How to find the care you need
Short answer: Finding sexual health care can be difficult these days. Fortunately, there are many virtual options as well as clinic finder tools available to connect you with services in your area. However, you may need to travel for sexual health care and expect a delay – whether it’s a few hours in the waiting room or a few weeks for your next appointment.
We’ve heard from many people recently who are frustrated with the challenges of finding sexual health care. For a variety of reasons, our health care system is struggling to keep up with the demand for much-needed services.
A key issue is that almost a million people in the province do not have a family doctor. There are many areas with a significant shortage of doctors, nurses and nurses. The providers that are available are often overwhelmed and doing everything they can to get everyone the care they need. It often means clients may have to wait longer to access services such as STD testing, IUDs and abortions.
To help, we’ve put together some tools and resources for those looking for sexual health care in their area. Fortunately, there are more virtual options available than ever before. These include phone and video consultations with healthcare providers and virtual tools to help you find the best place to go in person. Also, new models of health care delivery have been created, such as e.g Urgent Primary Care Centers.
Disclaimer: Sexual Health Choices may not be affiliated with some of the organizations and clinics below. We do our best to check recommendations, but cannot guarantee sex-positivity, inclusiveness or quality of care.
Finding Sexual Health Care Tip #1: FIND A CLINIC
Source of Smart Sex: Lists sexual health and youth clinics throughout BC. and the Yukon. Includes STDs and Mpox testing and treatment, birth control, emergency contraception, pregnancy tests, free condoms, Paps, PrEP, PEP and more.
BC Cancer Test Pap Clinic Locator: Are you over 25, need a Pap test, but don’t have a family doctor? Check out this list of places to go. Just a note: some of these options are for naturopathic clinics, which are not covered by MSP.
Pathways Medical Care: This is a new one-stop online public directory to easily find information about doctors and medical clinics in BC. It provides the latest clinic updates, which doctors are accepting new patients, and information about virtual care clinics.
Medimap: Find local general clinics and current estimated waiting times.
Skip the Waiting Room: Find general clinics for select cities across Canada.
Finding Sexual Health Tip #2: CLINICAL SITUATIONS
Options for Sexual Health Clinics: More than 60 clinics are committed to providing you with confidential, non-judgmental, youth-friendly, pro-choice and sexual services. Most Options Clinics operate in the evenings. Some operate twice a week, others once a week or twice a month. If you don’t have a valid BC Care card, you can still book an appointment, but there will be a small fee.
Foundry BC: Youth ages 12-24 and their caregivers can access or schedule virtual appointments. In addition to sexual health services, they also offer counseling appointments, peer support, groups, and a library of tools and resources. They also have one application!
Urgent Primary Care Centers: For access to same-day, urgent, non-urgent healthcare. Often open 7 days a week and evenings.
Finding Sexual Health Care Tip #3: VIRTUAL CLINIC OPTIONS
Telehealth Options: Book a phone call with a doctor! Online booking is available for Contraception and STD Telehealth appointments. For other sexual health concerns, please call the Reservations Team to schedule your appointment. Appointments are 10 minutes. Prescriptions can be sent to a pharmacy of your choice. STI test requests can be sent directly to you or to the lab via email. If you do not have a valid BC Care card, you can still make an appointment and there will be a small fee.
Internet check: A free and confidential online STI testing service offered by the BC Center for Disease Control (BCCDC). It is available at participating lab locations in Vancouver, Maple Ridge, Victoria, Duncan, Kamloops, Kimberley and Nelson. The test is free, you don’t need to show ID and you don’t need a BC Care Card/MSP!
811 Virtual Doctor: Virtual doctors are available to 811 callers after being evaluated by one of their registered nurses. They provide confidential health information and advice.
First Nations Virtual Doctor of the Day: This program enables First Nations people in BC with limited or no access to their own doctors to make virtual appointments. The program includes doctors of indigenous descent. All physicians are trained to follow the principles and practices of cultural safety and humility.
For more options, search the web for “telehealth appointments” in your area.
Finding Sexual Health Care Tip #4: HOME DELIVERY AND KITS
Felix: Birth control pills are prescribed online and delivered to your door.
Medication package: Provides accessible and independent HIV self-testing and sexual health resources for Two-Spirit, queer and transgender Indigenous community members in BC.
HIV Self-Test Kit: While more comprehensive STD testing is still important, HIV self-test kits are available to 2S/LGBTQ+ people anywhere in Canada. This allows you to access the HIV test in a private and confidential environment. Kits are shipped in discreet packaging.
And finally, CONTACT US!
And of course, you can also contact us at Sex Sense with all your sexual health questions! We can help you compare your options and provide you with information and resources. You can also call us after making an appointment with a healthcare provider if you have further questions that you didn’t get a chance to ask.
We are a free, pro-choice, sex-positive and confidential service. Our team of registered nurses, counselors and sex educators offers information and resources about sex, sexuality and sexual health. If this is a topic that affects you, please respond with questions about your own specific situation. We will reply to you privately and provide the appropriate information resources.
I hope this information helps! We wanted to give a voice to all those healthcare providers and support staff who are managing things during this time. We know everyone would probably really appreciate our patience and thanks.
