Pregnancy Testing, Birth Control & Counselling
Pregnancy testing and sexual health counseling for young women and adults is offered at your local public health-healthy living office.
You can also speak to your family physician or a walk-in, Teen clinic, QuickCare clinic, where available.
Service includes:
- nursing assessment, education and counseling related to a full range of reproductive health matters, including birth control, pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections
- provision of Emergency Contraception (Plan B)
- pregnancy testing
- Depo-Provera injections
- oral contraceptives (birth control pills), intra-uterine devices (IUDs)
- free condoms
One of the goals of this service is to improve access for contraceptive health supplies which includes the provision of supplies at no charge to clients who experience barriers such as:
- economic hardship/poverty (including lack of or inability to access third party coverage)
- power inequities
- marginalized or stigmatized circumstances
A prescription from a duly-qualified health care practitioner is required for birth control pills, IUDs and Depo-Provera. No prescription is required for Emergency Contraception (Plan B). Provision of supplies is individualized for each client (e.g. Depo-Provera injections may be administered by the physician or the public health nurse).
For more information, please contact your local public health-healthy living office – they are generally open Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm, but vary from community to community. It’s best to call ahead and confirm hours or an appointment. A public health nurse will be happy to meet with you either at the office or at a mutually agreeable location in the community.
