Sexual Health

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Grand Erie Public Health provides sexual health education, promotes healthy decisions, and provides a confidential comfortable environment for discussing sexual health. We provide a safe and inclusive space for all.

Please note, clinical services provided are confidential but not anonymous. We require identifiers (first name, last name and birth date) and contact information (phone number and address if applicable) for each client, however, this information and all personal health information collected is kept confidential as per the Personal Health Information Protection Act.

Interpretation and translation services are available for client appointments as needed.

Our sexual health clinic in Brantford is by appointment only. Please call for availability.

Phone: 519-753-4937 ext. 471

*Evening clinic hours offered once per month.

  • To access sexual health services in Haldimand County, please get in touch with the Haldimand Family Health Team at 289-335-1263 or 365-206-0303.
  • To access sexual health services in Norfolk County, please contact the Norfolk Family Health Team at 519-582-2323 ext. 231.
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Grand Erie Public Health’s sexual health clinic offers the following services by appointment:

  • STI symptom assessment with nurse practitioner.
  • Testing of HAV and HAB
  • Urine screening for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea
  • Throat and Rectal Swabs for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea
  • Vaginal and Urethral Swabs for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea
  • Herpes Virus swabs for active lesions/sores
  • Vaginal swabs for Trichomoniasis, Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) and yeast
  • Pap tests for existing clients or clients without a family doctor (over the age of 25)
  • Blood Borne Infection (BBI) testing for Hep C, Syphilis and HIV
  • Free Treatment for Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and Syphilis
  • Mpox Vaccination
  • Plan B (emergency contraception)
    • Note: Plan B can also be purchased at pharmacies and grocery stores
  • Contraception options counselling
  • Low-cost birth control for those under 35 years of age
    • External referral to community for IUD or Nexplanon (for those without a family doctor)
  • Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) initial scripts (following initial script, client will be referred to the online PrEP clinic)
    • PrEP can also be accessed through some family doctors and online at gofreddie.com or prepclinic.ca
  • Urine pregnancy testing
  • Pregnancy options counselling
  • Free condoms and barrier devices
  • Sexual health and safer sex practices counselling 
  • Provide harm reduction supplies (safer injection, inhalation supplies, and naloxone kits) to the services provided section.

If you have a family doctor, please utilize them for sexual health services.

The following services are NOT provided by the sexual health clinic at this time:

  • Treatment of HPV (genital warts)
  • Herpes Virus blood testing
  • IUD insertion and removal
  • Nexplanon insertion and removal
  • Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV
    • PEP can be accessed through Brantford General Hospital
    • Some family doctors can provide prescriptions for PEP

 
Family doctors, nurse practitioners and University/College Student Health Services can also provide sexually transmitted and blood borne infection (STBBI) testing and treatment, pap tests and prescribe birth control.

If you have experienced sexual assault, our community’s best resource is the Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence (SADV) Treatment and Care program at Brantford General Hospital
 
For urgent matters, please seek your nearby urgent care centre or emergency department.

Our School Health team offers comprehensive sexual health programming in local schools, including sexual health services for youth. For more information and to book your appointment, click here.

The work of the Sexual Health Nurse at GEDSB secondary schools includes one on one appointments offering:

  • STI screening and treatment
  • Plan B (emergency contraception)
  • Birth control, free condoms, and barrier devices
  • Urine pregnancy testing and pregnancy options counselling
  • Sexual health education and safer sex counselling

Schedule at schools

​DayTuesdayWednesdayThursday​
AM​​Pauline Johnston​Grand Erie Learning
AlternativesParis District High School		Tollgate TechnicalNorth Park 
​PMSix Nations Polytechnic STEAM AcademyBrantford Collegiate
Institute​​		Pauline JohnsonNorth Park

If you are a student at Wilfrid Laurier University or Conestoga College in Brantford, you have access to Laurier’s Health and Wellness Centre.

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ECP, most commonly known as Plan B, is a pill taken after unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy. The pill is most effective if taken within 24 hours of unprotected sex, but can be taken for up to five days later.

The oral contraceptive pill is a method of birth control taken every day at the same time to prevent pregnancy.

The contraceptive patch is a beige patch that sticks to the skin and continuously releases the hormones estrogen and progestin into the bloodstream to prevent pregnancy.

The vaginal ring is a soft, flexible, clear plastic ring that is inserted into the vagina where it slowly releases the hormones, estrogen and progestin, for three weeks at a time to prevent pregnancy.

IUDs are the most effective form of birth control available. Depending on the type of IUD  they provide reversible and highly effective birth control lasting 3-10 years. IUDs are small T-shaped devices that are inserted in the uterus by a health care professional in a clinic. There are two types of intrauterine contraception: the Copper IUD and the hormonal IUD.

The birth control shot is an injection administered by a health care professional in a clinic four times per year. The injection contains a progestin hormone to prevent pregnancy.

The contraceptive implant is a very small rod that sits just below the skin and continuously releases a progestin hormone into the bloodstream. It is inserted in the office by a health care provider using local anaesthetic to numb the skin and provides reversible and highly effective birth control for up to three years by preventing ovulation.

ECP, most commonly known as Plan B, is a pill taken after unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy. The pill is most effective if taken within 24 hours of unprotected sex, but can be taken for up to five days later.

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STIs take the fun out of sex. Reduce your risk and protect yourself by using a condom every time.

Remember, not all STIs have signs or symptoms so when in doubt, get tested.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) Resources:

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MPOX (formerly known as monkeypox) virus is an Orthopoxvirus that causes symptoms similar to, but less severe than smallpox, and is endemic to parts of Central and West Africa.  As of May 2022, clusters of MPOX cases were identified in non-endemic countries, including Canada.

Clinical Information

Key Guidance Documents

Epidemiology

Laboratory Testing

Reporting to Public Health

Vaccination

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Health-care providers must report all cases of latent Tuberculosis (TB) infection, active disease, and positive skin tests to the GEPH by:

  • During regular business hours (Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
  • After hours
    • Phone only: 519-753-4937 (stay on the line to speak to an operator)

We provide:

  • Free TB medication
  • Follow-up of all causes of latent and active TB, and positive skin tests

Resources

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What is a designated officer?

The Ontario Public Health Standards require that emergency services (ex: firefighters, ambulance, police) have designated officers (DO) identified within their workplace to respond to and investigate reported exposures to communicable diseases. DOs support emergency service workers (ESW) in taking appropriate action after being exposed to communicable diseases in the line of duty. The role of the DO is to act as a liaison between the ESW and the Grand Erie Public Health

Designated officers will: 

  • Respond to and document reported exposure to a communicable disease by an ESW 
  • Determine if an exposure could have occurred 
  • Notify GEPH for assistance as required and provide details of the exposure, including the demographic information of the ESW. 

The Public Services Health and Safety Association offers training for designated officers with both in-class and distance learning options. 

Distance learning: Public Services Health and Safety Association | Designated Officer Program Distance Learning (pshsa.ca) 

In-class: Public Services Health and Safety Association | Designated Officer Training (pshsa.ca) 

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