Person sitting on a bench with with someone doing intake.

Skip to Content

North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit Logo North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit Logo Print

Contact Us
  • Public Health
    Services
    • Breastfeeding Clinic
    • Community Events and Farmers Markets
    • Dental Clinic
    • Flu Shot
    • Food Safety Certification Training
    • Healthy Babies, Healthy Children
    • Infection Prevention and Control Investigations
    • Inspection Results and Enforcement
    • Needle Syringe Program
    • Parenting Workshops
    • Prenatal Classes
    • Private Drinking Water Testing
    • The Sexual Health Clinic
    • Vaccination Clinics
    • Vaccination Records
    • Vision Screening
  • Health
    Topics
    • Air Quality
    • Alcohol
    • Animal Bites
    • Beach, Lake and Pool Water
    • Breastfeeding
    • Cancer Prevention and Screening
    • Climate Change
    • Dental Health
    • Diseases
    • Drinking Water
    • Emergencies and Being Prepared
    • Flu/Influenza
    • Food Poisoning
    • Food Safety
    • Gambling
    • Healthy Aging
    • Healthy Eating
    • Home Health and Safety
    • Housing and Homelessness
    • Injury Prevention
    • Intimate Partner Violence
    • 2SLGBTQ+
    • Mental Health
    • Naloxone
    • Parenting
    • Perfluoroalkylated Substances (PFAS)
    • Physical Activity
    • Preconception and Pregnancy
    • Prenatal Resources
    • Racism
    • Reducing Weight Bias
    • Sexual Health
    • Sharps
    • Smoking, Vaping and Tobacco
    • Substance Use
    • Suicide Prevention
    • Vaccinations
    • Youth Engagement – IMPACT
  • Health Professionals
    and Partners
    • Camp Providers
    • Child Cares
    • COVID-19 Healthcare Providers, Hospitals and Long-Term Care
    • Designated Officers
    • Emergency Management
    • Group Home and Shelter Administrators
    • Health Care Professionals
    • Health Care Providers COVID-19 Vaccine Information
    • Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes
    • Municipal Resources
    • Nutrition Resources
    • Ontario Naloxone Program (ONP) Distributing Agencies and First Responders
    • Report an Overdose
    • Schools
    • Teaching Kitchen
  • Community Data
    and Reports
    • Chronic Diseases
    • Environmental Health
    • Health Behaviours
    • Housing and Homelessness
    • Indirect Impacts of COVID-19
    • Infectious Diseases
    • Injuries
    • Mortality
    • Nipissing Parry Sound Public Health Atlas
    • Oral Health
    • Population Demographics
    • Reproductive and Child Health
    • Substance Use
    • Well-being and Mental Health
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Accessibility
    • Board of Health
    • Careers and Placements
    • Contact Us
    • News and Events
    • Personal Health Privacy Policy
    • Programs and Services
    • RFPs and Tenders
Search Button

Back To Top

Sexually Transmitted Infections

HomeHealth TopicsSexual HealthSexually Transmitted Infections
  • Open new window to share this page via Facebook Facebook
  • Open new window to share this page via Twitter Twitter
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn LinkedIn
  • Email this page Email

Fast traslate
Icon translate

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), also known as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and venereal disease (VD), are infections that are transmitted during sex. They are very common and are usually passed on during unprotected sex.

STIs include:

  • Bacterial STIs (Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis)
  • Viral STIs (Genital Herpes, Hepatitis B, HPV, HIV)
  • Parasitic STIs (Trichomoniasis, Pubic Lice and Scabies)

If you are having sex, or are thinking about becoming sexually active, it's important to learn about STIs and how to protect yourself. Some STIs can be cured and some cannot. Herpes, Hepatitis B, and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are STIs that cannot be cured. Chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomoniasis and syphilis are STIs that can be cured if treated.

How to reduce the risk of getting an STI:

  • Talk about STIs and safe sex with every partner so that you can protect one another
  • Check that you are up-to-date with vaccinations against Hepatitis and HPV
  • Get tested, along with your partner, before having sex
  • Use condoms for vaginal, anal, and oral sex

What is a "reportable" infection?  

Under the Health Protection and Promotion Act, health care providers and laboratories are required to report certain infections to public health. This is a confidential process.

The following sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs) are reportable: 

  • Chancroid
  • Chlamydia
  • Gonorrhea
  • Hepatitis B
  • Hepatitis C
  • HIV and AIDS
  • Syphilis

What happens if I test positive for a reportable infection?

If you have a reportable STBBI, a public health nurse will follow up to help you learn more about:

  • the infection
  • how to access treatment
  • how to prevent giving the infection to other people
  • informing partners who may have been exposed and help determine which partners to inform 

How will my partners be notified that they might have been exposed?

There are a few different ways that partners can be informed:

  1. If you feel comfortable, you can tell your partner(s) yourself. The nurse can help guide you on what to say and where to direct them for testing/treatment.
  2. A nurse can contact them on your behalf. This is done anonymously - your information is kept private. 
  3. A combination of these. You and the nurse will agree on a certain amount of time that you need to inform your partner(s) before the nurse reaches out to them directly.

Options 2 or 3 are preferred as the nurse can directly help your partner(s) to access testing and treatment, making it easier for them to follow through.

Benefits and Importance of Partner Notification, Testing and Treatment
  • Helps stop the spread of infection. Many infections have few or no symptoms. People may not realize they have an infection and can unknowingly pass it to others.
  • Lowers the chances of long-term health problems.
  • Prevents you and your partner(s) from being infected again in the future. 

If you have questions about STIs, or require a free, confidential test, contact the sexual health clinic:

  • North Bay, Mattawa and Sturgeon Falls  705-474-1400 or 1-800-563-2808 ext. 5289
  • Parry Sound   705-746-5801 ext. 3213

Additional resources

  • Men's Sexual Health (Guys into Guys): Syphilis, HIV and more
  • Sexually Transmitted Infections (Public Health Agency of Canada)
  • The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
Health Topics
    • Air Quality
    • Alcohol
    • Animal Bites
      Toggle Section Animal Bites Menu
      • Rabies
    • Beach, Lake and Pool Water
      Toggle Section Beach, Lake and Pool Water Menu
      • Beaches
      • Public Spas, Pools and Hot Tubs
      • Harmful Algae Blooms
      • Swimmer's Itch
    • Breastfeeding
      Toggle Section Breastfeeding Menu
      • Using a Breastmilk Substitute
    • Cancer Prevention and Screening
      Toggle Section Cancer Prevention and Screening Menu
      • Sun Safety
    • Climate Change
    • Dental Health
      Toggle Section Dental Health Menu
      • Caring for Your Child's Teeth
      • Dental First Aid
      • Early Childhood Tooth Decay
      • School Screening Program
      • Water Fluoridation
    • Diseases
      Toggle Section Diseases Menu
      • Coronavirus (COVID-19)
        Toggle Section Coronavirus (COVID-19) Menu
        • Business and Workplaces
          Toggle Section Business and Workplaces Menu
          • Face Coverings and PPE
          • Signs and Screening Tools
        • COVID-19: What to do if Symptomatic, Positive or Exposed
        • COVID-19 Testing
        • COVID-19 Vaccine
        • Écoles/services de garde d'enfants et la COVID-19
        • Schools/Child Cares and COVID-19
      • Flu/Influenza
        Toggle Section Flu/Influenza Menu
        • About the Flu Shot
      • Hepatitis A
      • iGAS or Invasive Group A Strep
      • Lyme Disease
      • Measles
      • Monkeypox
      • Mumps
      • Shingles
      • Tuberculosis
      • West Nile Virus
      • Whooping Cough (Pertussis)
        Toggle Section Whooping Cough (Pertussis) Menu
        • Coqueluche - Foire aux questions
    • Drinking Water
      Toggle Section Drinking Water Menu
      • Lead
    • Emergencies and Being Prepared
      Toggle Section Emergencies and Being Prepared Menu
      • Cleaning up after a Flood
      • Drinking Water Disinfection Instruction
      • Emergency Kits
      • Food and Water Safety for Power Outages
    • Flu/Influenza
    • Food Poisoning
      Toggle Section Food Poisoning Menu
      • Farm Fresh Eggs Safety
    • Food Safety
    • Gambling
    • Healthy Aging
      Toggle Section Healthy Aging Menu
      • Age-Friendly Communities
      • Call-in and Online Activity Groups for Older Adults
    • Healthy Eating
      Toggle Section Healthy Eating Menu
      • Community Groups & School Programs
      • Cooking and Food Skills
        Toggle Section Cooking and Food Skills Menu
        • Freezing Fruit and Vegetables
      • Find a Registered Dietitian
      • Food and the Environment
      • Food Insecurity
      • Get Cooking
      • Healthy Food for Life
        Toggle Section Healthy Food for Life Menu
        • Nutrition During Pregnancy
        • Feeding Your Baby
        • Feeding Your Preschooler
        • Feeding Your School-Aged Child
        • Nutrition for Older Adults
      • Healthy Recipes
        Toggle Section Healthy Recipes Menu
        • A Cut Above the Roast
      • Northern Fruit and Vegetable Program
    • Home Health and Safety
    • Housing and Homelessness
      Toggle Section Housing and Homelessness Menu
      • Homelessness Factors
      • Housing is a Health Issue and a Human Right
      • Homelessness Prevention
      • Local Services to Address Homelessness
      • Stigma and its Impacts
    • Injury Prevention
      Toggle Section Injury Prevention Menu
      • Concussions
      • Helmets
    • Intimate Partner Violence
    • 2SLGBTQ+
      Toggle Section 2SLGBTQ+ Menu
      • Committing to 2SLGBTQ+ Equity
      • Homophobia
      • Pronouns
      • Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression
      • When Someone Comes Out
      • Youth and Teens
      • Positive Spaces and Other Training
      • Resources
    • Mental Health
      Toggle Section Mental Health Menu
      • 5 Ways to Well-being
        Toggle Section 5 Ways to Well-being Menu
        • Be Active
        • Connect
        • Give
        • Keep Learning
        • Take Notice
      • Mental Health Services
      • Postpartum Mood Disorders
    • Naloxone
      Toggle Section Naloxone Menu
      • Naloxone Training FAQ
    • Parenting
      Toggle Section Parenting Menu
      • New Parent Resources
      • Parenting During COVID-19
    • Perfluoroalkylated Substances (PFAS)
    • Physical Activity
      Toggle Section Physical Activity Menu
      • Active Transportation
      • Physical Activity Resources
        Toggle Section Physical Activity Resources Menu
        • Exercise Class Schedule
        • Virtual Exercise Classes
    • Preconception and Pregnancy
    • Prenatal Resources
    • Racism
    • Reducing Weight Bias
      Toggle Section Reducing Weight Bias Menu
      • Body Positivity
    • Sexual Health
      Toggle Section Sexual Health Menu
      • Birth Control
      • Men’s Sexual Health (Guys into Guys)
        Toggle Section Men’s Sexual Health (Guys into Guys) Menu
        • Santé sexuelle chez les hommes : pour les hommes qui aiment les hommes
      • Preconception Health
      • Pregnancy Testing and Options
      • PrEP
      • Sex After Having a Baby
      • Sexually Transmitted Infections
      • Sex & COVID-19
    • Sharps
    • Smoking, Vaping and Tobacco
      Toggle Section Smoking, Vaping and Tobacco Menu
      • Quit Smoking
      • Arrêter de fumer ou de vapoter
      • Smoke-Free Spaces and the Law
      • Vaping and E-cigarettes
      • Vapotage et cigarettes électroniques
    • Substance Use
      Toggle Section Substance Use Menu
      • Cannabis
      • Drug-Related Stigma
        Toggle Section Drug-Related Stigma Menu
        • Let's work together to: Stop the shame. Stop the blame. Stop the stigma.
      • Healthy High - Risk-Taking Can Be Healthy
      • Methamphetamine Use
      • Opioids
      • Social Determinants of Health
    • Suicide Prevention
    • Vaccinations
      Toggle Section Vaccinations Menu
      • Adult Information
      • Child Care Information
        Toggle Section Child Care Information Menu
        • Vaccination Information for Parents
      • COVID-19 Vaccines
        Toggle Section COVID-19 Vaccines Menu
        • COVID-19 Vaccine & Vaccination Frequently Asked Questions
        • COVID-19 Vaccine: Information for Parents and Caregivers
      • Hepatitis B Vaccine Information
        Toggle Section Hepatitis B Vaccine Information Menu
        • Informations sur le vaccin de l'hépatite B
      • Meningococcal Disease Vaccine Information
        Toggle Section Meningococcal Disease Vaccine Information Menu
        • Informations sur le vaccin contre la méningococcie
      • Publicly Funded Immunization Schedule
      • School Information
        Toggle Section School Information Menu
        • Informed Consent
        • Consentement éclairé
      • TB Testing
      • Tetanus, Diphtheria and Whooping Cough Vaccine Information
      • The Law, Exemptions, Suspensions and Exclusions
        Toggle Section The Law, Exemptions, Suspensions and Exclusions Menu
        • Suspension Process
    • Youth Engagement – IMPACT

Contact Us

Subscribe to this page

North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit Footer Logo

  • Website

    • About Us
    • Employment Opportunities
    • News
  • Links

    • Accessibility
    • Privacy
    • Sitemap
    • Feedback Form
  • Resources

    Increase Contrast

Your lifetime partner in healthy living!

Copyright 2022 North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit

By GHD Digital

Browser Compatibility Notification

It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.