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FAQ
Sexual Health
Can I get an STI without intercourse if we are just fooling around (non-penetrative or oral sex)?
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Yes, you can get some STI just by intimate skin to skin touching or kissing of an infected area.
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All kinds of sex including oral, vaginal and anal intercourse can transmit infections. They are also contracted through body fluids like blood, semen, saliva, vaginal secretions and breast milk.
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It doesn’t matter whether you are heterosexual, gay, bisexual, transgender, two-spirit or questioning. STI can be transmitted by anyone.
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Drugs and/or alcohol can impair judgement and lead to risky behaviour. When you or your partner are impaired and ‘caught up in the moment’, you may be more likely to have sex without a condom and take other risks that can increase your exposure to STI and unplanned pregnancy.
You might not be ready to have sex if:
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You aren’t sure about it.
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You feel pressured, scared or uncomfortable.
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You need to get drunk or high to do it.
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Your partner is not ready.
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You can’t talk to your partner about safer sex, birth control or STI.
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You or your partner could get pregnant but don’t want a baby and don’t use birth control.
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You don’t have condoms or dental dams to protect yourself and your partner.
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You are not on PrEP or the PrEP hasn’t become effective
What should I think about and do before I have sex?
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Talk about safer sex and STI testing with your partner.
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If you or your partner could get pregnant but aren’t ready to be parents:
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Talk about contraception with your partner.
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Use a tool like ItsaPlan.ca to find out the best contraception for you and make an appointment with your healthcare provider.
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Recognize that you shouldn’t be judged for your decision to practice safer sex or for asking your partner to do the same.
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Check to see whether you have been vaccinated against HPV. If not, make an appointment with your healthcare provider to discuss vaccination.
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All provinces and territories in Canada give the hepatitis B vaccine to children. If you did not get the vaccine as a child or are unsure, talk to your healthcare provider.
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Condoms and Dental Dams
Most STI can be prevented by using a condom or dental dam during vaginal, anal or oral sex. You can buy condoms or dental dams at drug stores or health clinics without a prescription. The use of pre-lubricated condoms or added personal lubricants can help prevent the risk of a condom breaking.
Other things to think about:
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Check the expiry date on a condom before using one and make sure the packaging and the condom itself don’t have any holes or tears.
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Never use a condom more than once, and don’t use two condoms at the same time as that can cause breakage.
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It is recommended to use lubricants with condoms but be sure to use the right type. Vaseline and other oil-based lubricants destroy latex.
How to use an external (“male”) condom
External condoms are also known as “male” condoms because they cover the penis during sex. There are three kinds of external condoms: natural, latex and synthetic. Natural condoms help prevent pregnancy but do not protect against STI. To protect against STI, make sure to use a latex or synthetic condom.
Open Carefully
Do not use teeth, scissors or a knife to open the condom. Roughly tearing or handling the condom can damage it. If the person handling the condom has long fingernails, be extra careful as they can nick the condom, making it ineffective, putting you at risk of STI or unplanned pregnancy.
Place & Pinch
Put the condom at the tip of the erect penis and pinch out the air at the top. You can also put condoms on sex toys to make sure they won’t transmit STI. If the sex toy is inserted in different partners or openings, the condom should be changed.
Roll It On
Unroll the condom right down to the base of the erect penis or sex toy.
Afterwards
The condom user should pull out right after ejaculation and while the penis is still hard. Remember to hold the base of the condom when pulling out so that it does not come off. Throw the used condom in the garbage and do not reuse it.
How to use an internal (“female”) condom
Internal condoms are also known as “female” condoms because they are inserted in an opening such as the vagina. These condoms are larger than “male” condoms and are pre-lubricated. When used properly, they are highly effective at preventing pregnancy and reducing the risk of STI. They are primarily used for vaginal sex, but they can also be used for anal sex. It is not recommended to use a “male” condom and a “female” condom at the same time as it increases the risk of a condom breaking.
Open Carefully
Do not use teeth, scissors or a knife to open the condom. Roughly tearing or handling the condom can damage it. If the person handling the condom has long fingernails, be extra careful as they can nick the condom, making it ineffective, putting you at risk of STI or unplanned pregnancy.
Placement
The outer ring covers the area around the opening of the vagina or anus. The inner ring is used for insertion and to help hold the condom in place during intercourse. Hold the condom at the closed end, squat, sit or lie comfortably and then slide the inner ring inside. Gently push the inner ring up as far as it will go with the outer ring remaining on the outside. Guide the penis or sex toy to make sure it is entering inside the condom, not next to it.
Afterwards
To remove the condom, twist the outer ring gently and pull the condom out. Throw the used condom in the garbage and do not reuse it.
How to use a dental dam
Dental dams are latex or polyurethane sheets that are used as a barrier between the mouth and vagina, penis, or anus during oral sex. They are rectangles of about 10 inches by 6 inches and are available online and at some health clinics, specialty sex shops and drug stores without a prescription. You can also easily make a homemade dental dam.
Open Carefully
Unfold the dam and check for holes or damage that could make it less effective.
Placement of the Dental Dam
Put the dam flat across the vaginal or anal area before any oral contact. One partner needs to hold it in place.
Afterwards
Fold the dam up and throw it in the garbage and do not reuse it
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