Community Care Centre:
Meredith Charko, Emily Del Greco & Loreto Duran
Sexual health is harm reduction. Sexual health is linked to our mental health and wellness. As such, the Student Association’s Community Care Centre provides free safer sex supplies, from latex and latex free condoms, lubricants, nitrile gloves and more. Access to sexual health resources is more critical than ever given the cuts to education. Cuts to OSAP and financial aid, cuts to sex education in schools, lack of on-campus health clinics are all stressors that create access gaps. Trust that the Community Care Centre offers many free services with dignity. Here is your quick guide to some of the offerings:
ITEM: condoms – vegan
WHAT IS IT: The standard condom is made from latex, and to make latex more soft and pliable, manufacturers use an animal substance called casein (a milk protein). Some brands of condoms are made with lamb or intestines or animal skin. Vegan condoms are external condoms made free of animal product and not tested on animals.
HOW TO USE: Hold the tip of the condom between your forefinger and thumb to make sure no air is trapped inside. Place the condom over the tip of the penis while still pinching the tip of the condom and roll it down over the length of the erect penis. Leave the pinched section at the top to collect semen.
WHY WE CARRY IT: The Centre has the best free selection of condoms anywhere. With over 24 types (sizes, colours, brands) available on the “condom wall”, it’s more than your typical bowl of novelty condoms. It’s about access with dignity. This includes free vegan condoms that may be more rare or expensive for students.
BONUS LEARN: Many vegan condom brands are also fair-trade. The rubber is sustainably harvested at owner-operated farms, where workers as stakeholders are paid a living wage.
ITEM: Insertive/Internal condoms
WHAT IT IS: Non-latex “pouches” worn inside the body (i.e. vagina or anus) during sex.
HOW TO USE: The ring at the closed end is inserted inside the body and ring at the open end sits outside the body. Advisory: Don’t use in contact with an external condom.
WHY WE CARRY IT: External condoms are often readily available, in part because of which sexual acts and relationships get privileged (and resourced). The Centre recognizes that all genders can use this style of condom. Staff have re-labelled them to remove the gendered language.
BONUS LEARN: Can be inserted up to eight hours prior to sexual activity.
ITEM: Dental DamsWHAT IT IS: A thin piece of material, usually latex or polyurethane.
HOW TO USE: Placed over the genitals or anus to create a barrier during oral sex.
WHY WE CARRY IT: To reduce the risk of STIs. Yes, some STIs can be transmitted orally).
BONUS LEARN: Dental dams come in many colours and flavours, for example, banana, and strawberry.
ITEM: Gloves & Finger Cots
WHAT IT IS: Gloves and Finger Cots (picture individual finger of a glove, also referred to as “finger condoms”) used as protective barrier for sexual penetration using hands and fingers. Available latex-free.
HOW TO USE: Worn like a regular glove. To remove, pinch the glove from the inside opening and flip it inside out as you remove it.
WHY WE CARRY IT: Some STIs can be transmitted through bodily fluids coming into contact with an open cut or sore. Nails, rough skin and calluses can cause cuts or scrapes to genitals, which can increase risk of transmission.
BONUS LEARN: Rubber cleaning gloves are not an alternative to surgical grade gloves and finger cots.
ITEM: Pregnancy Tests
WHAT IT IS: A pregnancy test detects human pregnancy hormone (HPH) to determine whether an individual is pregnant.
HOW TO USE: Read test for instructions, for use with urine sample.
WHY WE CARRY IT: It’s important to have access to resources related to your reproductive rights in a supportive and safe(r) environment. It’s just one resource we offer to alleviate one stress – the stress of thinking about pregnancy.
BONUS LEARN: The individual packaged tests are also discrete and free from gendered language or imagery.
Visit the Community Care Centre during open hours to access any or all of the free sexual health resources. Staff are available for questions. And you are able to help yourself, no questions asked. We also carry discrete “goody bags” to keep it easy for you to take what you need. Outside of open hours, each Centre has condom dispensers in the hallway (filled weekly). It’s all about accessing services with dignity.
