Why Felix is Launching On-Demand STI Testing

We’re proud to announce that Felix now offers STI testing to help Canadians more conveniently take control of their sexual health.

STIs are more common than you think

Anyone who’s sexually active can get a sexually transmitted infection (STI), and many Canadians will likely have at least one in their lifetime. Though most common STIs are largely preventable and easily treatable with antibiotics, barriers to care and routine testing cause many to go undetected. This increases transmission rates and leaves folks vulnerable to further health concerns.

At Felix, we believe that making STI screening more accessible and discreet can help prevent transmission and encourage Canadians to shift their perspective around getting tested—seeing it not as a last resort but as a regular part of their healthcare routines. 

STI risks are real

If left untreated, sexually transmitted infections can have a profound impact on one’s health. However, it can often be challenging to know you have an STI in the first place. Many of these infections develop silently, with very few obvious or immediate symptoms. Without regular testing, STIs can remain undetected, leading to serious complications, including neurological and cardiovascular disease, infertility, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirths, and increased risk of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)¹.

Getting tested is the only way to properly diagnose and treat an STI. This makes routine screening crucial for Canadians—not only for their health but for the health of their partners, too. 

What’s keeping Canadians from getting tested?

Regular STI testing is one of the most effective ways to reduce the transmission of infection and prevent health complications. Despite its importance, many Canadians struggle to prioritize this area of sexual health. For some folks, this may be due to logistical barriers like long wait times or limited hours. Others may face emotional barriers and avoid checking their status due to shame or fear of judgment.

Traditional STI testing often requires an in-person appointment just to get a lab requisition, which can require additional time commitments and discomfort. These extra barriers to access can further delay care or, in many cases, discourage people from seeking out testing services altogether. 

Prioritizing sexual health is self-care

Regular STI testing can and should be a completely normal part of self-care. We believe everyone deserves to feel in control of their sexual health and that access to virtual support can go a long way in making this possible.

That’s why we’re proud to launch our new STI program, designed to give Canadians a simple and discreet way to get screened for STIs so they can confidently stay on top of their status. The program offers a judgment-free approach to care from informed healthcare practitioners through straightforward testing, secure digital results, and quick access to a treatment plan if needed. 

Here’s how it works

Get tested: Patients start by completing a short online questionnaire about their health history. Then, they’ll receive a lab requisition to complete their STI tests. Our comprehensive STI panel screens for common sexually transmitted infections, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, trichomoniasis, hepatitis B & C, and HIV.

Review your results: A licensed healthcare practitioner will review each patient’s lab work and provide detailed digital results, including a diagnosis if applicable. If a patient tests positive for any of the screened infections, their healthcare practitioner will guide them through the next steps and provide a treatment plan. This may include a prescription that can be sent to a local pharmacy for timely pick-up or delivered discreetly from a Felix pharmacy to their door.

Receive ongoing care and support: To take the stress out of regular screenings, patients will be sent ongoing testing reminders to help them stay on top of their status. Patients can also message their healthcare practitioner through chat at any time with questions or concerns. 

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Testing positive for a sexually transmitted infection is nothing to be ashamed of. STIs are often just a normal part of being sexually active, and no one should feel uncomfortable getting tested or judged when looking for support. That’s why we’re proud to be offering on-demand STI screening at Felix. We hope that by removing some of the barriers to care, Canadians can feel more empowered to take control of their sexual health — on their terms.

Click here to learn more about how STI testing works at Felix

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