Sexually Transmitted and Blood-Borne Infections (STBBIs)

STBBIs are infections that are transmitted from one person to another, especially during unprotected sexual contact or the sharing of non-sterilized drug injection and inhalation equipment.

Protect your sexual health

It is important to make safe choices for your sexual health and that of others. Often, an STBBI does not cause symptoms. A person can be infected and pass the infection on without being aware of it. If the STBBI is left untreated, it can leave significant sequelae.

For various reasons, STBBIs affect some population groups more than others:

• Young people 25 years of age or under who are sexually active
• Men who have sex with men
• People who are or have previously been incarcerated
• Sex workers and their clients
• People who inject or inhale drugs
• People who come from a region or country where STBBIs are very widespread

Protect yourself, even for oral sex!

• Use condoms for penetration and fellatio.
• Use a dental dam (latex sheet) for cunnilingus and anilingus. 
• Get tested! If you have any doubts, have had unprotected sex or have shared non-sterilized drug injection and inhalation equipment, don’t take a chance: Get tested! 

Sharing drug injection and inhalation equipment (syringes, pipes, etc.) presents a risk of contracting several sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections (STBBIs) such as hepatitis B and C, as well as HIV. That is why it is important to always use sterilized equipment and to never share it with others.

• Government of Quebec Portal
• When you think about it
• IRIS Estrie (French)
• Sois pas bête (French)