Your sexual health matters
Let's talk about it: Sexual health and preventing sexually transmitted infections
Your sexual health is an important part of your overall well-being, but it's often left out of health conversations. It's time to change that. Talking openly and getting informed about sexual health helps you take control and make empowered choices when it comes to preventing, testing for and treating sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
In Canada, STI rates are on the rise, with many provinces and territories reporting increases year after year. Here's something to keep in mind. Many STIs often have no symptoms or are hard to notice. That means you could have an infection without realizing it. The only way to know for sure is to get tested.
STIs are part of a broader group known as sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs). These infections can be passed primarily through sexual contact. They include:
- syphilis
- chlamydia
- gonorrhea
- herpes simplex virus (HSV)
- human papillomavirus (HPV)
- mpox (formerly known as monkeypox)
Others can also be transmitted through blood. They include:
- HIV
- hepatitis B
- hepatitis C
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Taking control of your sexual health
Having conversations about sexual health
Talking about safer sex, STI testing or prevention methods might feel a bit awkward at first, but it doesn't have to. Open, honest conversations help you make informed choices and build trust with your partner(s).
Start the conversation naturally:
- Ask questions to involve your partner(s): "How do you feel about using condoms or getting tested together?"
- Keep it positive and supportive: "I want us to feel good and stay healthy. What can we do to make that happen?"
- If talking face-to-face feels difficult, you can start over text or write down what you want to say first.
Choose the right time and place:
- Bring it up casually in a relaxed, private moment when you both feel comfortable.
- Before being intimate, check in: "This feels great. Can we talk about staying safe too?"
Be open, non-judgmental and patient:
- Everyone has different comfort levels and experiences with these conversations. If your partner(s) shares something personal, listen with care and avoid judgment.
Focus on mutual care and respect:
- When you're open and supportive, you create a safe space to share boundaries, ask questions and explore what works for both of you.
Steps to take charge of your sexual health
STIs are preventable. By taking a few simple steps, you can significantly reduce your risk of getting an STI and passing it on to your partner(s). Here's what you can do:
- Ensure you're up-to-date with vaccinations that help to protect against certain STIs. Find out more about HPV, hepatitis B and mpox vaccines.
- Make informed decisions and talk to your partner(s) about their STI status and the use of protection.
- Use barrier protection (condoms and dental dams).
- Learn about safer sex methods.
- Get tested regularly for STIs if you're sexually active. You can get some STIs, like chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis, more than once, even if you've been treated for them before.
- Talk to a health professional about HIV pre-or post-exposure medications. These medications can help prevent you from acquiring HIV if you've been exposed.
- Find more information in the STI booklet.
The only way to know for sure if you have an STI is to get tested.
Getting tested for STIs is confidential. Depending on what you're being tested for, it might involve:
- blood tests
- a urine sample
- swabs from the throat, genitals or rectum.
Some places also offer anonymous testing where your name won't be collected, and only you will know the results of your test.
When you get tested for one STI, it's a good idea to get tested for others too. Many STIs spread in similar ways, so testing for more than one can give you a better understanding of your sexual health.
Why regular testing matters:
Most STIs don't have obvious symptoms or they're easy to miss. That's why regular testing is recommended. If you're not sure where to start, here are some helpful links with more information on testing options in Canada:
- Getting tested for STIs
- Where to get tested (CATIE)
- How often should I get tested (Action Canada)
Why treatment matters
If left untreated or if you don't complete your treatment, STIs can:
- stick around
- come back
- lead to serious health problems, such as pelvic infections, fertility problems, a weakened immune system or cancer
STIs can also be passed during pregnancy and childbirth, and can cause miscarriage, stillbirth and serious health problems in infants and children.
The good news: Most STIs are manageable, and many are curable. Talk to a health professional about the best treatment for you.
| STI | Treatment type | About the treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Syphilis | Antibiotics (injection or oral) | The length of treatment depends on how long you've had it. |
| Chlamydia | Antibiotics (oral) | Always finish your treatment, even if symptoms go away. |
| Gonorrhea | Antibiotics (injection or oral) | A follow-up test to confirm the infection is gone is recommended. |
| Genital herpes | No cure. Antiviral medication (oral) for management | Can be used to speed recovery during an episode. Can be considered to reduce the frequency and severity of episodes, and to lower the risk of passing it to partners, but does not cure the infection. |
| HPV | No cure. Treatment for warts (creams, freezing, minor procedures) and pre-cancerous and cancerous lesions (removal, freezing or other medical procedures) | Most infections clear on their own. Warts can be treated as needed. |
| HIV | Antiretroviral therapy (ART) (oral or injection) | Can lower the amount of HIV in the blood (viral load) to protect the immune system. When the viral load stays very low (<200 copies/mL), HIV isn't passed through sex. ART doesn't cure the infection. |
Sexual health beyond STIs
Sexual health is about so much more than sexual health conversations and STIs. It's also about feeling safe, confident and informed when it comes to your body, relationships and choices:
- Consent
- Safe dates and healthy relationships
- Gender identity and sexual orientation
- Healthy pregnancy
For health professionals
Sexual health and STI prevention are an integral part of everyone's health care. Health professionals play a pivotal role in providing care that is respectful of different cultures and mindful of past traumas when talking to people about STIs. Here are some resources designed to support health professionals in providing STI care:
- STBBI guides
- HIV Undetectable=Untransmittable
- HIV and syphilis awareness resources
- Sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections: Barriers to screening. Free and accredited online course.
- Treatment as empowerment: Advancing HIV care with U=U. Free and accredited online course.
Download the CDN STBBI Guidelines app
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