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.

Some Stats and facts about testing

Posted by HIM on Tuesday September 29th, 2009

Gay men continue to be one of the populations most affected by HIV in Canada and in 2008 gay men represented 62% of all new HIV diagnoses in Vancouver. Despite a high HIV testing rate among gay men in BC, there continues to be a need to focus on promoting HIV testing and reducing barriers in accessing service. Sex Now data indicates that between 2002 and 2007 the proportion of gay men in BC who have never taken an HIV test has gradually increased from 11% to 17%. Currently, 31% of gay men under 30 have never tested for HIV at all. Rapid HIV testing has proven to be successful in increasing HIV testing in many settings across North America yet access to rapid point-of-care HIV testing services tailored to gay men is very limited in Vancouver. Rapid HIV testing technologies have the same window period as conventional HIV tests with the big difference being a result returned within minutes rather that one to two weeks.

As part of our mandate to prevent HIV among gay men, the Health Initiative for Men has launched a community-based sexual health centre for gay men. HIM currently offers rapid HIV testing along with conventional HIV and STI screening. In partnership with the BC CDC, HIM is also able to offer NAAT testing to detect acute HIV infection 10-12 days after exposure.

While it is our hope is that rapid testing will eventually become common and available through public health, HIM is committed to bringing this technology to gay men now in order to provide men with more options thereby increasing testing and decreasing the number of men who do not know their HIV status. In order to do so, HIM will offer men the opportunity to make a donation for the service and contribute to the important fight to end HIV in our communities.

Visit the Sexual Health Centre page for more information about testing, our location and hours.

- Phillip Banks