Written by: Patrick O’Byrne (he/him) NP PhD Edited by: Lydia Collins (she/her). Canadians face many barriers to sexual health services, such as scheduling, travelling to and attending in-person appointments, cost of public transport, and additional steps including going to a lab for specimen collection and/or drop-off. This can be especially…
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Occupational Therapists Guide to Addressing Sexuality
Written by: Dr. Sakshi Tickoo (she/her). Edited by: Bobbie Martin (she/her). Human sexuality is an occupation that encompasses a continuum of sexual and intimate expressions that are a part of our daily living. Human sexuality is about more than just the physical act of sex. Human sexuality is developmental and…
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Putting Patients First: Balancing the Conscience Rights of Physicians with Unimpeded Access to Abortion
Written by: Daphne Gilbert (she/her). Edited by: Etienne Maes (he/him). In the never-ending battle to secure safe, accessible, free, and unstigmatized abortion services, the conscientious and religious objections by physicians who refuse to participate in the “abortion decision” imperils our goal. Section 2(b) of the Canadian Charter of Rights and…
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What is an Abortion Doula? Insight from Amy Prescott
Written by: Tasha Falconer (she/her), Jill Koebel (she/her) Edited by: Etienne Maes (he/him). Summary: This article, based on a conversation with Amy Prescott (she/xe), an abortion doula with Abortion Support Services Atlantic (ASSA) in Halifax, NS, explains exactly what abortion doulas do. Amy also notes some common misconceptions and barriers…
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Pharmaceutical Contraceptive Approaches for 2SLGBTQIA+ Patients
Written by: Alex Hosein (they/them), RPh. Edited by: Miles Llewellyn (they/them). Hormonal contraceptives, commonly known as birth control, can be used by many individuals with varying needs and desires. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to find 2SLGBTQIA+ competent prescribers to assess and inform patients appropriately about these types of medications.…
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Sex Toys for Sexual Health
Written by: Dr. Michelle Cohen (she/her), MD. Edited by: Shelby MacGregor (she/her). Public opinion on sex toys tends to fall into one of two categories: 1) silly and fun, if gratuitously pornographic, or 2) seedy and gross, with few redeeming qualities. And while toys can certainly just be for lighthearted…
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Post SSRI/SNRI Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD)
Written by: Yassie Pirani (she/her), MSW RSW RCC. Edited by: Zahra Taboun (she/her). What is PSSD? Post-SSRI/SNRI Sexual Dysfunction (PSSD) is a disorder that reduces sexual functioning despite stopping treatment with SSRI or SNRI medications. Symptoms of sexual dysfunction are common side-effects of SSRI and SNRI antidepressants [2], but some…
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Increase Mifegymiso use in Canada: A Call to Action for Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Written by: Dr. Sonika Kainth (she/her), MD CCFP. Edited by: Shelby MacGregor (she/her). Mifegymiso, a combination of mifepristone and misoprostol, also known as “MIFE” for short, was approved by Health Canada in 2015 (1). Statistics from 2019, four years after approval in Canada indicate that 69% of MIFE prescriptions came…
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Post-Diagnosis HSV Counselling: Tips for Practitioners
Written by: Brandi Berry, RN (she/they). Edited by: Shelby MacGregor (she/her). It can feel daunting to discuss a possible HSV diagnosis with patients. This is because despite usually being a mild, and highly manageable condition, there exists a pervasive stigma attached to HSV infection. In the initial period after a…
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Nova Scotia is UnPrEPared to Fight HIV and Other STBBIs
Written by: Dr. Jared Walters (he/him) and Dr. Matthew Numer (he/him) Edited by: Zahra Taboun (she/her). “As of right now, we have all the tools necessary to eradicate new HIV infections”. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is that tool that can eradicate new HIV infections. PrEP is a once daily pill that when…
