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In most cases, PEP stops HIV from establishing itself in the body and will prevent you from becoming HIV positive. To be effective, the treatment needs to be started as soon as possible in the first 72 hours after exposure. The treatment...

If you have one of these STIs, you may be wondering about how this will affect your sex life. Some common concerns include how to manage symptoms and how to talk to partners. Some people feel sad, angry, fearful or uncertain about what...

HAART prevents the HIV virus from making copies of itself and limits how much virus is in the body. The level of virus in the blood is called ‘viral load’. When the viral load is low or “undetectable”, there is less harm to the body’s...

PrEP is different from PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis), as PrEP is taken before exposure to HIV and may be taken on a long-term basis. How does it work? PrEP usually comes as a combination tablet that contains two medications called...

Vaginal/internal genital douching Natal vaginas For people who were born with a vagina (natal vagina), your vagina is a self-cleaning organ. Douching of natal vaginas is not medically recommended. Douching can flush out the healthy...

Causes HIV is passed through vaginal and anal sexual contact.  This includes both penetrative sex and sexual activities where there is an exchange of body fluids.  There is a very low chance that HIV may be passed through oral...

When you are diagnosed with a reportable STI, anyone you have had sexual contact with or shared drug equipment with needs to be notified that they have been exposed to a communicable infection.  This is sometimes called ‘contact...

You can print off the checklist provided below (under Additional Resources) and bring it with you on your next visit to your health care provider. Call ahead if you have questions about: If you need to bring ID, such as BC driver’s...

The goal of HIV treatment is to reach an “undetectable” viral load. This means that HIV is suppressed to such a low level that the viral load test is not able to detect any virus in the blood. “Undetectable” does not mean that there is no...

Preventing STIs An STI is caused when a bacteria, virus, or parasite is passed from one person to another during sexual contact. Some kinds of sex have a lower chance of passing STIs. For example, the chance of passing an STI is much less...

Home pregnancy tests can be bought at a drug store. You can also go to your health care provider or a clinic to get a pregnancy test. If you are pregnant and not sure what to do, it can help to talk to someone about your options. What is...

Dental dams are a good way to lower the chance of getting or passing sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Medical gloves can also be used to prevent STIs when penetrating sexual partner(s). They are usually available in pharmacies,...

Causes Epididymitis is most often caused by STIs, such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, which are passed through vaginal, oral, and anal sexual contact. This includes both penetrative sex and sexual activates where there is an exchange of body...

Causes Proctitis is most often caused by sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and herpes simplex virus that are passed through receptive anal sexual contact.  This includes both penetrative sex and...

PID can be cured with antibiotics. Causes The infections that cause PID can be passed through vaginal, oral, and anal sexual contact. This includes both penetrative sex and sexual activities where there is an exchange of body fluids or...

There are many types of birth control to choose from and it is important to find the method that works best for you. Most methods of birth control do not prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Condoms can lower the chances of...

Causes It is not clear what causes the imbalance of bacteria, but there are some things make you more likely to get it. The chances of having BV are higher if you: have sex with new or multiple sexual partners have another sexually...

Yeast infections can be treated with over-the-counter medication. Causes The increase in yeast can be triggered by many factors, including taking antibiotics or corticosteroids, or having a lowered immune system. Yeast is not usually...

Causes NGU is often caused by a bacterial infection (like chlamydia), but it can also be caused by a virus or protozoa. Bacterial infections can be treated and cured with antibiotics. To find out if you have NGU, you need to be examined by...

If you have any sexual concerns, health care providers can give you information and support.  They may not bring up the topic of sexual health, but most providers are usually open to talking about it. They can rule out...