Sexual Health
Pregnancy Planned and Unplanned
Pregnancy often comes with a mix of emotions, whether it’s planned or unexpected. When you learn you’re pregnant, consulting a healthcare provider early on can help ensure you have the information needed to make choices that feel right for you. Quality, evidence-based prenatal care supports a healthy journey and can improve perinatal outcomes. A healthcare provider can offer these services and guidance to support you every step of the way.
Visit the health center on campus for more information on pregnancy options (parenthood, abortion, and adoption) and services that are available for you.
- Health Centre offers free pregnancy testing
- Inexpensive pregnancy tests are just as effective as more expensive options in detecting pregnancy if used after a missed period
- Free pregnancy tests are available from the Campus Collective Centre in the Student Union Building Room SP150
- Campus Collective Centre Social Media Pages:
- Email Campus Collective Centre for more information at: collective.centre@uleth.ca
"Planning to become pregnant – or not to become pregnant – is a big decision for everyone.
Whether you’re Ready to have a baby or Not, preconception health promotes the steps that all people can take to be healthy now and in the future." -AHS 2024
For more information visit AHS Prenatal
- Parenting
- Adoption Choice in Alberta
- Abortion:
- Consult with health care professional in the Health Centre regarding options and referrals.
- For more information visit:
Sexual Violence
At the University of Lethbridge, we are committed to creating a safe and supportive culture that fosters healthy and meaningful experiences.
WE BELIEVE YOU, YOU MATTER, YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
For more information on sexual violence education, consent, reporting, support, and other resources, see
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
Sex is a normal part of life, so it is important to know the best way to keep you and your partners healthy and safe when engaging in sexual activity. STIs are spread from person to person through the following ways: Unprotected sex (vaginal, anal or oral), skin to skin contact with the infected area, and sharing needles (injectable drugs, tattoos).
- Itching, tingling, burning, or pain on/around the genitals
- Sores, lumps, blisters, rashes, or warts on/around the genitals
- General symptoms of infection such as fever, fatigue, discomfort, lack of energy
- A change in vaginal discharge (color, odor, and consistency)
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Pain when urinating
For more information on symptoms, see AHS STIs: Symptoms
- Every 6 months when sexually active
- Before and after each new partner
- When you or your partner notice symptoms
- If you know your current or past partner has or has had an STI
- If you or your partner have been sexually active with other people
- If you or your partner have shared needles
For more information visit:
- Canada Public Health: Getting Tested for Sexually Transmitted Infections
- AHS Self Quiz STI Testing: Should I get Tested for a Sexually Transmitted Infection?
Book an Appointment at uLeth Health Center
- STI testing is also available at the Sexual Health Clinic
- Use barrier methods (ie, condom, dental dam)
- Talk to your partner(s) about safe sex and STIs
- Human Papillomavirus vaccines (HPV)
For more in-depth information about Sexually Transmitted and Blood-borne Infections (STBBI) regarding Primary and secondary prevention, Assessment and counseling, Screening and diagnostic testing, and Treatment and follow-up, see the STBBI Prevention Guide.
The Fact Check: Contraceptive Edition
Contraceptives play a crucial role in supporting reproductive health, yet many misconceptions continue to influence how people understand and use them. Misinformation can create confusion, fear, and barriers to accessing effective methods of protection. In this section, four common contraceptive myths are addressed and evidence-informed explanations are used to help debunk these misunderstandings.
Myth:
Birth control protects you from Sexually Transmitted Infections [STIs].
Fact & why it matters:
While hormonal birth control methods are used to prevent pregnancy, they do not protect against STIs.
Evidence:
STIs are infections spread by sexual contact. Exposure to STIs is more likely if you have more than one sexual partner and/or if you don’t use a barrier device. If you are diagnosed with an STI, it needs to be treated. Non-hormonal barrier methods, such as condoms, vaginal condoms, or dental dams (barrier methods stop sperm and body fluids from passing between partners), if used correctly, can prevent the spread of STIs.
How can you protect yourself from Sexually Transmitted Infections?
- Talking to your partner about using barrier methods of contraceptives and discussing each other’s history of STIs
- Learning how to use protection correctly
- Getting tested regularly for STIs, even if you don’t have any symptoms
- Getting immunized against hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and Human Papillomavirus [HPV]
- Regularly using barrier methods of protection such as condoms, vaginal condoms, and dental dams
For more information: https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=tw9513
Myth:
Birth control causes infertility.
Fact & why it matters:
Hormonal birth control is an effective method for preventing unwanted pregnancies, and it does not affect fertility or negatively impact your future ability to get pregnant.
Evidence:
Infertility means that you have been trying to get pregnant for a year but have not conceived. Infertility can be caused by Polycystic Ovary Syndrome [PCOS], uterine fibroids, endometriosis, low sperm count, other health issues, and unexplained infertility. Birth control can mask other health problems that affect fertility, like irregular periods, PCOS, or endometriosis. There is no direct link between birth control and infertility. For some, it may take up to a year for your menstrual cycle to return to normal, but for others, it can happen within a few months.
For more information: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/can-birth-control-make-you-infertile
Myth:
You can’t get pregnant the first time you have sex.
Fact & why it matters:
Pregnancy is a risk for any unprotected heterosexual vaginal sex. Other sexual practices, such as oral sex or anal sex, however, will not cause pregnancy.
Evidence:
Pregnancy occurs when an egg from a biological female meets with the sperm from a biological male to create an embryo. That embryo, assuming no intervention occurs (intentional or otherwise), will then grow and develop into a baby. For information on healthy pregnancy and how to maintain health for yourself and your baby, see Your Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy - Canada.ca. Abstinence from heterosexual vaginal sex is the only guaranteed way to prevent pregnancy, but taking measures of birth control, such as condom use, oral contraceptives (birth control pills), and various implants of hormonal or non-hormonal nature, can reduce this risk. Planned Parenthood talks about different kinds of birth control and their effectiveness. You can find more information through this link: Birth Control Methods & Options | Types of Birth Control. Campus Collective and the University Health Center both offer pregnancy testing that requires only a urine sample.
Remember: Pregnancy is possible the first time you have unprotected vaginal sex. Taking proactive steps with contraception and regular health check-ins can help you feel confident and informed.
Myth:
All birth control methods affect your hormones.
Fact & why it matters:
Not all birth control methods will affect your hormones; there are methods of birth control that have no hormonal effect.
Evidence:
There are safe and effective non-hormonal birth control methods that create a barrier between sperm and the egg, and other methods that change the chemistry of the reproductive tract to prevent pregnancy. All that is needed to avoid pregnancy is to keep sperm from meeting the egg; there are many ways to do this without using hormonal interventions. Natural methods of birth control do not use medicine or devices to prevent pregnancy, but rather focus on behaviours or making observations about the body.
There are a variety of non-hormonal birth control methods, including internal/external condoms, diaphragms, vaginal spermicides, and copper IUDs. Natural birth control methods include abstinence, fertility awareness-based methods, and withdrawal (pull-out). There are also permanent birth control methods that include tubal ligation and vasectomy.
For more information: https://myhealth.alberta.ca/HealthTopics/sexual-reproductive-health/Pages/Birth-Control.aspx