Sexual health is an important part of overall health and well-being. As a health care provider, you play an important role in improving access to sexual health care and eliminating stigma and judgement.
Find sexual health information for clients.
Here’s how you can help:
- Click below to stay up-to-date on current sexually transmitted infection (STI) trends.
- Rates of syphilis are increasing across all genders, especially women. Between 2021 and 2022, there was a 47 per cent increase in the rates of syphilis in women.
- Create safe and inclusive spaces for people seeking STI care.
- Find support tools for creating welcoming, accessible and gender-affirming environments, places and services.
- Take a non-judgemental approach to sexuality and sexual health. Learn about sex positivity.
- Access professional development resources for sexual health service providers in B.C.
- Encourage routine STI testing and become familiar with youth and adult sexual health services in your community.
- Provide follow-up care for Hepatitis C.
- Help prevent HIV transmission.
- Let your patients know condoms are available free at all Public Health Units.
- Tell your patients about medication for HIV Prevention:
- HIV PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis).
- For people who are HIV negative and have a higher chance of exposure to HIV.
- Daily oral medication; when taken as directed prevents HIV.
- Available free to those who qualify. Find information about PrEP for patients.
- Learn how to enrol a patient on PrEP.
- HIV PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis):
- For people who have had a potential recent exposure to HIV (ex. unprotected sex).
- Available at all Fraser Health Emergency Departments, but requires primary care follow up to complete treatment.
- Needs to be administered within 72 hours of exposure for optimal effect.
- Find information for clients on PEP.
- Support clients living with HIV to take HIV treatment medication to maintain viral suppression:
- Treatment is prevention, when clients take daily medication to achieve and maintain an undetectable HIV viral load, the risk of HIV transmission is minimized.
- Learn more about undetectable = un-transmittable or U=U.
- Refer a patient to Positive Health Services for HIV care provider support.
- Find resources for people living with HIV.
- HIV PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis).
About Fraser Health’s Sexual Health team
Fraser Health’s sexual health and blood-borne infections program (SHBBI) is operated by a team of highly skilled public health nurses, physicians, social workers and outreach workers.
The team supports clients living in the Fraser Health region who are at risk for, or affected by, sexually transmitted infections, HIV and acute Hepatitis C.
Share our Fraser Health Sexual Health Services’ brochure with your patients and clients.
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Our goals
- Provide low-barrier access to sexual health services as close to home as possible.
- Incorporate combined methods of prevention, including sexual health promotion and treatment as prevention into clinical workflows.
- Link individuals to care as quickly as possible.
- Diagnose and treat sexually transmitted blood-borne infections as close to the time of infection possible.
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Testing and health promotion services
Our testing team consists of STI Certified Practice nurses and physicians. They work with diverse populations in rural and urban settings to provide the following services:
- Low-barrier access to STI testing, treatment and follow-up for populations most affected by sexually transmitted blood-borne infections.
- Sexual health promotion and prevention messaging.
- Partner support and follow up, including access to testing and treatment.
- Initiating Hepatitis C case follow-up for acute cases.
- Initiating HIV new diagnosis case follow-up and reporting.
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HIV case management services
Our management team includes nurses, social workers and outreach workers who work in collaboration with community organizations to provide an integrated approach to delivering comprehensive care.
Services include:
- Engaging and connecting clients to care providers.
- Offering outreach to clients who are lost to care to support re-engagement.
- Providing ongoing partner notification, testing and treatment.
- Developing and implementing a collaborative plan of care.
- Engaging with community partners.
- Facilitating partners access to HIV preventative therapy.
- Assessing and supporting client health and social support needs.
- Transporting to medical appointments.
Learn more about services and supports for people living with HIV.
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How to make a referral or connect with our team
Central Intake Line (604) 587-6788.
Referrals can be faxed to (604) 582-4811.
Emails can be sent to sexualhealth@fraserhealth.ca.