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. It is not unusual for a period to be a couple days early or a couple days late. If you have bleeding like a period then it usually this would mean that you are not pregnant . You do not say if the sex you had was protected like whether your partner used a condom or not or whether you are using contraception like the birth control pill. Doing a pregnancy test one week after your period was due would be the most accurate time to do the test. If you are still worried and would like to do another pregnancy test and perhaps speak to a nurse about birth control, then consider going to the nearest youth clinic or sti clinic where you can talk about your concerns confidentially. Health Nurse
Hi
Mifegymiso is used to terminate a developing pregnancy and has been recently approved by Health Canada. Currently it is not being dispensed by pharmacist in BC but hopefully will be made available by early 2017.
Most pharmacies are able to dispense emergency contraception (morning after pill, Plan B) which is different than the abortion pill in that you need to take it within 5 days after having unprotected sex and it just reduces the chance of you getting pregnant.
Different places in BC offer surgical and medical abortions. Have a look at this information sheet provided by the Vancouver Willow Women’s Clinic on surgical and medical abortions.
Also, have a look at our “I might be pregnant” page if you are looking for support services in BC.
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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Hi
Sorry, we don’t have a birth control program at our two Vancouver clinics as we focus on sexually transmitted infections at these two clinics.
I would recommend having a look at our clinic finder. Just select what city you are in and for “offering this service” select birth control in the drop down menu. It will give you a list of clinics that offer birth control. Some youth clinics will provide the pill for free; just give them a call to see if the one in your area does.
You can also call the options for sexual health sex sense line on 1-800-739-7367, your discussion with them is confidential and they can direct you to the birth control services you are looking for.
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
There are a number of clinics that offer Plan B emergency contraception.
Have a look at our clinic finder, you can place the city you are in and under the drop down menu titled “offering this service” select emergency contraception. This will give you a list of clinics in your area offering this service.
You can also call the Options for Sexual Health Sex Sense line. They will have a list of youth clinics that supply Plan B.
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
A woman would not get pregnant from performing or receiving oral sex.
If someone believes they are the father of a child they do have certain rights under Canadian Law. As we are a sexual health information page we do not have any experience with providing any legal advice.
I would suggest contacting a lawyer in regard to your legal options. With a Google search I did find a family lawyer’s office in BC that specialise in these particular cases, they have a phone number you can call to discuss your personal situation with them. Just click on the link.
http://www.quaylawcentre.com/Paternity-Claims.shtml
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 children (the law has defined “children” as anyone under the age of 19) can consent to their own medical care if they are capable of doing this. Being capable means that the person understands what the treatment involves and the benefits/risks of getting or not getting the treatment.
If someone is able to consent to their own medical treatment their medical information has to be kept confidential by the health care provider who is providing their care. This means the health care provider cannot provide this information to another person without your permission. In some cases the health care provider is allowed to break this privacy for example if the person is being abused, they are concerned they may harm themselves etc…
I would recommend calling one of the information lines that assist woman with getting abortions. They are confidential and would be able to discuss your personal situation and help arrange the type of medical care you are looking for.
In BC Canada I would suggest calling the options for sexual health line (1-800-739-7367 or 604-731-7803) or the Pregnancy Options Service (1-888-875-3163) to discuss your situation.
Also have a look at the options for sexual health abortion provider’s website. They list providers in BC with links to their website for additional 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.
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
I have not heard of it causing a problem but I would check this over with your local pharmacist. They are the best resource for seeing if the medication you are taking will interact with other medication or supplements.
It would probably be easier if you visited your local drug store (e.g. shopper’s drug mart, London drugs etc…) with your birth control pills and supplements so they could check the ingredients. If you are uncomfortable visiting the drugstore most stores have an information line you can call to speak directly with the pharmacist.
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
Have a look at our clinic finder, you can enter the city you want and under the “offering this service” drop down menu select birth control. This will give you a list of clinics that offer birth control in your city.
Options for sexual health have clinics in BC that offer low cost birth control. Have a look at their clinic-services page for more information and how to find a clinic near you.
You could also go to any walk in clinic and see a doctor. They would be able to write you a prescription that would allow you to purchase birth control pills from a pharmacy.
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.