• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter
South Muskoka Doppler

South Muskoka Doppler

Read Local

  • Home
    • All Stories
    • Community Guidelines
  • COVID-19
  • News
  • Community
  • Commentary
    • Letters
  • Business
    • Professionally Speaking
  • Sports
  • Obituaries
  • Lifestyle
    • Entertainment
  • Events
    • Event Listings
    • Add Your Event
  • Speak Up, South Muskoka!
  • Subscribe
  • Donate
  • North Muskoka
  • Art Fx
You are here: Home / News / STIs on the rise in Simcoe Muskoka

STIs on the rise in Simcoe Muskoka

By Doppler Online On May 6, 2022 News

Share on Facebook
Facebook
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin
Email this to someone
email
Print this page
Print

Sex and sexuality are important aspects of health and the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) reminds the public that it is essential to protect yourself against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and get tested if you are sexually active or think you may have one.

From 2019 to 2021, the health unit saw a significant increase in STIs in Simcoe Muskoka, including a four to five time increase in the annual number of reported cases of syphilis. Prior to 2019, the number of cases of syphilis in the region averaged less than 10 cases per year but rose to 50 cases in 2021. Meanwhile the number of cases of gonorrhea reported annually also grew from 120 in 2020 to 265 in 2021. 

“The increasing cases of STIs is a disturbing trend that we are seeing not only locally, but across the province as well. It is important to keep in mind that access to health care during the pandemic has been limited and the number of cases may be higher than we realize,” says SMDHU Associate Medical Officer of Health Dr. Colin Lee. “Many STIs can go undiagnosed as people don’t always show symptoms or people don’t recognize that the symptom is due to an STI and the only way to know is to get tested.”

The health unit strongly encourages anyone who is sexually active, had a new partner or multiple partners in the last two years, engaged in unprotected oral, vaginal or anal sex, or has symptoms of an STI to contact their health-care provider, a walk-in clinic or the Gilbert Centre InclusHIV Care clinic at 705-790-6748 to ask about STI testing. 

Testing for STIs can include a urine test for chlamydia and gonorrhea and a blood test for syphilis, HIV, Hepatitis B and C, depending on risk factors. Most STIs can be treated with FREE medication that can be accessed through your health-care provider.

You can reduce the risk of getting an STI by making informed decisions BEFORE having sex, such as limiting your number of sexual partners, talking to your partner and asking them to be tested, using condoms and barriers, and being aware of how alcohol and other drugs can affect sexual decision making.

For more information about STI symptoms, how the infection spreads, who is at risk, testing and treatment, visit smdhu.org or call 705-721-7520 and press #3 to speak with a Sexual Health Public Health Nurse. 

Don’t miss out on Doppler!

Sign up here to receive our email digest with links to our most recent stories.
Local news in your inbox three times per week!

Click here to support local news

Reader Interactions

Join the discussion:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

All comments are moderated. Please ensure you include both your first and last name and abide by our community guidelines. Submissions that do not include the commenter's full name or that do not abide by our community guidelines will not be published.

Primary Sidebar

  • Recent Stories
  • Popular
  • August 6, 2022 3

    Is Muskoka going to the dogs?

  • August 15, 2022 2

    An open letter to the Premier | Commentary

  • August 8, 2022 2

    Muskoka Lakes considers indoor lighting restrictions

  • July 21, 2022 1

    Muskoka-wide crime spree lands man behind bars

  • August 2, 2022 1

    Starter Company Plus Helps Small Businesses Start, Sustain and Grow

  • August 18, 2022 0

    Torrance Barrens introducing limited number of campsites, reservation system

  • August 18, 2022 0

    Art Fx  “Winter Glow” by Tom Clark

  • August 18, 2022 0

    Boomtime Gravenhurst the setting for Shakespearean drama 

  • August 18, 2022 0

    Break and enter foiled in Gravenhurst

  • August 17, 2022 0

    Bracebridge Memorial Arena: 1949

  • 2021 Federal Election (1)
  • A Sponsored Profile (6)
  • Advertise (1)
  • Art Fx (14)
  • Breaking (2)

Footer

About Doppler

Established by a bunch of local news hounds, Doppler strives to be the go-to source for people wanting to know more about what is going on their community.

We strive to provide local news that is relevant and timely. We also look to tell local stories that inspire, inform and engage.

Notice the persistent use of the word local? Our mantra is local. South Muskoka Doppler serves the communities of Bracebridge, Gravenhurst and Muskoka Lakes with features on local people doing extraordinary things, local business spotlights, news and sports coverage, all supplemented by provocative opinion pieces on topics near and far. We are working hard for you.

Feel free to drop us a line at matt.driscoll@doppleronline.ca and tell us how we are doing, what you would like to see more of, or to just say ‘Hi’.

Thank you for reading Doppler.

South Muskoka Doppler – READ LOCAL
A division of C3 Digital Media Group Inc.

Bracebridge Ontario Canada
August 19, 2022, 1:26 am
Clear
Clear
15°C
real feel: 16°C
current pressure: 1010 mb
humidity: 93%
wind speed: 0 m/s N
wind gusts: 1 m/s
UV-Index: 0
sunrise: 6:23 am
sunset: 8:18 pm
© 2022 AccuWeather, Inc.
 

Recent Comments

  • Kathryn Sauro on An open letter to the Premier | Commentary
  • Dinny McCraney on An open letter to the Premier | Commentary
  • Turk Gruman on Council considers basketball courts in Bala
  • Jackson Triggs on Wakes, noise and speed: Lakes survey reflects growing frustrations
  • Robert Dyment on Graydon Smith faces charges laid by private citizen
  • brian sisler on One person dead, one injured in Bracebridge shooting
  • RJR on What on earth has happened to us? | Commentary
  • RJR on Is Muskoka going to the dogs?

Copyright © 2022 ·Doppler Online, a division of C3 Digital Media Group Inc. · Log in
  • About
  • Support Local News
  • Advertise with us!
  • Community Guidelines
  • Contact