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STI updates are blog posts from the BCCDC or our community partners about a variety of sexual health topics. These include program updates, clinical practice changes, new research, events, and more. We will not clutter your inbox with frequent emails, and your email address will not be used for any other purposes.
June 27, 2016 by Dr. Troy Grennan, STI Physician Lead, Clinical Prevention Services, BCCDC
Please circulate these key STI updates to your networks. Benzathine penicillin (Bicillin L-A) is once again available in Canada Several months ago, Pfizer Canada – the sole Canadian manufacturer of Bicillin L-A – announced that it would be temporarily ceasing production of this drug. As a result, interim guidelines for the treatment of syphilis were…
June 24, 2016 by Cheryl Prescott, Senior Practice Leader, Clinical Prevention Services, BCCDC
The BC Cancer Agency has released new recommendations for cervical cancer screening. Some highlights of the new recommendations are: First age for Pap testing is 25 years old (regardless of sexual debut) Subsequent screenings for normal Pap results are every 3 years Follow-up for minor abnormal Pap results is in 1 year For more details,…
April 29, 2016 by Cheryl Prescott, Senior Practice Leader, Clinical Prevention Services, BCCDC
The Public Health Agency of Canada has issued interim syphilis treatment guidelines to be used during the current Benzathine Penicillin G (Bicillin L-A) shortage. These guidelines are available in PDF format for download under the Additional Resources section below. These interim guidelines have also been posted in Chapter 5 of the BCCDC Communicable Disease Manual….
December 3, 2015 by Cheryl Prescott, Senior Practice Leader, Clinical Prevention Services, BCCDC
The Public Health Microbiology Reference Laboratory at the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC PHMRL) has implemented nucleic acid testing (NAT) for Trichomonas vaginalis using the FDA-approved Aptima Trichomonas vaginalis assay. The new DNA test offers both increased sensitivity and specificity as compared to microscopy. This means the test is better able to correctly identify…
November 22, 2015 by Jill Chettiar, MPH / MD Candidate / Research Associate, Gender & Sexual Health Initiative, Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS
Background Sex workers face many barriers when it comes to accessing primary health care, and sexual and reproductive health services. Being informed about the diversity of sex workers’ experiences can enable providers to connect with sex workers in respectful and meaningful ways that will result in their needs being met, and long-term, trusting relationships being…
September 9, 2015 by Jenn De Roo, MA, RCC, Counsellor, 1-800-SEX-SENSE coordinator at Options for Sexual Health
PART 3 – Creating accessible spaces Accessibility for trans people isn’t just about gender. Trans people may also have accessibility needs that are unrelated to their gender, but that still create barriers to access. For instance, trans people may have chemical sensitivities, use a wheelchair, have bigger bodies or require non-English language services. Having a…
August 20, 2015 by Jenn De Roo, MA, RCC, Counsellor, 1-800-SEX-SENSE coordinator at Options for Sexual Health
PART 2 – Systems and Procedures Traditionally, medical systems and procedures have not considered the needs of trans clients. Some simple changes to existing protocols can make services more accessible and trans-friendly. Procedures in the waiting room Many clinics require clients to show care cards or service cards. This can put trans clients in a…
August 6, 2015 by Jenn De Roo, MA, RCC, Counsellor, 1-800-SEX-SENSE coordinator at Options for Sexual Health
Sexual health clinics provide essential services, but these spaces can sometimes present accessibility challenges to trans and gender variant people. There are many things that can impact how trans and gender diverse clients experience clinic spaces. Trans and gender diverse clients may experience significant discomfort, humiliation or trauma when interfacing with a system that doesn’t…
May 27, 2015 by Darrel Cook, Research Projects Leader, Clinical Prevention Services, BCCDC
Background In 2013, the BCCDC published results of a pilot study [1] which confirmed the value of pooled nucleic acid testing (PNAT) to identify acute HIV infections in a high risk population of men who have sex with men. PNAT increased HIV diagnoses by 11.5% compared to standard 3rd generation HIV antibody screening. This increase…
May 21, 2015 by Alexandra Corbet, MPH, Co-Investigator with the Binding Health Project, Boston University School of Public Health
Background Chest binding refers to the mechanical compression of breast tissue, often through the use of sports bras, ace bandages, or specialized compression garments. Binding is most commonly practiced by female-assigned-at birth or intersex individuals who identify along the transmasculine* spectrum as a means of gender expression. It is often among the first and most…