Navigating your gonorrhoea or syphilis diagnosis can be overwhelming, but you’re not alone. Finding the right clinic for in-person treatment is an important step in your journey. In this blog, we’ll guide you through resources to find in-person care, what to expect and prepare for your in-person treatment, and how gonorrhea and syphilis are treated.
Where to find clinics for in-person care
Here are some helpful resources to find an in-person clinic for STI care — accessing the clinic and getting treatment at the clinic are often free.
Alberta
British Columbia
Saskatoon
Saskatchewan Sexual Health Clinics and Services
Manitoba
Youville Community Health Centre
Ontario
What to expect when visiting an in-person clinic
If you’ve been diagnosed with an STI that requires in-person treatment, here is what you should know before visiting a clinic (accessing the clinic and getting treatment are often free).
- Understand the purpose of your visit: Be clear about why you are visiting the clinic, e.g. to get treatment.
- Prepare relevant information, including your diagnosis: Bring any documentation related to your STI diagnosis (i.e. test results). Note any symptoms you’re experiencing and any medications or supplements you’re currently taking. Be prepared to discuss your sexual history and previous STIs as well. To access your Felix results, log into your Felix Account, navigate to your home page, and select your treatment of interest. You’ll be able to see all of the information pertaining to your treatment, including your lab results.
- Prepare for treatment: Receive your prescription from the clinic, and know the details about your treatment. If you were given treatment instructions, follow them carefully and inform the clinic if you experience any issues such as side effects.
- Avoid sexual activity: Until you’ve completed treatment, avoid any sexual activity and follow any other recommendations of the clinic at which you received treatment from. If you haven’t already informed your partner(s) about your diagnosis, here are some helpful tips.
- Know what to expect: Some STIs will require follow-up testing to ensure the infection has cleared. Some clinics may also provide counseling on prevention, safe sex practices and managing your sexual health. Please note that your local public health authority will be notified of any positive results. When this happens, these reports are kept strictly confidential. The purpose is to ensure that regions can monitor potential STI outbreaks in areas.
Treatment for Gonorrhoea and Syphilis
Treatment of gonorrhoea
Generally, the treatment of gonorrhoea includes a one-time antibiotic ceftriaxone injection plus a single dose of azithromycin oral antibiotic. If you continue to experience symptoms after getting treatment for gonorrhoea, please contact both your Felix and clinic healthcare practitioner immediately.
Treatment of syphilis
Syphilis is treated with a penicillin injection. But if a patient has had syphilis for more than a year or for an indeterminate duration, then 1 injection weekly for 3 weeks is required.
If you have any questions about your treatment, don’t hesitate to reach out to your Felix healthcare practitioner — we’ll work through this together and will support you every step of the way.
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