Sexually

Transmitted
Infections
 Always consult and follow the advice of your health care
provider.

If you have medical questions ask your health care provider.

Talk to your Pharmacist about prescription medications you are
taking.

2
 Table of Contents

STI vs STD? ...................................................................................................................................................... 4

Types of Sexually Transmitted Infections ...................................................................................... 4
Reportable vs Not Reportable……………………………………………………………………………………..4

Bacterial Infections

Chlamydia .................................................................................................................................................. 5
Gonorrhea.................................................................................................................................................. 7
Syphilis ........................................................................................................................................................ 9

Viral Infections

Herpes ....................................................................................................................................................... 11
Hepatitis.................................................................................................................................................... 13
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) ....................................................................................... 15
Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) ......................................................................................................... 17

Parasitic Infections

Pubic Lice / Scabies ............................................................................................................................ 19

Trichomoniasis ....................................................................................................................................... 21

Vaginal Infections (not STIs)

Yeast Infection ...................................................................................................................................... 22

Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) ...................................................................................................................... 23

How to Prevent STI transmission ...................................................................................................... 24

Communication & STI Disclosure ..................................................................................................... 24
Where to get tested .................................................................................................................................. 25
When to get Tested .................................................................................................................................. 26

3
 STI vs STD?
What is the difference between an STI and an STD? STI stands for Sexually Transmitted
Infection. STD stands for Sexually Transmitted Disease. Both STI and STD refer to the
same types of infections, but because they are treatable and sometimes curable, the
word infection is often used in Canada instead of disease to be more accurate.

Types of Sexually Transmitted Infections

Bacterial – infections caused by bacteria that are usually easily treated with medication
(antibiotics/penicillin) and will likely clear from the body

Viral – infections caused by viruses that stay in the body on the cellular level, often for
life; these are manageable with medication and can sometimes clear on their own or
with medication

Parasitic – infections caused by parasites (small organisms feeding off other

organisms) that are usually easily treated and cleared from the body

Fungal – infections caused by fungi and are not always sexually transmitted; usually are
cleared from the body with medication

STIs are very common. Many people have, or have had, one.
If you find yourself with one, it does not mean that you can never be
sexually active again. Many STIs are curable and most are
manageable. Seek advice from a health care provider and/or SHORE
Centre for help in managing your diagnosis.

Reportable vs Not Reportable

Some STIs are reportable (Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, HIV, Hepatitis), some are not
(Herpes, HPV, Trichomoniasis, Public Lice, Scabies). If they are reportable the results are
sent to Public Health from all health care providers where statistics are collected.
Therefore the rates are known for some STIs, but not for others.

4
 Chlamydia
Bacterial Infection
Rates
 Ontario had 35,933 cases in 20141

Transmission
 Vaginal, anal or oral sex with infected person (can get in throat)
 From semen, pre-ejaculate, vaginal fluids or rectal fluids
 Penetration and ejaculation are not needed for transmission
 Can cause infection in eyes if touch eyes after touching infected genitals
 From an infected person who is pregnant to the child during childbirth (causes
lung or eye infection)

Signs and Symptoms

 75% of people with vaginas; 50-80% of people with penises, have NO symptoms

If there are symptoms, they may include:

People with Vulvas and Vaginas People with Penises and Testicles

 Infection or inflammation of cervix  Clear, watery or milky discharge

 Mild vaginal discharge from penis
 Vaginal bleeding between periods or  Genital pain, soreness, heaviness or
after intercourse genital irritation
 Pain during intercourse  Itchy urethra
 Pelvic pain / genital irritation  inflammation of urethra (NGU –
 Pain/burning during urination nongonococcal urethritis)
 Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)*  Infertility (rare)
 Infertility  pain/burning during urination
 Rectal or eye infection (rare)  Rectal or eye infection (rare)
 Sore throat  Sore throat

1
Reportable Disease Trends in Ontario, 2014. Public Health Ontario.
5
Testing
 Testing is most accurate when completed 2 - 14 days after exposure
 Usually a urine test
 Cervical/Vaginal, anal, and/or throat swab
 Urethral smear (uncommon in Waterloo Region)

Treatment
 Treatable and curable with antibiotics
 Testing and treatment of sexual partners critical
 Abstain from sexual activity until treatment complete to avoid re-infection

*Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

 Chlamydia can lead to Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) in people with vulvas
 10-40% of untreated cases of chlamydia lead to PID
 PID may cause inflammation in the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries, as well as
scarring of the fallopian tubes, often resulting in infertility
 PID can result in a greater risk of ectopic pregnancy
 PID may cause no symptoms
 PID may cause chronic pain, fever, unusual discharge, bleeding or burning
 Aggressive treatment with antibiotics or surgery may be needed

Chlamydia can also lead to infertility and scarring of the reproductive tract in people
with penises
6
 Gonorrhea
Bacterial Infection
Rates
 Ontario had 5,838 cases in 20141

Transmission
 Vaginal, anal or oral sex with infected person (can get in throat)
 From semen, pre-ejaculate, vaginal fluids or rectal fluids
 Penetration and ejaculation not needed for transmission
 Can cause infection in eyes if touch eyes after touching infected genitals
 From an infected person who is pregnant to the child during childbirth (causing
eye infection)

Signs and Symptoms

 80% of people with vaginas show NO symptoms
 If symptoms develop, it will occur within 2-7 days of infection

If there are symptoms, they may include:

People with Vulvas and Vaginas People with Penises and Testicles

 Yellowish-green, pus-like discharge  Thick yellowish-green discharge

from vagina from penis
 Irritated vulva/vagina  Testicular pain and/or swelling
 Pain/burning during urination  Swelling/tenderness in lymph glands
 Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) of groin
 Infertility  Pain/burning during urination
 Rectal pain, discharge, itching  Rectal pain, discharge, itching
 Sore throat  Sore throat
 Infertility (rare)

1
Reportable Disease Trends in Ontario, 2014. Public Health Ontario.
7
Testing
 Testing is most accurate when completed 2 – 14 days after exposure
 Usually a urine test
 Cervical/Vaginal, anal, and/or throat swab
 Urethral smear (uncommon in Waterloo Region)

Treatment
 Usually treatable and curable with antibiotics, however, Gonorrhea is continuing
to develop drug resistance – no new drugs are currently available or in trials
 Longer course of treatment may be needed for cases with PID – possible
hospitalization with IV antibiotics
 Testing and treatment of sexual partners critical
 Abstain from sexual activity until treatment complete to avoid re-infection
 After treatment completed, re-testing after 4 weeks needed to ensure infection is
cleared and drug resistance is not an issue

Did You Know?

 Gonorrhea is becoming drug resistant. The World Health Organizations has
declared this one of the top three urgent threats worldwide
 This means that 10% of cases of gonorrhea will not be cured with the
current drugs available. A second round of treatment may be needed. If the
infection is not cleared, gonorrhea will stay for life
 The highest risk factor in Waterloo Region for gonorrhea is no condom use
 Two-thirds of reported cases in Canada are in people with a penis

8
 Syphilis
Bacterial Infection
Rates
 Ontario had 858 cases in 20141

Transmission
 Vaginal, anal or oral sex with infected person (can get in throat)
 Touching an infectious chancre sore or rash
 Used needles, blood transfusions (rare)
 Can cross placenta and may infect fetus – can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth or
congenital syphilis (impairs vision & hearing, deforms bones & teeth)

Signs and Symptoms

 95% of cases occur in people with a penis

Possible Symptoms and Stages of Infection

Stage 1. Primary Syphilis - 3 days to 3 months after exposure:
 Small painless sores (chancres) that are hard, round lesions with raised edges
 Appears where bacteria entered the body (e.g. vaginal walls, cervix, labia, under
foreskin, head of penis, penile shaft, scrotum, anus, throat, mouth)
 Chancre disappears after a few weeks (easy to miss), but if not treated the
infection remains
 Highly infectious at this stage
Stage 2. Secondary Syphilis - 2-24 weeks after exposure:
 A skin rash (painless, reddish raised bumps that darken and burst oozing
discharge) commonly on palms of hands and soles of feet
 General feeling of unwell – sore throat, headache, fever, swelling of joints – can
be mistaken for flu
 Patchy hair loss (alopecia)
 Flat, smooth warts on genitals (different from HPV - see page 16)
 Highly infectious at this stage

1
Reportable Disease Trends in Ontario, 2014. Public Health Ontario.
9
Stage 3. Latent (Dormant) Phase:
 Symptoms of secondary stage disappear
 Infection may be dormant for 1 to 40 years
 Usually not infectious at this stage, however, a pregnant person can still pass
infection to fetus
 Infection is still impacting circulatory system, central nervous system (brain &
spinal cord) and bones
Stage 4. Tertiary (Final) Stage:
 Infection may eventually attack and damage the cardiovascular system (heart
and major blood vessels), the neurological system (nerves) and central nervous
system (brain & spinal cord)
 Complications may cause death

Testing
 Primary stage: examination by health care provider, swab/smear from chancre
 Other stages: blood test

Treatment
 Treatable and curable with antibiotics/penicillin
 Testing and treatment of sexual partners critical
 Follow up to treatment is required
 Early detection and treatment is ideal
 Treatment may not be possible in tertiary stage

10
 Herpes
Viral Infection
Rates
Herpes is not a reportable STI, so rates are unknown. However, it is thought that herpes
is extremely common.
 Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 = oral herpes = cold sores
 Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 = genital herpes
 Oral herpes can be passed to the genitals and genital herpes to the lips/mouth

Transmission
 From lips/mouth to genitals or anus during outbreak (oral-genital contact)
 From genitals or anus to lips/mouth during outbreak (genital-oral contact)
 Kissing during an outbreak (oral-oral contact)
 Sharing drinks, chap stick, cigarettes, joints, bongs, straws, towels, washcloths,
bathing suits, underwear etc. during an outbreak
 Passed to other parts of the body, including eyes (ocular herpes), by the hands
during outbreak
 From an infected person who is pregnant to the child during pregnancy or
childbirth
 Asymptomatic shedding – means the virus can be transmitted when no
symptoms are present/no outbreak (not as common)

Signs and Symptoms

Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2

 Painful sores & blisters on  Painful sores & blisters on the
lips/mouth filled with fluid genitals or anus filled with fluid
 Outbreaks resolve in 14-21 days  Outbreaks resolve in 17-23 days (10
days longer if inside vagina)
 Not all infected people develop symptoms
 Symptoms may emerge 2-21 days after initial infection
 Prior to outbreak, infected person may feel a tingling or burning sensation where
the virus first entered the skin or where there were prior outbreaks
 Inflammation, redness, fever, muscular pain, tender lymph nodes

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Testing
 Clinical exam of sore(s), swab of sore(s)
 Blood test possible, not routinely conducted due to high cost

Treatment
 Antiviral medications to relieve pain, speed healing, reduce duration of viral
shedding
 Suppressive therapy can be used for individuals with frequent outbreaks (6+ per
year) - take antiviral medications daily
 Over the counter medications for oral herpes such as Abreva
 Oral herpes virus provides some protection from contracting genital herpes
 During outbreak: pain relievers, laxatives, loose fitting clothing, cold wet
compresses, warm baths
 Prevention: Adequate sleep, stress management, sun protection

Did You Know?

 Once transmitted, herpes stays in the body forever
 Most people have an outbreak the first time they contract the virus, then have
multiple outbreaks throughout life, usually lessening in frequency with time
 Some people contract the virus and never have an outbreak or only one initial
outbreak (they can still be contagious)
 Right before and during an outbreak herpes is highly contagious, however, it is
still possible to transmit the virus even if there is no outbreak

12
 Hepatitis
Viral Infection
Rates
 Ontario had the following number of cases
reported in 20141

Hepatitis A 87
Hepatitis B 104
Hepatitis C 4,214

Transmission

 Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis B is the type of hepatitis that is

most frequently sexually transmitted, but Hepatitis A and C can also be
transmitted sexually.

Hepatitis A Hepatitis B Hepatitis C

 Contact with  Vaginal, anal or oral sex (virus  Contact with
infected fecal found in vaginal secretions, semen, infected blood or
matter breast milk & saliva) blood products
 Oral-anal contact  Contact with infected blood or  injection drug use,
 Vaccine available blood products  sexual activity if
 Shared household items (e.g. blood is present,
toothbrushes, razors) that have including
blood on them (rare) menstrual blood
 Used needles
 From parent to baby during
childbirth
 Vaccine available

1
Reportable Disease Trends in Ontario, 2014. Public Health Ontario.

13
Signs and Symptoms

 It is possible for a person infected with the Hepatitis virus to show no symptoms
and still pass the virus on to others
 If there are symptoms, they can appear any time between 6 weeks and 6 months
after exposure, appearing on average 90 days after exposure

Hepatitis A Hepatitis B Hepatitis C

 A few weeks after  50% of people  30-50% of people are
exposure, possible asymptomatic asymptomatic
symptoms include:  Up to 8 weeks after  Possible symptoms
fatigue, nausea, exposure possible include: jaundice,
vomiting, abdominal symptoms include: nausea, nausea, fatigue, weight
pain or discomfort, vomiting, decreased loss, weakness,
clay-colored bowel appetite, rash, joint pain, depression, cognitive
movements, loss of jaundice (yellowing of eyes impairment, cirrhosis of
appetite, low-grade & skin), whitish bowel the liver, liver cancer
fever movements, brownish
urine

Testing

 A blood test is the only way to detect Hepatitis in the body

Treatment for Hepatitis B

 There is no cure for Hepatitis B, however, most individuals (90%) recover fully
within 6 months
 10% of people develop chronic Hepatitis B and carry the virus for life and are
infectious for life
 Critical for sexual partners to be tested
 If exposed, an injection of antibodies may be given (up to 7 days after blood
contact, 14 days after sexual contact) followed by Hepatitis B vaccine
 Chronic Hepatitis B – liver function monitoring, antiviral medication

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 HIV – Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Viral Infection
Rates
 Ontario had 745 cases of HIV reported in 20141
 In Ontario, the number of people living with HIV was estimated at 32,542 in 20122

Transmission

 HIV is a virus that destroys cells critical to a person’s immune system, making it
much harder for the body to fight other infections and illnesses
 HIV is transmitted through bodily fluids of a person with the virus. The only
bodily fluids that can transmit HIV are: blood, semen, pre-ejaculate, vaginal fluids,
anal fluids and breast milk
 Some ways that HIV can be transmitted are:
 unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex
 shared use of sex toys
 shared needles or drug equipment (i.e. water, cookers, crack pipes)
 contact with blood or blood-products
 transmission during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding (from parent to
child)
 There is increased transmission risk
 during the initial infection when viral load is
high and person might not know they are
HIV+
 when co-infected with Hepatitis C or any
other STI
 HIV is NOT transmitted by:
 mosquitos or other insects
 hugs, kisses
 skin-to-skin contact (unless blood is present)
 saliva, urine, feces, tears, sweat, vomit (unless blood is present)

1
Reportable Disease Trends in Ontario, 2014. Public Health Ontario.
2
Population-Specific HIV/AIDS Status Report: People Living with HIV/AIDS. Public Health Agency of Canada. Geographic
Distribution
15
Signs and Symptoms

 Two to four weeks after exposure, some people may experience mild flu-like
symptoms that last a few weeks before going away
 For most people, symptoms do not show up until years after exposure. Once the
immune system is weakened, these below symptoms may appear:
 Frequent fever or sweats
 Joint or muscle pain
 Persistent skin rashes
 Swollen glands
 Fatigue or lack of energy
 Headaches
 Rapid, unexplained weight loss
 Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea

Testing

 A blood test is the only way to detect HIV antibodies. Antibodies develop within 3
to 12 weeks. A test can be conducted with 95% accuracy within 34 days.
 2 test methods available – point of care rapid testing with immediate results and
standard blood test which takes approximately 2 weeks to return results
 Anonymous testing is available in Waterloo Region

Treatment

 There is no cure for HIV, however, when diagnosed early, a large number of
people who are HIV+ can lead a normal life with manageable treatments
 Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) taken daily
 Notifying sexual partners is important – guidance can be given by health care
professionals
 In Canada, it is estimated that approximately ¼ of people who are HIV+ are not
diagnosed and do not know their status and are therefore not getting treatment

Contact the AIDS Committee of Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo & Area

(ACCKWA) if you have questions or concerns about HIV/AIDS
519.570.3687 [Link]

16
 HPV– Human Papilloma Virus
Viral Infection
Rates
 HPV is not a reportable STI, so rates are unknown
 It is estimated that approximately 75% of sexually active adults will have at least
one HPV infection in their lifetime1

Transmission

 One of the most common sexually transmitted infections

 Occurs through vaginal, anal or oral sex with an infected person
 Also occurs through other intimate contact such as skin-to-skin contact
 From parent to child during delivery (rare)

Signs and Symptoms

 If infected with low-risk types of the virus often no symptoms appear

 In some people, warts develop within one to eight months on vulva, cervix, penis,
scrotum, anus or in urethra
 Warts can be small, soft and flesh coloured with a cauliflower-like appearance
 Size and number of warts may change over time; eventually most will clear
 During pregnancy, warts may increase in size and number, then regress/resolve
after delivery
 Other symptoms may include: genital itchiness & discomfort and/or bleeding
during intercourse

Testing

 A physical exam can be conducted to test for visible warts

 HPV is most commonly detected through an abnormal Pap smear which looks at
the cells on the cervix
 HPV screening is possible but not routinely conducted due to high cost

1
Canadian Cancer Society. Viruses and Bacteria: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) - Ontario. [Link]
17
Treatment

 Genital warts can be treated (creams, freezing, cauterization) but reoccurrence is

common
 Specialist referral is needed for atypical and/or non-healing warts
 Cancer treatments

Did You Know?

 There are over 100 strains of HPV

 Low-risk HPV strains cause warts and lesions, while high-risk strains can cause
cancer of the vagina, vulva, cervix, anus, penis, head and neck
 Most HPV infections clear on their own without medical intervention within 1-2
years (less likely to clear if a smoker, unhealthy and older)

There is a vaccine available to prevent many of the strains of HPV that cause
warts and cancer.
Ask a health care provider for more information.
All health care providers in Canada endorse the vaccine.
It is the most tested vaccine in Canada to date.

18
 Pubic Lice and Scabies
Parasitic Infection
Rates
 Rates of pubic lice and scabies are unknown because they are not reportable STIs.

Transmission
 Pubic lice and scabies are passed through intimate sexual and non-sexual contact
 Pubic lice can live for one to two days in bedding, towels and clothes - a possible
source of transmission
 Scabies can live for three days in bedding, towels and clothes – a possible source
of transmission.

Signs and Symptoms

 Public lice are small and difficult to see. Some symptoms might be:
 Skin irritation and inflammation along with itchiness and redness
 Small blue spots on skin where the lice have bitten
 Louse feces (small black particles) in underwear

 Scabies will likely show symptoms within three to four weeks,:

 Intense itchiness, especially at night
 Reddish rash
 If scabies are transmitted again, the same symptoms occur, but more
quickly (within hours to days of re-infestation)

Testing
 Examination of skin and pubic hair

Treatment
 Pubic lice: Affected area should be washed and a lice-killing cream, lotion or
shampoo used purchased directly from a pharmacy (behind the counter).
 Scabies: creams and lotions are available to treat scabies that are washed off in a
certain amount of time.
 With both treatments, itching may continue for several weeks; follow repeat
recommendations closely
19
Did You Know?

 Try not to itch! Persistent itching of irritated skin can cause other bacterial
infections
 Shaving off of pubic hair will not get rid of or prevent pubic lice – use
recommended treatments
 All people you share a living space with and recent sexual partners (within past
month) should be treated to prevent re-infestation
 Clothes, bedding and other possible contaminated items should be washed in
hot water, dry-cleaned or bagged for 3 days to one week. Items that cannot be
washed or bagged should be vacuumed
 Sometimes scabies show severe infections in people with compromised immune
systems (skin becomes scaly or crusty) and more complex treatment is required

20
 Trichomoniasis
Parasitic Infection
Rates
 Rates of Trichomoniasis (Trich) are not known as it
is not a reportable STI. It is a common STI
worldwide, but is not common in Canada.

Transmission
 Trich is transmitted through unprotected sexual activity including mutual
masturbation and sharing of sex toys

Signs and Symptoms

People with Vulvas and Vaginas People with Penis and Testicles
About half show symptoms such as: Trich tends to be asymptomatic – if
 Off-white or yellowish-green frothy symptoms are present, they can be:
vaginal discharge  Irritation or redness at urethral
 Sore or itchy vagina opening
 Pain during intercourse or urination  Burning during urination or
ejaculation

Testing
 Physical examination of the genital area
 A vaginal swab

Treatment
 Treated with antibiotics

Did You Know?

 Trich infections can increase risk of getting and transmitting HIV
 Trich may occur along with other STIs like gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, HIV and
hepatitis B
 In pregnancy, Trich infections may increase the risk of preterm delivery and low
birth weight
 Trich is an understudied and underfunded infection which is not fully understood
21
 Yeast Infection
Fungal Infection
*A yeast infection can be transmitted sexually, but is not generally considered an STI*

Rates
 75% of people with vulvas will develop a yeast infection at least once in their
lifetime

Causes
 Pregnancy  Poorly controlled diabetes
 Recent or current use of antibiotics  A weakened immune system
and certain other prescription  Genital moisture retention caused
medications by tight-fitting clothing

Transmission
 Unprotected vaginal, anal or oral sex with an infected person

Signs and Symptoms

People with Vulvas and Vaginas People with Penis and Testicles
 Vaginal itching
 Swollen or red vulva and vagina  May develop inflammation on head
 Thick white, clumpy discharge of penis
resembling cottage cheese  Itching on penis
 Burning of external genitalia,  Red dots on tip of penis
especially on urination  Dry peeling skin on penis
 Pain with intercourse due to vaginal  Burning on urination (rare)
dryness and irritation of the vulva

Testing
 Physical examination of the genital area
 A vaginal swab

Treatment
 Treated with antifungal medication
22
Did You Know?
 Yeast is normally found in the vagina.
 Yeast infections are caused by overgrowth of the naturally occurring yeast
Candida.
 Candida can also affect the mouth, throat, skin or blood
 Yeast infections can increase risk of getting and transmitting HIV
 Yeast infections may be confused with Bacterial Vaginosis (BV)

Bacterial Vaginosis (BV).

Bacterial Infection
Transmission
* is not generally considered an STI*
 BV can be transmitted from vulva to vulva but not to a penis, however, BV is
usually caused by an imbalance of bacteria in the vagina

Signs & Symptoms

Not all cases will show symptoms. If symptoms are present, they might be:
 Vaginal discharge
 Strong odour that may smell fishy (odour may increase after intercourse)

Testing
 Physical examination
 Vaginal culture (growing vaginal cells outside the body to detect
microorganisms) or wet preparation (sample of vaginal discharge observed under
microscope)

Treatment
 Can be treated with oral or vaginal antibiotics

Did you Know?

 BV has been associated with people with vulvas who smoke, use vaginal douches,
are sexually active and have unprotected sex
 can increase the chances of contracting other STIs

23
 How to prevent STI Transmission

The only 100% effective way of preventing STI transmission is to abstain from any type
of activity where blood or other fluids are exchanged. If sexually active, using barrier
devices such as condoms and dentals damns can be a good solution to
help protect yourself and your partner(s) from STI transmission. Getting tested and
treated and notifying partners is also important in stopping the spread of STIs.

Communication & STI Disclosure

Talking to sexual partners about STIs and testing can be difficult to do. Often people
are more comfortable having sex with someone than they are talking about sex
beforehand. There are some important things to consider discussing with a partner
before engaging in sexual activity:

 Type of relationship you would like

 Sexual pleasure
 Sexual desires and fantasies
 Sexual boundaries/consent
 Sexual activities
 STI status
 Birth control & safer sex methods

Discussing STI status might be an intimidating conversation to have. Knowing your own
status and asking a partner about theirs, are important factors in helping ensure safer
sex. Disclosing the fact that you have an STI or hearing from a partner that they have
an STI, does not have to be the end of the conversation. Instead, you can discuss what
barriers, treatments or other protective measures you will use. Talking
about
STIs will help prevent transmission and improve your
communication skills. If you have recently been tested and found that you have
an STI it is also important to tell any past partners. Check with your local public health
unit about anonymous partner notification.

24
 Where to get Tested

Clinics Location/Phone Drop-in Hours Appointment

Waterloo 99 Regina Street South Tuesday Tuesday

2nd Floor 11:30 am - 3:30 9 am - 5 pm
519-883-2267 pm Wednesday
9 am - 4 pm
Thursday Thursday
2:30 - 6:30 pm 9 am - 5 pm

Cambridge 150 Main Street Tuesday Tuesday

1st Floor (rear of 1:30 - 6 pm 10 am - 1 pm
building) Wednesday
519-883-2267 12 - 4 pm

Cambridge Youth-only Clinic Wednesday N/A

Teen Drop-in Zone 3:30 - 6:30 pm
258 Hespler Road
519-883-2267

Kitchener Youth-only Clinic Wednesday N/A

Downtown Community 3:30 - 6:30 pm
Centre
35-B Weber Street
West
519-883-2267

Kitchener ACCKWA - HIV Thursday N/A

ACCKWA Testing Only 4 - 7 pm
639 King Street West,
Suite 203 (corner of
King and Wellington)
519-570-3687

25
 When to get Tested
Detecting STIs as soon as possible can help improve treatment outcomes as well
as decrease the possibility of transmission and further complications.
Testing accuracy will vary for each STI and some STIs will take longer to appear
on tests than others. See chart below for suggested testing windows.
If suspicious of an STI based on symptoms or a partner’s diagnosis, getting tested
is the only way to know for sure. Getting tested regularly, regardless of
symptoms, is often the only way to detect STIs.
The most common symptom is no symptom at all.

When Symptoms Might

STI Most Accurate Testing After
Show Up
Chlamydia 2-3 weeks 2 – 14 days

Gonorrhea 2-7 days 2 - 14 days

Syphilis 3 days – 3 months 3-4 weeks

Herpes (oral or
2-21 days When symptoms are present.
genital)
Hepatitis A 2-7 weeks 4 weeks

Hepatitis B 6 - 23 weeks 4 – 8 weeks

2 - 26 weeks
Hepatitis C Acute infections will likely be detectable within 2 weeks
(average 6-7 weeks)
HIV 1-3 months 95% accurate after 6 weeks; can take up to 3 months
Pap testing every 3 years or as recommended by a
HPV 1-8 months health care provider.
When symptoms are present.
Pubic Lice 2 days – 3 weeks When symptoms are present.
3 weeks
Scabies When symptoms are present.
(if re-infestation 1-3 days)
Trichomoniasis 4 – 28 days When symptoms are present.

Yeast Infection N/A When symptoms are present.

Bacterial
N/A When symptoms are present.
Vaginosis

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For more information contact:

Stacey Jacobs, MSc

Community Sexual Health Education Manager

SHORE Centre
Sexual Health Options, Resources & Education

235 King Street East, Suite 130

Kitchener, ON N2G 4N5

Email: education@[Link]
Website: [Link]
Phone: 519 743 9360

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