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, thanks for your question. We do not see people getting STI’s from toilets, by sitting on them or through contact with the water in the toilet bowl. STI’s are sexually transmitted infections usually through genital skin contact with wet warm sexual fluids. Of course there are other bacteria that can be transmitted through contact with any toilet surface that many people have used. ( seats, flush handle, wash basins, door handles to name a few) Handwashing before and after can prevent this transmission. If you remain concerned or have developed any symptoms, please see your doctor for assessment.
Hi, and thanks for writing in with your question
We recommend waiting for 4 weeks after taking antibiotics before doing any testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The reason for this is that sometimes we treat non-STI infections with the same antibiotics that can treat STIs.
Once antibiotics kill an infection it can take the body 3-4 weeks to actually get rid of the dead bacteria. Some STI tests (specifically the ones for chlamydia and gonorrhea) are so sensitive that they will detect the residual protein from the dead bacteria and report it as positive. This is essentially a “false positive” result, but it often leads to an additional, unnecessary dose of antibiotics if a testing provider doesn’t realize the infection could already have been treated with the previous antibiotics.
I hope this makes sense! If your STI testing was all negative 1 week after the ciprofloxacin, then you don’t need to worry. If something comes back positive on your tests, then I would recommend speaking with your care provider about the possibility of an already-treated infection.
Let us know if this does not answer your question or if you have any more questions or concerns.
Health Nurse
Hi, and thanks for your question
Condoms, when used properly, are a very effective barrier against HIV transmission. They are also excellent at preventing other sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis as well as preventing pregnancy.
For maximum efficacy it’s important that condoms be used correctly. A new condom should be used every time you have intercourse, as well as with each new partner, and when switching from anal to oral or vaginal penetration. The condom should be put on before the penis/external genitals touch the partner’s genitals or anus.
I don’t have any data on whether there has ever been a case of HIV with an intact condom, but what I can say is that condoms are very effective at preventing HIV.
Have a look at our Condoms page for more information and tips. You might also find our Know Your Chances charts helpful when considering risk of various types of STIs including HIV.
Let us know if this does not answer your question or if you have any more questions or concerns.
Health Nurse
Hi, and thanks for your question
No, we really wouldn’t see someone getting pregnant this way. Pregnacy happens when there is direct contact of the genitals like penetrative intercourse of penis in vagina, or direct contact with ejaculate (semen) and the vulva or vaginal opening.
Even if there is contact between genitals but one partner is wearing clothing, pregnancy is not a risk.
We really like the Scarleteen website as they’ve got some great answers to scenarios like the one you’ve presented. Have a look at their site in general, and specifically on their Pregnancy Panic page.
Let us know if this does not answer your question or if you have any more questions or concerns.
Health Nurse
Based on what you have described, if your boyfriend had a condom on and he did not ejaculate inside your vagina, the chances of getting pregnant from that encounter are unlikely.
The only way to determine whether or not you are pregnant is to take a pregnancy test. Most home (or clinic) pregnancy tests will be accurate after you have missed your period. To learn more about pregnancy testing, click here.
Besides being pregnant, several things can cause you to miss your period. Some of these include:
If you have concerns about your changes in your period, see your health care provider.
Besides using condoms consistently, there are several ways you can prevent pregnancy. To learn more, see our ‘Birth Control’ page.
Genital warts are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). It is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
There are over 100 types of HPV. About 40 of them can affect the anus/rectum, genitals and less commonly, the mouth and throat. HPV is sexually transmitted through skin-to-skin contact. This includes sexual contact such as, genitals rubbing together, penetrative sex (vaginal/internal genital or anal/rectal intercourse), oral sex, sharing sex toys, and hands on genitals. HPV may still be present even if there are no visible warts or when the warts are gone. Wearing condoms can help to reduce, but not eliminate the chances of passing HPV from one partner to another.
For the majority of people, the virus will clear the body on its own without causing symptoms/warts or problems.
For those who do get symptoms (genital warts), most of these will eventually go away with or without having them treated, often within 18-24 months. Once your genital warts are gone, this does not mean the HPV infection is gone or cured. Genital warts can come back and you can get HPV again from a partner who has it.
There are now vaccines that protect against the more common HPV types. The vaccine will not help you get rid of HPV if you already have it, but it can prevent future infections. To learn more about the HPV and other vaccines, click here.
Most physicians within the lower mainland are well versed with the health needs of people who identify as GLBT2S. Below I have provided links to clinics that we would recommend patients who seek queer competent healthcare providers
https://denmanmedicalcentre.com/
https://www.mainlandclinic.ca/
Does this answer your question? Please let us know.
The rapid HIV tests are only 95% accurate at most. False positives are quite common with the rapid test which does not indicate that you have HIV. The rapid tests are never used to diagnose someone here in British Columbia due to the large margin of error. I recommend that you complete a more accurate HIV testing that includes HIV antibodies and HIV RNA. I have provided you with a link that can connect you to clinic where you can complete these tests. https://smartsexresource.com/get-tested/clinic-finder
Does this answer your question? Please let us know.
Your immune system is responsible for clearing out the HPV virus within our bodies, but when and how it is cleared depends on the strain and your immune system. Some people may not have completeresolution of an HPV type. It could be that the type is dormant or “sleeping” in their body, but reawakens at some point. This sometimes happens when the body is under more stress that affects the immune system, such as periods of extreme stress or certain medications like chemotherapy.
It’s also possible that a person may resolve the type completely, but then get it again at a future date. It’s also very possible that someone could be infected with a different
HPV type if they are exposed to it. Having one type of HPV does not mean you won’t get other types of HPV if exposed to them. Regardless of the reason, some people can
have recurrent HPV.
Although our immune system does its best to protect us from HPV exposures, there is still a possibility of transmission if HPV is present. HPV passed through skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity. This includes any kind of sexual contact with the anal and genital regions, including genitals rubbing together, penetrative sex (vaginal or anal intercourse), oral sex, sharing sex toys, and hands on genitals. HPV may still be present even if there are no visible warts or when the warts are gone. Since HPV is so common that most people acquire it sooner or later, it is not realistic to avoid it. There is no need to stop having sex even if warts or other signs of HPV are present, or are being treated.
Condoms and other barrier methods can reduce the possibility of HPV transmission, although they do not provide full protection as HPV can be passed through other skin-to-skin contact. Condoms also protect against other STIs, including gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis and HIV. Using condoms is a good way to reduce the risk of getting STIs. Vaccination is the most effective way to protect ourself against HPV. A decade of using the HPV vaccine in British Columbia has shown that it is both safe and effective. For more information about the HPV vaccine visitwww.immunizebc.ca/hpv
Does this answer your question? Please let us know
Hi
Depo Provera is a form of injectable birth control where people are seen every 10 to 13 weeks for a repeat injection.
You have stated that your Depo expires on July 3rd, I am unsure how many weeks this is from your last injection as many clinics will book your appointment at 10 weeks so that you have a few weeks of extra time in case anything comes up. You have 13 weeks of protection from when you get your injection.
If you’re having sex and it has been more than 13 weeks I would recommend using a backup method of birth control as it would be possible to get pregnant.
For more information on Depo have a look at Options for Sexual Health information page.
https://www.optionsforsexualhealth.org/facts/birth-control/methods/the-birth-control-shot/
If you have had penis-vaginal sex with no birth control (has been after 13 weeks), it’s possible to get Emergency Contraception to reduce the chance of getting pregnant. Have a look at Options for Sexual Health information page for additional information.
https://www.optionsforsexualhealth.org/facts/birth-control/emergency-contraception/
Let us know if this does not answer your question or if you have any further questions or concerns.
Health Nurse