Emergency
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Bacterial STIs (Chlamydia, Gonorrhea & LGV)

Related topics: Conditions and diseases

Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and Lymphogranuloma Venereum (LGV) are common bacterial Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) that are reportable to public health. This means a public health nurse will work with a health care provider to ensure individuals are made aware of their results, provided treatment and their partners are informed to test for STIs.

Latest news

Previously, BC CDC has supported the follow-up of Chlamydia, Gonorrhea and Lymphogranuloma Venereum (LGV). Vancouver Coastal Health has worked with BC CDC to transition public health follow-up to the VCH Communicable Disease Team. Effective February 5, 2024, VCH will provide ongoing support for STI public health care.

What has changed?

VCH will now be sending out an updated letter and clinician report form to testing providers in replacement of the previous Health 208 form. Please complete this form and send it back to the VCH CD Team by fax at 604-731-2756.

Teams that complete a Health 208 form through Profile EMR, please continue to use your online H208 template and fax it to the VCH CD Team at fax 604-731-2756. All individuals who test positive for Bacterial STIs in the emergency department will receive public health follow-up to support treatment and partner notification. The VCH CD Team can be reached for consultation at (604) 675-3900.

STI prevention

There are a number of ways to help prevent the spread of STIs:

  • Test regularly, getting tested between partners or at a regular interval (e.g. 3-6 months)
  • Use barriers, condoms can help prevent STIs and pregnancy
  • Follow up with your health care provider if you notice any symptoms.
  • Take preventative medications if you’re at greater risk for HIV and/or STIs, such HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) or doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for STIs

STI Testing

VCH has a number of sexual health clinics across the region, please see SmartSex resource clinic finder for a clinic near you.

Find a clinic near you

Looking for your results?

Your testing provider will call you if your STI results are positive. They will support you in prescribing or dispensing treatment. If you received an STI test in an Emergency Department, public health will follow up on behalf of the emergency doctor if your results are positive.

You can now view all STI results on Health Gateway, instructions to set up your profile can be found here.

Talking to your partners

We want to support everyone to speak with their partners about positive STI results. This can be done in any number of ways:

  • with the support of your healthcare provider
  • with support of a public health nurse
  • on your own, as a personal conversation
  • anonymously over a notification platform such as TellYourPartner.org

Resources