Gonorrhea you may be asked to return for a swab to make sure that it is gone.
Your health care provider will talk to you about this if they think it is needed.
For more about STI testing, click here.
Health Nurse
Hi.
Some types of birth control including pills, rings, patches, Depo-Provera, intrauterine device (IUD) or intrauterine system (Mirena) don’t protect you from getting an STI.
Condoms or other barriers give good protection for most STIs. Condoms do double duty when they are used for both birth control and STI protection.
Click here to learn more about how to use condoms.
Please leave a comment to let us know if this answers your question or if you need more info.
Heatlh Nurse
