Did you ever wonder if the person you had sex with has a STI, also called STBBI (sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections)?

80 to 90% of infected people DO NOT have symptoms of the infection! Yes, you read right: a person who has a STI may not have ANY visible signs or symptoms, especially in the early stages of the infection. An untreated STI can lead to complications such as abdominal pain, genital pain during sexual intercourse, and in exceptional cases, infertility.

STI include chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, HPV (condylomas), genital herpes, hepatitis B and C, and HIV.

Some of those can be treated easily with one dose of antibiotics, preventing further complications from occurring. Some can also be prevented through adequate vaccination (ask the nurse).

How can I know if I have an STI?

STIs are transmitted by having unprotected sex. If you had vaginal, anal, and/or oral sexual intercourse without using a condom, even once, you are at risk of having contracted a STI. Sex toys may also carry certain viruses and bacteria.

If you are having sexual intercourse regularly with the same person, and are considering stopping condom use, you should both take a STI screening test before.

Some STIs can also be transmitted when coming in contact with the blood of someone who is infected. GET TESTED!

Types of testing

Chlamydia and Gonorrhea testing (urine, self-swab of the vagina, throat swab, self-swab of anus)

• offered in Student Health Services

Syphilis, Hepatitis & HIV testing (blood test)

• offered in CLSCs, community clinics and some hospitals
• These centres also offer chlamydia and gonorrhea testing

Interesting information on STI and STI testing:

• When You Think About It
• https://www.sexandu.ca/stis/

Where can I get tested?

AT DAWSON

Dawson College Student Health Services
Room 2D.02
(514) 931-8731 ext. 1206

Fill out the online form in Omnivox (found under Student Services on the bottom left of the page and select “Health Services Form”.  Once you reach the end of the form,  you will be able to book your own appointment.

IN THE COMMUNITY

To locate a STI testing facility near you:

• You may call Info-Santé 8-1-1.
• You may also locate and arrange an appointment through the Clic-sante Portal . Choose the “STBBI and sexual health” category on the website, then choose the sub-category “STTBI and sexual health” to find a place offering this service a a time and place convenient for you.

A Youth Clinic or an Aire Ouverte in your area could also be offering this service. A simple way to locate and arrange an appointment at your local Youth Clinic or Aire Ouverte is once again is through the Clic-sante Portal, and then choosing the “Youth Clinic and Aire ouverte” category on the website

• You can also find an interactive map here .

Oral contraceptive pill? Intrauterine device (IUD)? Patch? Vaginal ring? Contraceptive injection? Condom? What are the different methods of birth control?

The nurses at the Student Health Services can help you explore your options and answer your questions. They can also prescribe the contraception method that will best meet your needs!

You may also find reliable information online at:

• It’s a Plan

A nice online tool created by Sex&U to help you and your health care provider determine the method that’s best for you.

• Contraception Booklet

Useful tool on contraception in general, brought to you by The Society of Obstetricians
and Gynaecologists of Canada and sexandu.ca

Where can you get a prescription for contraception?

• Dawson College Health Services
  Room 2D.02
  Contraception counselling appointment with the nurses. For current Dawson students ONLY.
• Your family doctor
• Your local CLSC or Community drop-in clinics:
  • There may be a Youth Clinic in your area offering this service. A simple way to locate and arrange an appointment at your local Youth Clinic is through the Clic-sante Portal.

• SOS Stay on Schedule
  You missed your dose or forgot to take your contraception method on time? Here is a guide by Sex & U to taking contraception after a missed dose and strategies to reduce your risk of pregnancy.

If the SOS guide tells you that you need the emergency contraceptive pill asap, come by Student Health Services (2D.02) during opening hours.

Please note: A missed pill can lead to some bleeding in the following day or two. This is not a concern. Just keep taking your pills as scheduled.

If you have any questions, you may MIO Julie Drolet (nurse).

How do I know if I should take Emergency Contraception (EC)?

• You had sexual intercourse without contraception
• You had a contraceptive accident, such as the condom broke or slipped off
• Your partner did not “pull out” in time (FYI: the pull out method IS NOT an effective birth control method!)
• You didn’t take your birth-control correctly in the month before having sex without a condom
• You experienced a sexual assault

What is the Morning-After pill?

It is an emergency contraception pill and unlike other forms of contraception, EC can be used AFTER intercourse to prevent pregnancy. The sooner you take it, the more effective it is!

• It is effective at 95% to prevent pregnancy if taken in the first 24 hours after the intercourse
• It is effective at 60% if taken within 48-72 hours after the intercourse.

How does it work?

EC works by thinning out the lining of the uterus, making it very difficult for a fertilized egg to implant itself. It also works by altering the mucus in a woman’s cervix so that it becomes “hostile” to sperm.

What if I still get pregnant?

In the unlikely event that implantation does occur, EC is not dangerous to the fetus and will not interrupt the pregnancy or put the fetus at risk. You can contact the nurses in Student Health Services to get support and discuss your options.

Are there any side-effects?

EC is very safe but it could cause side-effects such as nausea or vomiting, dizziness or headache. If you vomit within two (2) hours of taking EC, you will need to retake the dose.

The EC can cause a few light days of bleeding right after taking it. This is most likely NOT your real period. Your real period will possibly be a few days early or a few days later than it was scheduled to happen.

How will I know if EC was effective?

You should get your period within three to four (3 to 4) weeks after taking EC. If you do not, you should then take a pregnancy test. If you are pregnant, you should consult a nurse in Student Health Services, or your family doctor, to discuss your options.

Spotting or bleeding is common a few days after taking EC. Your next period may come a week early or a week late. See a nurse in Student Health Services if you have not had your period in the 3 to 4 weeks after taking EC.

Where can I get EC?

• Dawson College Student Health Services
  Room 2D.02, Monday to Friday.
  FREE
  For current Dawson students ONLY

• Any pharmacy
  EC is free but the consultation with pharmacist is 24-27$. However, your insurance (or parent’s) could cover all fees.
• CLSC
  Most CLSCs will offer EC. In these, it will be free. For help locating the nearest resource, please look here.
• Head and Hands Medical Clinic (514) 481-0277
  3465 ave Benny, Montreal, H4B 2R9
  Medical clinic for all youth aged 12-25, regardless of gender, sexuality, race or insurance status. No medicare card needed but PLEASE do bring your health card if you have one.

For more information on emergency contraception (EC), contraceptive methods or STI testing, please see the Health Education Nurse in Room 2D.02, call info-santé at 8-1-1 or visit www.sexandu.ca

Seeking a pregnancy test

If you have had unprotected sexual intercourse since your last period and you are worried about getting pregnant, here is some information for you.

• A urine pregnancy test will be accurate if the test is done once your period is a few days late. If it is done before this time, it may result as a false negative.
• Wait at least 2 weeks after the unprotected sex before during a pregnancy test.
• If you have taken emergency contraception (E.C.), such as Plan B or the Morning After Pill, since your last period, it is recommended to wait three weeks after taking it before taking a pregnancy test, if your period has not occurred since using the emergency contraception.
• The pregnancy test is free in Student Health Services. To make an appointment, please fill out the online form in Omnivox (found under Student Services on the left of page and then click on “Health Services Form”). You can also buy the test in any pharmacy.

NOTE: If you had unprotected sexual intercourse within the last 5 days, you can obtain the emergency contraception by coming to our clinic in 2D.02 (Monday to Friday) or going to see a pharmacist. The E.C. works best if it is taken in the first 24 hours after unprotected sex but can be taken up to 5 days after (the efficacy goes down with every day that you wait.)

Seeking counselling to decide about continuing a pregnancy or not

You can make an appointment with one of our nurses in Student Health Services by filling out the online form in Omnivox (found under Student Services on the left of page and then click on “Health Services Form”). After meeting with the nurse, she will guide you to the proper health professionals to accompany you with your pregnancy or abortion. https://www.sexandu.ca/pregnancy/unplanned-pregnancy/ https://www.sexandu.ca/pregnancy/planned-pregnancy/

Seeking a health centre to assist you with getting an abortion

After reflection, if you think that it is not a good time for you to have a child, you have options. Our nurse in Student Health Services will guide you to the proper health professionals to assist you with terminating your pregnancy. You can make an

appointment with one of our nurses in Student Health Services by filling out the online form in Omnivox (found under Student Services on the left of page and then click on “Health Services Form”).

If you are pregnant and unsure about what to do or you want to terminate the pregnancy, we strongly advise you seek counselling. Please don’t hesitate to send a MIO to Julie Drolet.

*For Dawson students only

Here’s a list of clinics you can contact to terminate a pregnancy:

Abortions are free if you have a Quebec (RAMQ) health insurance card or if you have a valid immigration certificate.

Under 18 y.o.

Ste-Justine Hospital (< 18 y.o.)
3175 Cote-Ste-Catherine
(514) 345-4931 #4662
Surgical: 6 to 17 weeks pregnancy

Morgentaler Clinic  
8560 rue St-Hubert, no. 310
Montreal, Qc
H2P 1Z7
(514) 844-4844
Surgical: 5 to 18 weeks pregnancy
Medical (abortion pill): Up to 9 weeks pregnancy

Above 18 y.o.

Femina Medical Clinic
1265 Berri, office 430
(514) 843-7904
Surgical: 5 to 12 weeks pregnancy
Medical (abortion pill): Up to 9 weeks pregnancy

Morgentaler Clinic
8560 Saint-Hubert St., #310
(514) 844-4844 or 1-888-401-4844
Surgical: 5 to 18 weeks pregnancy
Medical (abortion pill): Up to 9 weeks pregnancy

CLSC des Faubourgs
Clinique de planification familiale
66 Sainte-Catherine Est
(514) 527-9565 #3674
Surgical: 5 to 24 weeks pregnancy / Medical (abortion pill): up to 7 weeks pregnancy

CLSC Rivières-des-Prairies8655 boul. Perras
(514) 380-8299
5 to 12 6/7 weeks pregnancy

Lasalle Hospital
8585 Terrasse Champlain
(514) 367-8628
6 to 14 weeks pregnancy

CLSC Montréal-Nord
11441 boul. Lacordaire
(514) 955-2645
Surgical: 5 to 12 weeks pregnancy / Medical (abortion pill): TBA

CHUM
Clinique de planification familiale
264 René-Lévesque Est
(514) 890-8000 #34609
Medical (abortion pill): 6 to 8 weeks pregnancy

Femina Medical Clinic
1265 Berri, office 430
(514) 843-7904
Surgical: 5 to 12 weeks pregnancy
Medical (abortion pill): Up to 9 weeks pregnancy

Morgentaler Clinic
8560 Saint-Hubert St., #310
(514) 844-4844 or 1-888-401-4844
Surgical: 5 to 18 weeks pregnancy
Medical (abortion pill): Up to 9 weeks pregnancy

Centre de santé des femmes de Montréal
3401 De Lorimier Av.
(514) 270-6110 #1
Surgical: 5 to 14 6/7 weeks pregnancy
Medical (abortion pill): Up to 8 6/7 weeks pregnancy

Clinique médicale de l’Alternative
2034 Saint-Hubert St.
(514) 281-6476 and (514) 281-9848
Surgical: 5 to 13 weeks pregnancy
Medical (abortion pill): Up to 9 weeks pregnancy

Clinique médicale l’Envolée
5025 De Salaberry St.
(514) 581-4644
Surgical: 6 to 12 weeks pregnancy
Medical (abortion pill): Up to 7 weeks pregnancy