Thunder Bay District Health Unit : Testing and Treatment

Testing and Treatment for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI's) is FREE OF CHARGE at the Health Unit.

Chlamydia and Gonorrhea can be detected in males and females through a simple urine sample. Urine must be in the bladder for more than 1 hour before the sample can be given. This test will pick up Chlamydia or Gonorrhea within 24 hours after being exposed. Urine testing in females is considered a little less accurate than the swab test.
Chlamydia and Gonorrhea can be cured by taking an antibiotic. These medications are provided free of charge at the Health Unit or have a valid prescription from your family doctor.

Swabs are taken for Bacterial Vaginosis, Trichomoniasis and Yeast Infection in females.
Bacterial Vaginosis and Trichomoniasis can be cured by taking an antibiotic. These medications are provided free of charge at the Health Unit or have a valid prescription from your family doctor. You can treat Yeast Infection with over-the-counter yeast medication that you can purchase at your local pharmacy.

HIV, Hepatitis B & C and Syphilis is diagnosed through a blood test.
HIV will show up in the blood 12 weeks after the exposure to the virus. Getting tested before the 3-6 month window period may not provide you with an accurate test result for HIV. HIV is most often done through the Anonymous Testing Program.
Hepatitis B and C may take up to 3 to 6 months as well before they are detected in a blood test. There is immunization available for Hepatitis B. Click here for Immunization Clinic information.
Syphilis will not be detected until 1-4 weeks after the appearance of the sore or 6 weeks after exposure. A swab can be taken if the sore is still present to detect the bacteria.
There is no cure for HIV and Hepatitis C but there are medications available to control these infections. HIV and Hepatitis treatment should be managed by a specialist. You can talk to a Sexual Health Nurse for more information on treatments available.

Genital warts are diagnosed by a visual exam from a doctor. A colposcopy is done for visible warts on a women’s cervix. This procedure is not done at the Health Unit.
Visible genital warts are most often treated with liquid nitrogen (dry ice). Several weekly treatments may be necessary in order for this treatment to be successful. Even though the warts may disappear with this treatment, they may grow back as there is no cure. Aldara cream is another treatment for genital warts in which the client can apply to affected areas. You need a prescription from a doctor and the cost is very expensive for those with no drug plan. Laser surgery is done for more extensive warts that are large, don’t respond to treatment and/or are internal. This surgery is not performed at the Health Unit. We would refer the client to a specialist.

If a blister sore or lesion is present, a swab can be taken to confirm Herpes Type 1 or Type 2. There is a blood test that can be done to check for herpes, but it is very expensive and not widely available (it is not available at the Sexual Health Clinic).
There is no cure for Herpes but there are medications available to control the outbreak. Herpes is treated with anti-viral medications such as Famvir, Valtrex or Acyclovir. These medications help to speed the healing process and lessen the severity of a herpes outbreak. They also work to reduce future outbreaks and transmission to a partner. These medications can be expensive for those individuals who do not have a drug plan.