Sexual Health

Let's be honest: we've got sex on the brain. At HIM, we think that an active sex life is a big part of healthy living. Whether you're having sex with a partner, with a friend or by yourself, this section provides resources, articles and information about how you can maintain a fulfilling and healthy sex life. For clinic locations and hours, click here.

Got me a Rapid test, I did.

Posted by HIM on Monday September 28th, 2009

Just got an HIV test last Thursday. It had been over 10 years since my last test- truthfully I can't even remember when it was. Like many gay men I measured my sense of sexual self-worth by the amount of sex I got. While I mostly kept to oral, rarely bottomed and practiced safer sex, I was terrified of getting an HIV test because the reality of what I perceived as my inevitable positive result was too much for me to deal with. I felt that I was most certainly positive, and thought I just didn't want to know. I suppose I had a lot of internalized homophobia and issues of self-worth to work out, and the fact that I had to go through an agonizing 1-2 week waiting period didn't help either. So I didn't bother. “It's better not to know” was my thinking.

With the opening of the HIM Sexual Health Centre, it seemed like a perfect opportunity to pull my head out of the sand and get that test once and for all. The fact that rapid testing is offered, not to mention my proximity to the SHC (it's just upstairs from our office) made it that much easier.

So last Thursday after work I went upstairs, took a deep breath, and with a prick of the finger, a small amount of blood drawn and a couple of minutes, I knew. It was negative.

When a friend asked, I was at first dismissive...“I wasn't THAT worried!” I said. Only after the fact did I realize how much of a weight not knowing had been on me. Over the past few days it's become clearer. The scale of my sense of relief was a huge surprise.

I can't speak for those with a positive, but if I had gotten any other result, the HIM Sexual Health Centre staff would have been there to help navigate the next steps, offering options and counseling, and pointing me toward resources available. I would not have been alone.

My situation is a great example of one of HIM's core goals: to get guys who haven't tested in a while or at all into the habit of getting regular testing, and to improve their quality of life by giving them the tools to help keep them happy and healthy. The HIM Sexual Health Centre is right in the hub of the gay community, on Davie street, it's easily accessible, and the staff is made up of peers who are non-judgmental, discrete and genuinely want to help you.

I strongly recommend getting a rapid test if you’re unsure of your HIV status and you want to know. You may not even realize how much knowing means to you. I didn't.

- Chris W. Hamilton

PS, Here’s a video explaining the process:

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Friday September 3rd, 2010

I had heard there were problems with the older rapid test, made by another company, many years ago. So I was skeptical of taking a rapid test but I decided to anyway.

Doing a little research I found out that this one has been used extensively across Ontario for the past five years with no recall, has had extensive clinical trials, and the quality control is solid. It's approved by Health Canada and in the EU for use. The BC Centre of Disease Control is involved in external quality control of the kits. The scientific advisor for this company is the doctor who founded St. Paul's HIV excellence. The test is maintained by Coastal Health nurses who verbally re-assured me of the accuracy rapid test is the same as in the lab test when negative. (as with lab tests it has to be checked with a Western Blot at the lab if it comes out reactive)

So rapid HIV tesing is a great option and should be across BC. Let's advocate our provincial government to fund rapid HIV testing as Ontario's has and Manitoba is considering.

I am now proud of knowing my status.

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