Resources

Post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP, is a way to help prevent the transmission of HIV in an HIV-negative person who may have been recently exposed to the virus. It involves taking HIV medications as soon as possible after a potential exposure to HIV. Anyone who thinks they may have been exposed to HIV should contact their doctor, a hospital emergency room or sexual health clinic immediately to see if they offer PEP. (catie.ca)

Undetectable = untransmittable (U=U) was a phrase created to get the word out about the benefits of treatment for preventing HIV during sex. When you maintain and undetectable viral load, you cannot pass HIV to the people you have sex with. Doctors generally recommend waiting until you’ve had at least two undetectable viral load results in a row over a six-month period before sexual contact. (catie.ca)

‘Therapeutic Guidelines for Antiretroviral (ARV) Treatment of Adult HIV Infection’ is a series of treatment guidelines developed by the British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS. Its purpose is to provide HIV care providers direction on when to start drug therapy and which drug regimens to use. (catie.ca and bccfe.ca)

PLHIV is an acronym for ‘people living with HIV.’ At the end of 2020, an estimated 62,790 people were living with HIV in Canada. Barriers to accessing HIV care and treatment can lead to poor health outcomes among people living with HIV/AIDS. (catie.ca and canada.ca)

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by a bacteria. It can be passed on through sexual contact; all people who are sexually active may be at risk for chlamydia. Chlamydia can infect the urethra, cervix, rectum, throat, and eyes. Although many people with chlamydia will not have symptoms, if symptoms do occur, they usually appear two to six weeks after infection. Having chlamydia can also increase the risk of sexual transmission of HIV (catie.ca)

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by bacteria. It can be passed on through sexual contact; all people who are sexually active may be at risk for chlamydia. Gonorrhea can infect the urethra, cervix, rectum, throat, and eyes. Although many people with gonorrhea will not have symptoms, if symptoms do occur, they usually appear two to six weeks after infection. Having gonorrhea can also increase the risk of sexual transmission of HIV. (catie.ca)

Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) and it can affect the genitals, groin, pubic area, anus, rectum, or buttocks. All people who are sexually active may be at risk for genital herpes, although many people with genital herpes have no symptoms or very mild symptoms, so it may go unnoticed or be mistaken for another condition. (catie.ca)

Hepatitis C is an infection in the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus. Over time, the virus causes liver injury and scarring and can make you very sick. Hepatitis A and B can also affect the liver and can often be confused with hepatitis C, but they are not the same. (catie.ca)

Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that is passed through contact with a syphilis lesion (sore or chancre). Symptoms of early syphilis vary considerably—from a painless chancre, a sore or a rash, to a fever, headache, problems with vision or more serious symptoms. Screening for syphilis usually involves a simple blood test. Sexually active people should be screened for syphilis at least once a year; pregnant people also need regular screening for syphilis.

There are over 100 types of human papillomavirus (HPV), each one having a number to identify it (ex. HPV-6). Human papillomaviruses are viruses that can infect many parts of the body. Some types of HPV are sexually transmitted and can cause warts or other consequences such as cancer (e.g., cervical, penile and anal). The types of HPV that infect the anal and genital (anogenital) areas are not the same as the ones that infect other areas of the body such as the fingers, hands and face. (canada.ca)