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.
Hello, thanks for your question. It sounds like there is a possible risk of pregnancy and to prevent that you can take emergency contraception called Plan B. This is best taken as soon as possible and can be taken up to 5 days after the risk and still be effective at preventing a pregnancy. When this is taken you should get a bleed like a period within 21 days no matter when your period is expected. If there is no bleeding like that in three weeks, then a pregnancy test is recommended.
Plan B emergency contraception is available free at youth clinics. For a listing of youth clinics near you see http://www.vch.ca/your-health/youth/youth-clinics/ or you can call the the Sex Sense Line 1-800-SEX-SENSE (1-800-739-7367) throughout BC* or 604-731-7803 in the Lower Mainland.
Hope this helps.
Health Nurse
Hello, thanks for your question. If you are over 14, you do not need your mothers permission to start on birth control. Because it is a prescribed medication that can have side effects, it is best to find out as much information as you can about birthcontrol. You can talk confidentially to a nurse at a youth clinic about this and if you wanted to, you could bring your boyfriend or a friend with you. At most youth clinics, birth control pills are free.
For a listing of youth clinics near you see http://www.vch.ca/your-health/youth/youth-clinics/
For more information about birth control you can call the Sex Sense Line 1-800-SEX-SENSE (1-800-739-7367) throughout BC* or 604-731-7803 in the Lower Mainland. or you can look at their contraceptive information on www.optionsforsexualhealth.org
Hope this helps.
Health Nurse
Hi
Sorry to hear that you are having trouble finding a doctor in Fort St John (FSJ). I know in some BC communities there are shortages of health care providers, which can make it very frustrating for people trying to find medical care.
Have a look at the College of Physician and Surgeons of BC you can search for doctors that are taking new patients. Select the city you want and under practice type, select family physicians and accepting new patients. I see what you mean just saw two doctors accepting patients in FSJ.
There is also the Unattached Patient Clinic in FSJ that people can go to for medical care and STI testing.
People can also get STI testing at the:
Public Health Unit.
Options for sexual health clinic.
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
It really depends on what clinic you go to as they can all be a bit different.
At our STI clinics in Vancouver we generally ask a few questions so that we have an idea of what tests we should offer. It is then up to the person to decide what tests they are comfortable getting.
People on average spend about 30 minutes with us and it takes about 1 week to get your results back.
Have a look at our “what to expect” page for more information on what happens at the clinic.
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.
Some clinics that offer Point of Care HIV testing will require an MSP Card. If you choose “HIV Testing (point of care)” from the “offering this service” menu on our Find a clinic page, you can then click on the “Clinic details” button of any clinic listed to see if they require an MSP Card.
Point of Care and Rapid HIV Testing are two different names for the same test.
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
In BC Canada there are a number of different places that offer HIV treatment.
There is also a number of different ways you can receive that treatment in BC. For example.
1. You can go see a HIV specialist without your family doctor even knowing you have HIV.
2. You could receive treatment from your family doctor who is working with a doctor who is specialized in HIV treatment.
3. You could see one doctor for your HIV care and then go see another doctor for other health concerns.
A good resource for treatment information and local doctor’s is the positive living society “peer navigator services”
You could also come and talk with one of the nurses at the Bute street clinic for more information.
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
In the Vancouver area we have two clinics that do not require health insurance. At these two clinics you are able to use a made up name and date of birth.
Vancouver – Provincial STI Clinic – BC Centre for Disease Control
Vancouver – Bute Street Clinic
Have a look at our “Know your chances” web page, it provides information on your chances of getting or passing an STI depending on how you are having sex. It will give you an idea of what tests to request. Normally the health professional will ask you a few questions about your sexual history so they know what tests to offer.
Also have a look at our “STIs at a glance” chart, it provides information on what symptoms to look for and how long you need to wait before getting tested (window period).
Please leave a comment to let us know if this answers your question or if you need more information.
Health Nurse
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Yes! All the STI clinics in BC can give you free treatment for gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis. The medications are provided by the BC Centre for Disease Control. You can use our clinic finder to find the one in Vancouver nearest to you.
Leave us a comment below to us know if that answers your question.
Health Nurse
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Hi there,
Yes, you can get birth control without your parents knowing. Health care professionals have to respect your right to confidentiality, and cannot contact your parents without your permission. (The only exception is if your healthcare provider thinks you are at risk of harm or abuse, they need to report it to the proper authorities.)
Many youth clinics will do walk-in visits and start you on birth control at that time. You can use our clinic finder to see what is offered at the clinics near you – click on “clinic details” to see if they offer birth control and if you need an appointment.
Please leave a comment below to let us know if that answers your questions or if you need more information,
Health Nurse
For other readers, leave a comment below to let us know if this is helpful.
Hi
It sounds like this is really playing on your mind. Like you have said STI can be stressful since most of the time they show no symptoms so the only way to know is by going for an STI test.
Common STI like chlamydia may not show symptoms, but can be treated with antibiotics. Also going for an STI test and having good results can be a great relief.
It’s normal to feel scared going to the clinic for your first visit. When you visit a clinic in BC Canada all the information is kept strictly confidential. This means no information from the visit will be given to your parents.
I would recommend visiting one of the youth clinics or options for sexual health clinics that are around BC. Have a look at our clinic finder which has a list of clinics in your area.
When you visit a clinic a number of different tests will be offered to you. If a woman is having no symptoms most STI tests can be checked with a urine and blood samples with no need for a physical exam.
Also let us know if you need help finding a clinic in your area. Some people also like to chat with the nurse on our chat line about any specific concerns.
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.