Is Your Healthcare Provider Sex Positive?

Do you know your sexual and reproductive health rights?

You have the right to quality sexual health care.
You have the right to ask your healthcare provider questions about topics that concern you and to receive accurate information about these topics.
You have the right to sexual privacy and sexual freedom as long as it does not intrude on that of anyone else.

The Canadian Federation for Sexual Health wants to help you exercise your sexual and reproductive health rights!

Is your sexual health service provider (such as a doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner or pharmacist) sex-positive? How do you know if the sexual and reproductive health information you find online is of good quality?

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Is your medical practitioner sex positive?

How can I tell if my health care service provider is sex positive?

Do I have the right to a sex-positive health care provider?

How can I tell if my health care service provider is knowledgeable about sexual and reproductive health issues?

What if I am uncomfortable talking to my health care service provider about sex and sexuality?

How do I get ready for an appointment with a health care service provider?

How do I know if the sexual and reproductive health information I find online is of good quality?

What are some other resources where I can find reliable sexual and reproductive health information?

Is your medical practitioner sex positive?

Being sex positive means:

Being age-inclusive by understanding that people are inherently sexual throughout the life cycle and accepting of an individuals desire for a healthy sense of sexuality and an active sex life.
Having a holistic understanding of sexuality, which includes viewing sexual orientation and gender as fluid and dynamic, and understanding that sex encompasses a much broader range of activities than vaginal intercourse on its own.
Using inclusive, non-judgmental language when discussing gender, gender identity and sexual orientation. A sex positive individual should be objective, empathetic and supportive toward the personal values, beliefs, behaviors and actions of others while laying aside judgment and stereotypes by evaluating each situation separately and considering individual needs and circumstances.
Forming opinions based on evidence, not on ideology.
Understanding sexual health, pleasure, autonomy and well-being as basic human rights.
Focussing on the life-enhancing aspects of sexuality and encouraging individuals to strive for an enjoyable, healthy, non-coercive and respectful sex life.
Identifying potential risks associated with sexual activity in a manner which promotes wellness and which does not aim to shame or deter people from being sexually fulfilled

How can I tell if my health care service provider is sex positive?

Here are some qualities of a health care service provider that is sex-positive:

Your health care service provider is comfortable discussing any sexual and reproductive health issue that is relevant to you. These can include sexual minority issues, women’s issues, gay issues, bisexual issues, queer issues and gender identity issues.
Your health care provider is sensitive, accepting, respectful and inclusive.
Your health care provider is age-inclusive and knowledgeable about the sexual and reproductive health issues relevant to my age group.
Your health care provider respects your confidentiality and discusses any situations where their legal or ethical duty to report may require them to discuss your issues with others (e.g. instances of sexual abuse, assault, etc,)
Your health care provider is able to provide you with a range of unbiased sexual and reproductive health options so that you can make informed decisions that are right you.

When asking your health care provider questions, you should feel at ease with him or her, and feel as though he or she is comfortable and happy answering your questions. It is also important that you feel as though she or he respects you regardless of your sexuality, age, race, physical ability or gender. Your provider should support you in asking questions and taking an active role in your health care. Your health care practitioner should support your right to make your own decisions about your health care, based on your own values and what you believe is best for you. A provider should never impose his or her values on patients, however they do retain the right to refuse to support particular health care decisions you may take, but they are obliged to provide you with an appropriate referral to someone who will.

Do I have the right to a sex-positive health care provider?

Yes! You have the right to:

Sexual pleasure
Have your doctor listen to your concerns and treat you with the utmost respect
Receive treatment without being discriminated against on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or age
Bring another person into your appointment, as well as into the examination room, with you

How can I tell if my health care service provider is knowledgeable about sexual and reproductive health issues?

Your health care provider should be able to give you adequate verbal and written information on your range of contraceptive options, as well as on different sexually transmitted infections (STIs), how they are transmitted, how they can be avoided and how they are treated.

Your health care provider should also be able to refer you to other sources of information about any condition you present with, as well as information on the treatment options, and their benefits and draw-backs, for that condition.

Here are some qualities of a health care service provider who is knowledgeable about sexual and reproductive health issues:

Your health care provider has a range of knowledge and experience with sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues.
Your health care provider recommends regular tests for STIs based on an assessment of your sexual activity and risk
Your health care provider is able to provide you with information regarding your range of contraceptive options including barrier methods (e.g. male and female condoms, diaphragm) and hormonal methods (e.g. birth control pill, birth control patch, vaginal hormonal ring) among others (e.g. intra-uterine devices).
Your health care provider is able to provide you with information regarding a range of reproductive health options, including options related to pregnancy, including adoption and abortion.
Your health care provider can provide you with information about the factors that might put you at risk for acquiring different STIs, as well as information on how to avoid them.
Your health care provider has a range of materials that you can read or take home about sexual and reproductive health issues.
If you have been diagnosed with an STI, your health care provider can explain what type of treatment is being prescribed as well as provide you with or recommend relevant resources to help better your understanding.
Your health care provider listens to any sexual and reproductive health issues that are of particular importance to you.

How do I get ready for an appointment with a health care service provider?

Before seeing your health care provider, it is useful to prepare yourself by making a list of questions and concerns ahead of time. Your health care provider can be most helpful when you are honest and clear about what your concerns or questions are.
Tell your provider what your expectations are, emphasizing that a two-way dialogue is important to you. Open and honest communication between you and your health care provider is a good way of ensuring a level of mutual comfort, trust and respect between the two of you.
You may also like to say something like, “Playing an active role in gathering information and making decisions about my sexual health is very important to me. I like to ask questions in order to understand more about my body and take responsibility for my health.”
If you are having difficulty finding a family doctor, it may be helpful to go to a family planning or sexual health clinic instead. Many of these clinics provide birth control counseling, STI testing and pregnancy tests. Or, you might like to consult a pharmacist about some of your sexual health concerns, such as contraceptives.

What if I am uncomfortable talking to my health care service provider about sex and sexuality?

Many people feel uncomfortable discussing their sex life, sexuality, or sexual and reproductive health issues but good sexual health is important to maintaining your overall health. If yourhealthcareproviderismakingyou If your health care provider is making you uncomfortable, you may want to consider switching practitioners. The same is true if you feel your practitioner is uncomfortable discussing these issues.

You also have the right to seek out a second opinion, or as many opinions as you see fit, if you feel uneasy about the opinion your health care provider has given you.

If you feel as though your doctor has acted inappropriately or unprofessionally toward you, you can file a complaint against him or her with the appropriate provincial or national medical college or other regulatory authority. You may need to self-advocate, which means ensuring that whatever circumstances that led to your having your rights violated are adequately addressed and remedied, instead of having someone else do this for you. We have provided a useful link at the end of this page if you require more information about self-advocacy.

How Do I Know if the Sexual and Reproductive Health Info I Find Online is of Good Quality?

It is very important that individuals are able to evaluate the quality, reliability, evidence base and potential bias of the information that they find on the internet. Here is a list of criteria to help you in your search for reputable online information about sexual and reproductive health.

The Information is Current, Reliable and Relevant

It is important that health information be recent and up-to-date, since research in the medical field is ongoing, and information changes quickly.
The web site clearly states the sources of the material presented.
The material is based on research and scientific findings and not based on opinion or values
The material has been peer reviewed, meaning that a group of other researchers or experts in the field evaluated and critiqued the material prior to its publication.
The website acknowledges the many factors that contribute to or affect health, such as income, and should never blame an individual for poor health.

It is Clear Who is Responsible for the Website Content

The website clearly indicates who is responsible for the content of the site. You should have the option of contacting the person who is providing content for the website. An e-mail or mailing address should be accessible.
In Canada, provincial, territorial and federal government departments and agencies provide reliable evidence-based health information on their web sites.
Non-profit organizations with a health mandate (such as medical organizations and health charities) can be good sources of quality information. Check to ensure that the information has been scientifically researched and based on evidence.
If the information on a given website appears to be mainly someone’s opinion, as opposed to information that has been scientifically researched and based on evidence, that information is not likely to be very accurate or reliable.
It’s Clear Who the Information is Intended For
The website you are looking at should clearly outline which information is intended for the general public (i.e. people who will be using health services) and which information is intended for health care professionals, such as doctors and nurses. Make sure you are looking at the right information!
Information should be written in accessible language, and medical terms should be explained so that the general public can read and understand the information.

The Website is Certified or Referred to by Other Reputable Organizations

Check to see which other sites link to the website you are gathering information from. For example, if you find that government or academic sites link to the site you’re on, you can be more confident that it is a reliable source of quality information.

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The Website Acknowledges Limits of the Information it is Presenting

The website should have a Disclaimer which outlines the intended uses for the information presented, and which also identifies the scope and limits of the information (for example, it is not intended as a replacement for medical advice, or as a replacement for consulting a doctor).
The website should link to other sources of useful, credible information.
The website should provide a way for users to give feedback and ask questions.
The website should be accessible to all individuals.

The Sponsor or Source of Funding for the Website is Clear

It is important for individuals to know the difference between websites that provide evidence-based information from those websites that are designed to sell you particular services or products. Here is a short list of questions to help you determine whether the website you are consulting has your best interests, and not your pocket-book, at heart

Is the website trying to sell you a product?
Is the purpose of the website clearly stated? (i.e. to provide information, to sell a product, etc.)
Does the information appear balanced to you? If the information favours a product that is being sold on the website, it is probably biased, and therefore not a reliable source of health information.
Does the website disclose any financial connections between who is writing the content and who is providing the funding to run the site?
Does the website require you to provide them with personal information, such as your name and e-mail address, in order to access the information on the site? Use caution in this instance, as some websites may be looking to sell your information to third parties.

Finally, here is a list of references and links to credible, reliable resources which consistently provide online SRH information of high quality:

Canadian Federation for Sexual Health
International Planned Parenthood Federation
Public Health Agency of Canada
Health Canada
Health on the Net
Healthy Canada
Sexuality and U (Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada)
Spyderbites (Planned Parenthood Toronto)
Options for Sexual Health (Opt)
Won’t Get Weird
Go Ask Alice!
World Association for Sexual Health (WAS)

What are some other resources where I can find reliable sexual and reproductive health information?

Online Resources:The following is a list of high quality credible resources that can be relied upon to give evidence based information about sexual and reproductive health and rights.

(a) For assessing a sex-positive health care provider:

Sexuality and U: “Going to the Doctor”
Sexuality and U was developed by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada (SOGC) as a way of providing up-to-date and accurate information on sex and sexuality. Its goal is to promote healthy sexuality and it provides information for teens, parents and health care providers. This section of the website deals with what to discuss with your health care provider about sexuality and what to do/where to go if he or she is not sex-positive.

World Association for Sexual Health (WAS): “Declaration of Sexual Rights”
World Association for Sexual Health is a worldwide group of NGOs working to promote healthy sexuality as a right for all individuals through multidisciplinary actions of advocacy, information exchange and scientific research. It believes that sexual rights and freedoms are an integral part of one’s overall health. This declaration reflects their views on the personal necessity of sexuality and the social responsibility to protect this.

Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange (CATIE): “Managing your Health: A Guide for People Living with HIV”
Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange provides information on HIV and Hepatitis C. In an effort to create a community and share information, CATIE reaches out to people living with HIV or Hepatitis C, community organizers, and healthcare providers who maintain knowledge, resources and expertise on treatment, reducing transmission, and improving quality of life. This resource was written largely by people living with HIV in accessible language on how to navigate life with the disease.

AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT): “You and your Doctor: How to choose or evaluate your medical doctor”
AIDS Committee of Toronto develops community-based programs and services for people living with HIV/AIDS. They work to empower women, men, and youth affected by HIV/AIDS through education and skill building in an attempt to reduce transmission. This section of the website examines the process of choosing a sex-positive doctor under the stages of preparation, interview, and decision to help individuals decide what is right and comfortable for them.

Spiderbytes: “Healthcare Access and Rights”
Spiderbytes is part of Planned Parenthood Toronto and offers information on sexuality, sexual anatomy, birth control, STIs and healthcare. It is organized to give teens accessible and helpful information about sexual and reproductive health. While its location is in Toronto, its information is helpful to anyone, anywhere. This section outlines the respect and decency required of healthcare providers for clients and how to determine if the provider is a good “fit”.

Sexual Health Access Alberta (formerly Planned Parenthood Alberta): “Sexual and Reproductive Rights of Youth in Alberta”
Planned Parenthood Alberta promotes healthy sexuality and reproductive choice for all Albertans. It has taken on a new organizational name Won’t Get Weird and uses a youth-directed approach to connect individuals with sex-positive clinics and healthcare providers. This section outlines the rights youth have over their sexual and reproductive capacities.

Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office (PPAO): “Self Advocacy”, “What are your Rights as a Psychiatric Patient?”, “Complaints against Health and Social Service Practitioners”
Psychiatric Patient Advocate Office provides advocacy services to patients and examines systemic or facility-based issues that effect patient’s rights in Ontario, as designated by the Minister of Health. They argue for equal recognition of rights for all individuals, regardless of mental illness or ability. Each section, while written for patients of psychiatry, can be applied to any client of a healthcare provider as PPAO believes all individuals have a right to make decisions about their health and wellbeing.

(b) For evaluating health information on the web:

Canadian Public Health Association (CPHA): “Evaluating Health Information Online”
Canadian Public Health Association is a national non-profit association. It acts as Canada’s national guide on equitable and accessible health care and provides resources for the improvement and maintenance of health care services. It bases its policies around disease prevention, protection, and basic international health outlines. This section outlines the steps to accurately evaluate health information found on the internet.

Media Literacy Week: “Finding and Evaluating Sexual Health Information on the Internet”
Media Literacy Week is a campaign that started in 2006 which encourages Canadian youth to assess and use the media in education. The campaign advocates for critical thinking when using any type of media and offers different skill-building techniques. This particular section supplies information on how to critically assess information about sexual health found online.

Medical Library Association (MLA): “A User’s Guide to Finding and Evaluating Health Information on the Web”
Medical Library Association is an educational organization that promotes health sciences. It is organized to promote health research, education, and care. It encourages both professionals and patients to seek accurate health education and information. This guide was developed by librarians who actively use the internet to gain clinical information. It outlines how to find quality health information through the internet and properly assess it for personal use.

Dalhousie University: “Evaluation of Health Information on the Web”
Dalhousie University is one of Canada’s top universities and prides itself on bringing in a diverse student body in order to achieve innovative thinking. The library provides guidelines and regulations for using the internet to find health information. It supplies criteria students can use to evaluate the information they find.