From the Office
The Planner — Fall 2014
S E X U A L
H E A L T H
C E N T R E
S A S K A T O O N
November 2014
Inside this issue:
From the Office
1
Nov 2014 Fundraiser:
The Woods Alehouse
1
Thank You to
Volunteers
1
Best Practices in Birth
Control
2
From our Social Work
Practicum Student
2
From our Education
and Volunteer
Coordinator
2
On Accessing
Abortion Services
3
Greetings from our
Clinic
4
Communications and
Development Update
5
Services provided at
the SHCS: 2013-2014
5
Financial Snapshot
2013-2014
6
Executive Director’s
Letter
6
Hello friends of SHCS! This has been a fantastic year of growth. When I started in April
2013 the office was just getting settled into its new location and barely using the fantastic,
colourful space. Today we regularly use both clinic rooms and we spend a fair amount of
time shuffling around the office staff to make room for clinic and patient use. It is really
busy around here.
We have added a new clinic day! Dr. Gough will now be working with us every Monday
(except statutory holidays) and a couple of Tuesdays a month. Dr. Martel and her OB/
GYN residents come in every second Wednesday of the month and Dr. Naidu is here
every Wednesday that Dr. Martel is not. This means we will now be holding clinic Monday,
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday with the occasional weekend. Yay us!
Birth control and toy sales are up this year. We have a new selection of Tantus toys (the
Cadillac of silicone) and plenty of old favourites like the Magic Wand. Prices are well below
retail cost. Most toys shops have a mark-up of 300%-yikes! So please keep us in mind for
naughty Christmas presents and special stocking stuffers for you and your lover.
I feel blessed to be contributing to such an amazingly fulfilling organization and I can’t
wait to see what the next year will bring. I hope to see all of your familiar faces soon and
remember that I am always here to help.
From the first line of contact,
Amanda Losonsky-Prentice
Reception and Administration
November 2014 Fundraiser
The Woods Alehouse
For the entire month of November, you can support the Sexual Health Centre simply by buying
beer! For every pint of Paddockwood’s 60 Shillings
beer purchased at The Woods Alehouse, $1 will be
donated directly to SHCS!
Also, we’re pleased to announce a:
Sex Trivia Night!
Thursday, November 20th
8:00 p.m., The Woods Alehouse
Teams of up to 6 people, at a cost of $10 per team,
can test their Sexual Health knowledge. It will be a
fun evening with prizes for the top three teams.
Follow us on Facebook to keep track of other awesome fundraising and awareness events.
Thank you to our
Volunteers!
I want to take this time to thank my
team of fantastic volunteers. Their
dedication, support, and service
have been appreciated. I am especially happy to report that soon we
will be able to use all of their valuable personal skills (psychology,
nursing, sociology, women and gender studies, health sciences, research
and stats, education) and apply them
to the development of the Education Speakers Board being developed by Natalya Mason.
Amanda Losonsky-Prentice
Reception, Administration, and
Temporary Volunteer Coordinator
THE PLANNER — FALL 2014
Page 2
Best Practices in Birth Control
Recently the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that the best form of contraceptive for preventing teen
pregnancy is an intrauterine device (IUD)(Izadi, 2014). The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that doctors discuss IUDs before other birth control because they are long-acting reversible contraceptives (Izadi, 2014).
They also recommend IUDs because they are easy to use, effect, and safe (Izadi, 2014). It is important to note that
they also encourage and recommend the use of condoms, as IUDs do not prevent against the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. IUDs are the most effective at preventing unplanned pregnancy because IUDs have a
failure rate of 0.05 percent compared to birth control pills which have a failure rate of 9 percent and condoms (male)
with a reported 18 percent failure rate (Izadi, 2014).
What is an IUD? An IUD, which stands for: “Intra-Uterine Device” is a: “small T-shaped device that is inserted inside a woman’s uterus” (optionsforsexualhealth.org).
At the Sexual Health Centre Saskatoon we offer three different IUDs: The Copper IUD, The Mirena, and recently
the Jaydess.
The Copper IUD continuously releases a small amount of copper and prevents pregnancy by stopping sperm from
fertilizing an egg and it prevents implantation (optionsforsexualhealth.org). The copper IUD is effective for five
years. The Copper IUD has an effectiveness rate of: “one pregnancy per 100 women in the first year” (Sexual
Health Centre Saskatoon).
The Mirena is a hormonal intrauterine system (IUS) that prevents pregnancy by slowly releasing levonorgestrel into
the uterus (Bayer Healthcare, 2013). Levonorgestrel is a hormone that is often used in birth control pills and is similar to progesterone—which is a sex hormone that the body produces naturally (Bayer Healthcare, 2013). This causes
the cervical mucus to thicken which prevents the passage of sperm. The Mirena has an effectiveness rate of: “2
pregnancies per year for every 1,000 women using Mirena” (Bayer Healthcare, 2013). The Mirena can be left in place
for five years.
Jaydess is the newest IUS. Jaydess slowly and continuously releases the levonorgestrel hormone into the uterus
(Bayer Healthcare, 2014). This hormone thickens the cervical mucus, which prevents the passage of sperm. The
effectiveness of Jaydess is: “less than one pregnancy per year per every 100 women using Jaydess” (Bayer Healthcare,
2014). Jaydess can be left in for up to three years.
Sexual Health Centre Saskatoon believes that women should have access to good quality birth control and have
choice and control in regards to their reproductive health; because of that belief Sexual Health Centre Saskatoon offers these IUDs at a discounted price. The Copper IUD is sold for $45, the Jaydess is $300, and the Mirena is $380.
The Copper IUD usually is not covered under drug plans, but the Mirena and Jaydess IUS options are.
Megan Gardham
From our
Social Work Practicum Student
Hi there!
My name is Megan Gardham, and I am a Social
Work student doing my practicum at SHCS. I will
be finished my degree in December (yay!).
I started at SHCS in September and will be here
until December 18th. I have been enjoying my
time here very much! I am so grateful for all the
experience I am gaining from working in such a
wonderful agency with such great people.
I look forward to the rest of my practicum here
and I know I will miss the work, agency, and all
the staff greatly when I am finished.
Megan Gardham
From our
Education and Volunteer Coordinator
My name is Natalya Mason and I assumed the position of Education and Volunteer Coordinator in September. I recently
graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a degree
in Psychology, minoring in Women’s and Gender Studies. Currently I am pursuing a Bachelor’s in Social Work through the
University of Regina. In my spare time I am a Leader with the
Girl Guides of Canada, volunteer at SWITCH, and play in the
Saskatoon Caribbean Steel Band. I am so excited about my
new position at the Sexual Health Centre, it is pretty much my
dream job! I look forward to being active in the community,
talking to students, and partnering with all of the other amazing organizations in Saskatoon.
Natalya Mason
Page 3
THE PLANNER — FALL 2014
On Accessing Abortion Services
I am currently a Social Work practicum student; my work at the SHCS focuses on options counselling. I
have been doing the options counselling for almost two months now and I have quickly discovered the numerous barriers both women and the counsellor faces when accessing abortion services in Saskatoon and surrounding areas (specifically the Northern Saskatchewan communities). I have found that the biggest barrier
to accessing abortion services is in regards to the process in general.
In Saskatoon, the process involves three separate appointments and three different days. The first appointment women need is an ultrasound to confirm pregnancy and verify dating. Many women from outside
Saskatoon will attempt to arrange ultrasounds in their home communities, however, the majority of the time
they are unable to get appointments in time (before the cut-off date which is 12 weeks). The second appointment is a consultation with the Doctor. The third appointment is for the actual abortion procedure itself. I
have found this process to be a barrier to accessing services because it requires women to: miss up to three
days of work or school, find transportation for three days, and arrange child care for three separate days if
needed. I have found this process becomes a large barrier when I receive calls from women who are from
the Northern communities.
I often will ask women if it would be easier to travel an extra two and half hours to Regina, or go to Edmonton or Calgary—where the process is completed all in one day. In many cases women will travel the extra
hours to have services all in one day. Thankfully Saskatchewan health cards are accepted at the clinics in both
Edmonton and Calgary—however there is extra gas mileage and often hotel stays needed when travelling further for services.
Though Saskatchewan health will cover abortion services in Edmonton or Calgary, the relationship is not reciprocal—women with Alberta (or with other provincial or territorial coverage) will have to pay upfront
(about $2000) and apply for reimbursement from their home province or territory. With that being said, even
though abortion is legal with no restrictions in Canada, the access to abortion is very limited and sometimes
regionally non-existent.
The “Canada Health Act” states that: “From the federal perspective, the primary objective of Canadian health
care policy (is) to protect, promote and restore the physical and mental well-being of residents of Canada and
to facilitate reasonable access to health services without financial or other barriers” (Smith, 2002). If that is
stated in the “Canada Health Act” why are there so many barriers to accessing abortion services and what can
we do to break down these barriers to ensure women have access to safe and legal abortions in Saskatchewan? Unfortunately, I don’t have the answers but I do have hope and do believe that with the continual
work of agencies, organizations, and individuals who believe that women have the right to fair and equitable
access to abortion services eventually there will be a shift in the service process in Saskatoon and elsewhere,
thus breaking down the barriers to care that are present today.
Megan Gardham
Page 4
THE PLANNER — FALL 2014
Greetings from Our Clinic!
Hello! My name is Jennifer Cowie, one of the new
nurses at the Sexual Health Centre. When I was a
nursing student, I did my final practicum here and am
so delighted to be back as a practicing nurse.
SHCS has grown so much since I've been here, and I
am so excited to be a part of it. I also reside as a nurse
at the Emergency Department at St. Paul's Hospital.
I grew up in Saskatoon and completed all of my education at the University of Saskatchewan. I completed
my Bachelor of Nursing and a Bachelor of Science in
physiology.
In my spare time I love to travel, snowboard and play
pool!
Jennifer Cowie
I am very excited to be joining the team!
As a registered nurse I have worked in Street Health,
Emergency, and most recently in primary care in
northern Sask. and northern BC.
I am currently finishing up my studies to become a
Nurse Practitioner and hope to work with underserved populations— especially in women’s health
and HIV.
At home, I have 2 teenagers and a golden retriever
and we enjoy camping, mountains, and road trips.
I look forward to my time at SHCS!
Meaghan Friesen

Your Support Makes Our Work Possible!!
NAME:__________________________________________________________________________
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PROVINCE:__________________ POSTAL CODE: ___________________
PHONE:_______________________________

210 2nd Ave North
Saskatoon, SK
S7K 2B5
Phone: (306) 244-7989
Fax: (306) 652-4034
www.shcssaskatoon.ca
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withdrawal from my chequing account.
 I have attached a voided cheque in order to start my monthly debit donation
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I want to be a member :
 Individual $10  Family $15  Student or Underemployed $5  Organization $25
THE PLANNER — FALL 2014
Page 5
Communications and Development Update
You won’t see much of me around SHCS, but please don’t think I’ve abandoned you!
I do most of my work remotely, tuning up the website as it needs it, writing and recording my weekly Sex+
radio show (Thursdays at 6 p.m. on CFCR 90.5 FM!), and assisting with special initiatives as they arise.
People sometimes ask me if, after almost 6 years of running my radio show, I ever have trouble coming up
with ideas. On those rare occasions where there isn’t something worthy of comment in the media, or a
thought-provoking article to discuss, or new developments in the world of sexual health technology, there are
so many classic topics to return to, revitalized again and again by the perspective that time brings.
I’m excited to return somewhat to my roots with SHCS in assisting Natalya as she inhabits the role of Education and Volunteer coordinator; we’ve been cooking up some big plans for quite a while and I think she’s just
the person to see them through.
Really, our whole team has never been stronger. Good people and lots of good work to be done. I’d best get
back to it.
Berkley Staite
Services Provided at Sexual Health Centre Saskatoon 2013-2014
Month
Total # of
Clients
New Clients
Females
Males
STI Testing
PAP Testing
Clients offered support ( not
clinic)
October
151
81
130
21
85
31
536
November
122
48
102
20
61
24
482
December
118
53
103
15
57
24
559
January
221
92
184
37
122
37
706
February
135
60
105
30
66
23
535
March
143
74
128
25
77
25
715
April
207
101
157
50
124
35
699
May
196
98
155
41
105
38
777
June
184
91
145
39
93
29
678
July
241
136
195
46
135
41
809
August
176
92
135
41
97
20
708
September
169
85
132
37
90
35
752
2063
1011
1671
402
1112
362
7956
Last Year
Totals
1737
796
1425
312
958
199
6983
% increase
from last year
15%
21%
15%
22%
14%
45%
12%
Total
Last year saw only a 4% increase in clientele due to limited summer clinics. This year more clinics were offered and we saw an increase
in new clients.
Increase in males- increase was significant over last year is because males prefer the Saturday clinics. There were more Saturday clinics
in 2013-2014 than 2012-2013.
THE PLANNER — FALL 2014
Page 6
Financial Snapshot 2013-2014
Income
2013
2014
Donations
$15,311
$17,235
Grants
$29,900
$40,744
Interest
$306
$198
Memberships
$110
$25
Net Art Auction
$9,694
$6,596
Net Fundraising (Bingo)
$17,767
$24,151
$45,808
$61,152
including wages and birth control)
$2,366
$136
Other
$4,007
$21,702
Pleasure Management
$2,228
$2,410
Deferred Revenue, Previous Year
$-
$1,476
Deferred Revenue, End of Year
-$778
-$1,405
Total
$126,809
$174,420
Advertising
$2,135
$2,492
Bank charges
$560
$1,772
Board, Staff and Volunteer Support
$2,582
$5,047
Grant Expenses
$739
$12,304
Insurance
$3,050
$2,925
Miscellaneous Expenses
$812
$6,215
Office, Postage, Printing
$7,965
$8,803
Pleasure Management Purchases
$1,740
$1,409
Professional Fees
$2,316
$8,635
Renovation Expenses
$-
$-
Rent
$18,141
$37,106
Telephone
$3,192
$3,400
Wages and Benfits
$93,449
$84,036
Total
$136,681
$174,144
Excess (Deficiency)
Of Receipts Over Revenues
-$9,872
$276
Net Clinic
(including wages and birth control)
Out Reach Project (
Expenses
Expenses
Advertising
1%
Bank charges Board, Staff and
Volunteer Support
1%
3%
Grant Expenses
7%
Miscellaneous
Expenses
4%
Executive Directors’ Letter
Hello Sexual Health Centre Supporters! I have had a very interesting year and I am very grateful to the Sexual Health
Centre board for granting me a six month leave to pursue a
lifelong dream of going to chef school in Italy! Of all things
to do, eh? Needless to say, it was a very interesting and challenging opportunity: I learned a great deal, improved my Italian and, as my brother pointed out, had my mid-life crisis!
As most of you know, while I was away SHCS was being well
looked after by Pat and Linzi: thank you for all your great
work!
SHCS has been growing by leaps and bounds in some areas
and struggling in others; our clinic services have grown so
much now that we have a “no fee for service” agreement
with Sask. Health. We have an agreement for 10 hours per
week funding for doctors to work with us. We are extremely
fortunate to be working with Dr. Gough and Dr. Naidu each
week!
As some of you may have heard in the news, United Way
funding was not renewed for our education program and we
had to temporarily suspend educational services. As a key
component of sexual health prevention this was a big problem. We are grateful that as of September, Saskatoon Health
Region granting program was able to fund this program for
one year.
The main struggle we face is our options counselling position.
Even though this is our central purpose we have never been
able to find funding for this work! We either utilize Social
Work students, who are great but turn over every 4 months,
or it falls to my and our nurse’s desk. These days we are seeing a great increase in community referrals to our office for
this service but find it harder and harder to offer good support to these women. We continue to look for solutions.
Evelyn Reisner
Executive Director
Pleasure Management
Income
1%
Other
13%
Donations
10%
Office, Postage,
Printing
10%
Wages and Benfits
48%
Professional Fees
5%
Rent
21%
Grants
23%
Net Clinic (including wages
and birth control)
35%
Net Fundraising (Bingo)
14%
Net Art Auction
4%