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.
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.
Yes, it is possible that one or both of you could have had chlamydia and herpes simplex (HSV) for over 6 months.
Chlamydia is a common STI and many people do not notice symptoms. The only way they know they have Chlamydia is when they get tested, as you did.
Herpes is also very common. Estimates say that about 80% of people will have HSV type 1 in their lifetime; about 20% of people will have herpes in the genital area. It is quite common for people to have herpes and not know it because they do not notice symptoms.
Outbreaks come and go, and it is very possible that one, or both, of you had the virus and never noticed an outbreak before.
Sometimes the virus is on the skin when there is no sore present. This is called viral shedding and it is possible to pass herpes at this time.
For more information, have a look at our pages on chlamydia and herpes.
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 is always a good idea to get checked if you are worried about a sexual contact.
Routine STI tests in men and women usually include urine or swabs for gonorrhea and chlamydia. In women, it can also include swabs for trichomonas, yeast and bacterial vaginosis.
We check your blood for syphilis, HIV and sometimes Hepatitis A, B and C.
As for herpes, we usually only test when there are some symptoms of herpes, such as a sore on your skin. If you did get herpes, it takes around 2 – 20 days (average 6 days) for symptoms to show up.
It also takes time between when you had sex and when an infection will show up on the test. This is called a “window period”. Have a look at our chart, “STI’s at a Glance” for info on when to get tested..
If you notice any changes in your body, go for testing right away.
For help finding a clinic in BC, check out 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.
I am not sure I properly understand your question, but I will give you some information about STI testing in BC.
The clinics you see in our clinic finder are public health or Options clinics. Many offer free STI testing if you do not have a Medical Services Plan (MSP) Care Card.
You can also get testing at any doctor’s office or walk in clinic in BC.
If you do not have a Care Card, you will have to pay for the visit, but the STI tests are free.
If you are wondering about when to get tested, you can check out our chart called STI’s at a Glance.
Click here if you want some information about what to expect when you go for a test.
Please leave a comment to let us know if this answered your question. If not, feel free to send in another question.
Health Nurse
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.
Yes, there are a number of different skin conditions that can be passed between people by skin to skin contact. The ones most commonly passed through sexual contact are warts, herpes, and molluscum.
It is also possible to pass these viruses through other skin to skin contact. For example, herpes can passed between athletes, such as wrestlers, who have a lot of skin to skin contact.
Condoms and barriers do not cover all skin areas, but they do provide some protection.
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.
When someone is coming to a clinic for a routine HIV test, we usually recommend testing at 6 weeks and 3 months. This is done because 95% of tests are accurate after 6 weeks, but it can take up to 3 months for a final result.
In your case testing is treated differently because it was an occupational exposure. This means that you come under the blood and body fluid exposure management guidelines of your employer.
The testing recommended in the blood and body fluid exposure manual is meant to cover all types of situations, and because several things are being tested at the same times.
For example, HIV testing is recommended at 9 months because the HIV window period can be affected if the person took post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to try and prevent an HIV infection. Click here for more information about PEP.
Because this is work related, I recommend that you talk with your occupational health department about your situation, and why they recommend follow up testing at 6 and 9 months.
Here is a link to the blood and body fluid exposure management guidelines posted on the BC Center for Disease Control website.
Please leave a comment to let us know if this answers your question or if you need more info.
Health Nurse
Hi.
When people get condyloma acuminata (HPV or warts) it is hard to know if it is a new infection or an old infection that has come back.
We know that about 90% of HPV will clear within 2 years. HPV can stay dormant in some cells and may never show up again, but it can also return.
Pregnancy and some illnesses may be a factor, but sometimes warts just start growing again with no clear cause.
Click here for more info on genital warts
Please leave a comment to let us know if this answers your question or if you need more info.
Health Nurse
Hi.
The most common symptoms that people can feel when they get HIV include fever, rash, swollen lymph glands, muscle and joint pain and fatigue.
Ear pain or ringing in the ear are not commonly associated with a seroconversion illness.
If you are worried and would like to get tested or talk to a health care provider, check out our clinic finder for an STI clinic near you.
Please leave a comment to let us know if this answers your question or if you need more info.
Health Nurse
Hi.
I’m not quite sure if you are asking about routine testing or HIV window periods. Here is a bit of info on both:
When to get routine testing depends on things like whether you and your partners have other partners, whether condoms are used and how they are used. Click here for more information on when to get tested.
For HIV window periods, the virus is usually found in the blood within 3-6 weeks, but it can take up to 3 months. Click here for more information on HIV and testing.
Please leave a comment to let us know if this answers your question or if you need more info.
Health Nurse