External Resources
In addition to the resources provided by Planned Parenthood Ottawa, here are some of the many wonderful organizations and online resources that can assist you in making informed decisions about sexual and reproductive health choices:
Pregnancy Options
Featuring a Pregnancy Options workbook, guide to abortion methods, adoption options, spiritual and emotional resolution after an abortion, and more.
Teen Pregnancy Options via sexualityandu.ca
A resource from The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, which provides an overview of all Options.
Contraception / Safer Sex
Guides to anatomy, provides information about STIs and contraceptive options, as well as information on what it means to be pro-choice. This website is geared toward youth.
Contraception via sexualityandu.ca
A comprehensive guide to birth control methods directed at different age groups (youth, adults, parents, teachers), and has a useful comparison tool to assist people considering their contraceptive options.
Sexually Transmitted Infections via sexualityandu.ca
A guide to STIs and safer sex, includes information about barrier methods to reduce the risk of STIs.
Ottawa Public Health site to help increase condom use in Ottawa. Includes an online order form for free condoms and a list of free condom locations in Ottawa.
STIs like Genital Herpes and HPV are common but also carry a lot of stigma. To learn more about STI stigma go to Ella Dawson’s website.
Healthy Sexuality and Disabilities
PleasureABLE via the Disabilities Health Research Network
A pdf manual that includes research, clinical expertise and product information for persons with various disabilities and health care professionals.
HIV/AIDS
Offers support, education, and prevention for those living with, or those at risk of HIV/AIDS. Also includes information about their Living Room drop-in program, support groups, outreach and prevention program, and Speakers’ Bureau.
Provides housing, support, and compassionate care for people living with HIV/AIDS in Ottawa, including their Supportive Independent Living Program and Transition House
Sexuality/LGBTQ2S+
The Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity (formerly Jer’s Vision)
Provides educational and arts-based initiatives, research, and resources for schools and communities, ranging from a full day of workshops with ongoing support to week-long training forums with integrated year-long projects.
Free newspaper covering gay & lesbian news and event listings.
National organisation providing support, resources, and education for parents and friends of LGBTQ2S+ people.
Rainbow Health Ontario is a province-wide program designed to improve access to services and to promote the health of Ontario’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBTQ2S+) communities.
Kind Space provides the Ottawa communities with many resources including events, social, and educational programming to celebrate and support people of all sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions.
An online community advocating for LGBTQ2S+ rights, and providing excellent resources and information. Includes an ‘ask-the-expert’ section where anyone can send in a question and have it answered by an AlterHeros expert.
Sexual Violence/Healthy Relationships
Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre (ORCC)
Provides a 24-hour crisis line (613-562-2333), public education, counselling and accompaniment service for clients to medical or legal appointments.
Sexual Assault Support Centre of Ottawa
Provides survivor-directed support services by-women to-women who have experienced sexual violence, including support groups, one-on-one counselling, a 24-hour support line, and an accompaniment service to medical or legal appointments.
Provides individual and couple counselling on subjects like recovering from physical and sexual abuse, anger management, emotional intelligence, and fathering. Open to all men. There is cost associated with their services.
Centre d’aide et de lutte contre les aggressions à caractère sexuel
French-speaking feminist organisation focused on prevention and support. Offers an info-line, support groups, a drop-in, as well as accompaniment to medical and legal appointments.
Parenting
Provides programs and services for parents with infants and young children, including prenatal classes, doula labour support, parenting classes, and playgroups.
More Resources
The Ottawa Sexual Health Centre
Provides free testing for STIs and pregnancy, rapid HIV testing, affordable contraception, and immunization on a walk-in or appointment basis.
Ottawa Public Health site to help increase condom use in Ottawa. Includes and online order form for free condoms and a list of free condom locations in Ottawa.
Provides screening and treatment of STIs, anonymous HIV testing, and community-building and wellness-promoting programming for gay men in Ottawa.
Education-oriented sex shop in downtown Ottawa, which also offers workshops on sex and relationships in a safe, sex-positive, non-judgmental environment.
Provides sexual health information, STI risk assessment quiz, free downloadable requisition form for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea testing and a sexual health texting service.
Sexual Health Organizations
Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights
Works to improve access to sexual and reproductive health services, education, abortion, and contraception through awareness campaigns, scholarships and awards, international projects and advocacy.
International Planned Parenthood Federation
A worldwide movement of national organizations and leading advocate for sexual and reproductive rights and health for all.
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Working to improve health and safety, prevent unintended pregnancies, and advocate for sexual and reproductive rights in America and internationally.
The Sex Information and Education Council of Canada (SIECCAN)
Serves to foster professional education and public knowledge about sexuality and sexual health. Publishes the Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, provides research & analysis, and up-to-date sexual health information.
Resources for Teachers
The Canadian Guidelines For Sexual Health Education Published by the Public Health Agency of Canada
Jessica Feilds. (2008). Risky Lessons: Sex Education and Social Inequality.
Beyond the Basics online resource guide by Action Canada
Amaze provides educational videos about sexual and reproductive health for youth.
Resources for Youth
Youth-oriented website with frequently updated content on all topics regarding sex, sexuality, health, relationships, puberty, and more.
Provides reliable and up-to-date information and education on sexual health. Teen section addresses questions about whether to have sex, using contraception, sexually transmitted infections, sexuality and gender orientation, sexual assault and more.
Scarleteen is an independent, grassroots sexuality and relationships education and support organization and website.
Native Youth Sexual Health Network (NYSHN)
The Native Youth Sexual Health Network (NYSHN) is an organization by and for Indigenous youth that works across issues of sexual and reproductive health, rights and justice throughout the United States and Canada.
Youtube channel run by Dr. Lindsey Doe, Sexplanations provides clinical sex education.
S.E.X., second edition: The All-You-Need-To-Know Sexuality Guide to Get You Through Your Teens and Twenties. By Heather Corinna (2016).
The project “exists to push the world to rethink not only how we see men, but the archaic, violent, and dangerous archetypes of masculinity that adversely affect all of us, especially women, people of color, and the LGBTQ+ community.”
Amaze provides educational videos about sexual and reproductive health for youth.
Doin’ It is a sex-positive, queer-positive, pleasure-positive, body-positive sexual health resource for youth created in the Waterloo Region.
Educational cartoons covering sexual health education topics such as periods, polyamory, how to put on a condom and many more.
Provides information on birth control (contraceptives).
Body Positive Instagrams
A variety of Instagram profiles that demonstrate the diversity of bodies either through cartoons or real images.
@joannathangiah @thenakediaries @zinteta @the.vulva.gallery @recipesforselflove