Sexual Health Services

Public Health offers non-judgmental and confidential services in our sexual health program. Our sites are LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning) positive and sex trade workers are welcome.

All services are free and most do not require a health card.

Our sexual health services include clinical and counselling services including:

• Testing
• Treatment
• Birth control information
• Pregnancy testing, options, and referrals
• Post-therapeutic abortion assessment and/or counselling
• Immunization for sexual health clients
• Sexual health education 
• Referrals for sexually transmitted infections, including HIV testing

If you've experienced a sexual assault, you have the following options:

• Go to the emergency department of St Mary's Hospital in Kitchener or Cambridge Memorial Hospital in Cambridge
• Call the Sexual Assault Domestic Violence Treatment Centre at 519-749-6994 (located at both St. Mary's and Cambridge Memorial hospitals)
• Call the police at 911
• Call the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region at 519-741-8633

Clinical Services

• STI and HIV testing
• Helping with access to birth control for clients 24 years and under
• STI treatment
• Education and referrals for sexually transmitted infections

Drop-in Clinics

Drop-in clinics are first come first served. No appointment is needed. Public Health reserves the right to limit the number of clients during these clinics. You can also receive confidential STI testing through your health care provider, a walk-in clinic, or student health services.

* Mondays are staffed by nurses. If discharge, bumps, or pain are present, please go to your health care provider, a walk in clinic, student health services, or attend another day.

Other Clinical Services

Limited appointments are available and they can only be booked if you're assessed by a nurse.

• Limited number of appointments for doctor or nurse practitioner may be available
• On Wednesdays our offices have birth control clinic by appointment only, including IUD/IUS discussion and insertion for clients 24 years and under
• On Friday afternoons, and some Thursday afternoons, our offices have birth control counselling by appointment only for clients under 18 years; see Counselling Services section below

To speak with a public health nurse, call 519-883-2314 and choose option #4, or send an email. We will follow up within one business day.

A triage nurse is also available at 150 Main Street, Cambridge and 99 Regina Street South, Waterloo. No appointment is needed. The nurse can assist with:

• Treatment
• Birth control for Sexual Health clients
• Pregnancy testing
• Immunization for Sexual Health clients

Counselling Services

A limited number of counselling appointments are available.

• Healthy relationships
• Access to birth control and information for women 24 years and under
• Pregnancy testing, options and referrals
• Post-therapeutic abortion counselling
• Sexually transmitted infection information

To speak with a public health nurse call 519-883-2314 option #4, or send an email. We will follow-up within one business day.

Public health nurses are also available at all Waterloo Region District School Board secondary schools to provide sexual health counselling services for youth.

The Sexual Health Infoline Ontario (SHILO) is also available by phone or live chat. This service is offered by Toronto Public Health and may not have up-to-date information about services in Waterloo Region.