Sexual Health and Safer Sex

How to reduce the transmission of HIV, hepatitis C and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

Sexually Transmitted Infections Overview

Prevention, diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

• CATIE fact sheets on sexually transmitted infections
• STIs: What role do they play in HIV transmission? from Prevention in Focus, CATIE’s online prevention resource
• Canadian guidelines on sexually transmitted infections – Public Health Agency of Canada

More on sexually transmitted infections

Safer Sex

Methods to reduce the transmission of HIV, hepatitis C and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs)

• Safer sex guide
• Oral sex
• CATIE statement on the use of condoms as a highly effective strategy to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV
• CATIE statement on the use of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as a highly effective strategy to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV
• CATIE statement on the use of antiretroviral treatment (ART) to maintain an undetectable viral load as a highly effective strategy to prevent the sexual transmission of HIV

See also HIV Transmission and Prevention Technologies.

More on safer sex

Understanding Sexual Risk-Taking Behaviours

Sexual behaviour change and HIV and hepatitis C transmission

• Sexual health promotion from HIV in Canada: A primer for service providers, an introduction to HIV for people working on the front line: epidemiology, testing, prevention, treatment, care and support
• Behavioural prevention interventions from HIV in Canada: A primer for service providers

More on Behavioural change interventions

Sexual Health Education

Developing and implementing sexual health education programs and policies

• Canadian Guidelines for Sexual Health Education – Sex Information & Education Council of Canada (SIECCAN)
• Questions & Answers: Sexual Orientation in Schools – Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
• Questions & Answers: Sexual Health Education for Youth with Physical Disabilities – PHAC
• Questions and Answers: Gender Identity in Schools – PHAC

More on sexual health

Educational Resources for Parents and Teachers

Discussing HIV and hepatitis C with children or youth

Resources for teachers

Bringing HIV education into the classroom

• Canadian Guidelines for Sexual Health Education – Sex Information and Education Council of Canada (SIECCAN)
• School-based education from HIV in Canada: A primer for service providers, an introduction to HIV for people working on the front line: epidemiology, testing, prevention, treatment, care and support

More information for teachers

Resources for parents

Talking to children and youth about HIV

• Talking to children about HIV from Managing your health, CATIE’s guide for people living with HIV
• Be an askable parent – American Sexual Health Association

More information for parents