HIV and Sexual Health
What is HIV?
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks and can weaken the immune system, which is the body’s built-in defence against disease and illness.
HIV is passed through body fluids (blood, semen, pre-cum, rectal fluid, vaginal fluid, breastmilk) through acts such as sex and sharing equipment for substance use.
Why should we care about HIV and sexual health?
60% of Ontario women who test positive for HIV are Black.
BWV has been built to promote regular HIV testing, information sharing, self-advocacy and support of Black women for this reason. BWV also understands the presence of anti-Black racism, stigma and discrimination in health and healthcare spaces for Black women, experiences that often deter women from seeking care.
Managing your sexual health is important for a number of reasons
Understanding and managing your sexual health is a gateway to understanding your body as it relates to your overall health, engaging in safe and comfortable relationships and sexual practices, knowing when to seek support from sexual health providers, and not missing out on sexuality, sensuality, intimacy and relationships as a woman living with HIV out of fear.
It’s not uncommon for people to assume women living with HIV don’t have sex. We want to disrupt that narrative in healthy and supportive ways.
Research confirms that a woman living with HIV who has an undetectable viral load poses almost no risk of transmitting HIV through their blood, vaginal fluids, breast milk, and semen. Taking HIV medications is one way to manage your sexual health!
U=U stands for undetectable = untransmittable. Living in the Asterisk intersectionally and honestly considers what U=U actually means for women.
What are some ways to employ safe health practices?
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There are 2 types of testing available in Canada: A standard laboratory test and rapid or self tests.
Lab tests can be done using your name, a code or your initials or anonymously. A blood sample is drawn from a person’s vein and sent to a public health laboratory for analysis.
Rapid tests require a drop of blood from a finger prick and can provide results within minutes.
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Good sex practice includes regular STI and STD testing, even if you’re in a committed or exclusive relationship.
To access an HIV test, people can request a test or they may be offered a test from a healthcare provider or community worker. Testing allows you to talk to health care providers about concerns around safety, protection and more.
Anonymous testing is available to protect your privacy and confidentiality. A test should only be done if person gives gives consent that is explicit, informed and voluntary. A person should also be given information and/or counselling about HIV before the test.
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Protection against HIV includes, but is not limited to:
Using condoms and dental dams during sex
Choosing types of sex with a lower risk for HIV (handjobs, mutual masturbation)
Not sharing sex toys
Not sharing needles for drug use, tattooing, piercings
Using new and sterilized equipment for drug use, tattooing, piercings
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Partner notification describes the process of notifying partners or contacts of your positive status to allow partners/contacts to seek early care, stop the spread and reduce complications.
In this case of HIV, partners and contacts include:
a person you’ve engaged in unprotected penetrative sex where an exposure may have occurred
a person you’ve shared needles (injection drug, piercing or tattooing) with
a person engaging in any sexual or needle or works sharing activity with the HIV+ individual where the risk is uncertain
any organization to which the HIV+ individual has donated blood, organs, breast milk or semen
Trace all partners and contacts after their approximate date of infection.
Partners wanting an HIV test should be tested at 12 weeks and six months after their most recent risk exposure.
Check out these resources to begin your exploration!
Testing: Here are some resources for more information about HIV testing:
GetAKit: Order a self-test kit for free!
Government of Canada: Approach to HIV Testing
CATIE: HIV testing technologies
Regular check-ups: Here are some resources for more information about STIs and regular check ups:
Sexual Health Ontario: Find a sexual health clinic near me!
Government of Canada: Getting tested for sexually transmitted infections (STI)
The Care Collective: promoting regular HIV testing as part of Black women’s self-care
Protection: Consider how testing, practice safer sex and drug use practices and taking medication are all involve in protection.
ACT Condom Distribution in Toronto
CATIE: Safer Sex Guide (Toolkit)
Youtube: How to use a female condom
OHRDP: Harm reduction supplies
OHRDP: Find harm reduction supplies near me!
Partner Notification: BWV is hoping to host some live sessions around partner notification and how our community members have managed this challenging experience.
If you’d like to read (and we mean READ) more, visit The University of Manitoba’s publication about partner notification for STIs: policy options.
How can I learn about sex and HIV?
Consider reaching out to a sexual health provider or your family doctor to discuss sex in a confidential and private space.
See our favourite sexual health resources below!
Our Favourite Sexual Health Resources
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Sexual Health InfoLine Ontario & eChat (SHILO)
Speak to one of SHILO’s counsellors at:
416-392-2437 (local)
1-800-668-2437 (toll-free)Monday – Friday: 10 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Statutory holidays: Closed -
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Find an HIV testing clinic / sexual health clinic here!
Sexual Health Ontario is a great general resources for understanding sexuality, understanding and managing sexual health, vagina and penis health, LGBTQ2S+ health and relationships and dating.
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Rainbow Health
Rainbow Health Ontario (RHO) is a Toronto organization designed to support the relationship between service providers and LGBTQ2S+ communities.
RHO Contact:
416-324-4100 (telephone)
info@rainbowhealthontario.ca (email)
RHO has developed a service provider directory designed to connect LGBT2SQ+ individuals with health or social service providers who have “expressed a commitment to providing competent and welcoming care” in Ontario. Click below to access this directory!
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Life and Love with HIV
Life and Love with HIV is a blog and online community dedicated to de-stigmatizing sexuality and relationships among women, partners, and couples living with HIV by shifting the focus from risk to pleasure. The website includes a blog, a beautiful resource library for books, websites and dating sites, videos and more. Check it out here:
Highlighting LGBTQ2S+ Resources
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Rainbow Health Resource Library
Rainbow Health’s Resource Library aims to collect and share the most relevant and reliable LGBT2SQ health resources for Ontario LGBT2SQ communities, service providers and others with an interest in LGBT2SQ health.
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The Queer Collective
The Queer Collective is a Toronto non-profit safe space that hosts events such as live music nights, podcasts, programs and more to create positive and supportive spaces for LGBTQ2S+ subgroups.
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Friends of Ruby
Friends of Ruby is an organization and youth centre dedicated to the well-being of 2SLGBQTIA+ youth (aged 16-29) through mental health, health & social services, community and housing.
Featured Stories
HIV and Sex. Why your sex life does not have to be boring!
There are many misconceptions of HIV and sex, especially for Black women. Nozibele clears up these misconceptions by sharing her own experience with sex. She talks about being in mixed status relationships and continuing to have a lively and safe sex life.