With the U.S. Supreme Court officially reversing Roe v. Wade last month, folks in Squamish may be wondering about access to abortion and other reproductive services near them.
You've got options
The non-profit Options for Sexual Health operates a clinic in Squamish on Tuesdays from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.
The organization offers "current sexual and reproductive health care, information, and education from a feminist, pro-choice, sex-positive perspective."
The organization began more than 50 years ago and today sees about 30,000 patients a year in B.C.
They serve all ages and genders and orientations.
"Options for Sexual Health offers non-judgmental clinical services specific to reproductive health. So things like contraception, STI testing, abortion, referrals — we don't provide abortion in our clinics, but we connect people with the services that they might need to have," said Nicole Pasquino, clinical practice director with Options.
The organization also provides sexual education programs in schools.
Pasquino notes what she enjoys about working in the sexual health field is that it impacts all humans.
"Why love it so much is that sexual health, it really impacts everyone at all ages, all genders all like abilities," she said.
Sex Sense
Options also runs an information phone line called Sex Sense all about sexual health — like 811 but specifically for sex-related questions. (You can also reach out to HealthLink BC and dial 811 for abortion information).
For the Sex Sense line, folks can call 1-800-739-7367 or submit questions through an email form.
The line is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday.
It fields about 8,000 emails and phone calls per year.
In addition to answering questions, they keep a robust database of services available in B.C.
Pasquino said the line has been getting more calls of concern about access to abortion since the U.S. court decision.
Because there can be privacy concerns in a smaller town and there is still stigma in our culture around sexual health, some folks may not feel comfortable discussing these issues with their family doctor, she said.
Abortion
There are two kinds of induced abortion: aspiration abortion (also called surgical abortion) or medication abortion — an abortion pill (also called medical abortion).
Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), the Sea to Sky Corridor health authority, told The Squamish Chief it "continues to support women and the rights of people who are pregnant to make decisions about their own bodies and their health care."
"As noted in a recent statement by the provincial government, the province is committed to improving access to abortion services in rural areas of B.C."
The health authority added that it is working to re-establish surgical termination services in rural areas in its jurisdiction, including in Squamish and Sea to Sky.
"In Squamish specifically, there are several providers offering medical termination [abortion pill] services for residents seeking this care. When surgical termination is requested/necessary, we work with our partners in other agencies and regions to ensure patients receive the care they require. That care could include referrals to services in larger centres like Vancouver," read an emailed statement from VCH.
(More information about abortion services in B.C. can be found here and here. )
Pasquino stressed Options is pro-choice, meaning all services are discussed, not just abortion.
"So what that might look like if someone comes in, we may engage with them in a counselling session around options,...Sitting with them and helping them with the resources available to make a decision that works for them,” she said.
As a non-profit, however, funding limitations mean even Options services aren’t as available some places, like Squamish, as are needed.
Pasquino said many in Canada think that since abortion is free, it is easily accessible for all, but that isn’t the case.
"People who are disabled might not be able to get some services as easy, marginalized populations... The biggest barriers to accessing abortion are things like geography, marginalization, vulnerability,” she said.
"We have examples of people who have been actively held back from getting abortion within their own communities, have been actively held back within their own homes. People who are facing gender-based violence, trans folks, you know, all those people really face barriers."
There is also the barrier of not knowing what is available in one’s community.
"Because a lot of abortion services are self-referral. You need to know how to navigate or find those within the community, which is the part that can be really complicated for patients. Who can I go to,” she said.
Howe Sound Women Centre (HSWC) works closely with Options and will refer clients there.
If someone receiving an abortion needs support with transportation costs HSWC can help, the centre's executive director Ashley Oakes told The Squamish Chief.
Pasquino's advice for a young person, for example, who may be reading this and concerned about their reproductive health, but who doesn't have a family doctor or isn't comfortable speaking about this to them, is to start by reaching out to Sex Sense.
"It is confidential; it's not anonymous," she said. "We're not going to share that information with anybody. And then [we'll] kind of go from there to help you navigate when other services may be available in the community, or you may come up and drop into the clinic. And often even if we can't see you that night, we'll make a plan to see you or provide you with some additional resources."
Pasquino message to Squamish folks, in general, is that you aren't alone with your sexual health concerns.
"Specifically to Squamish, I think that people just need to know that there's care available. And that it might take some time to navigate that, but you're not alone; and starting with the Sex Sense line or popping into the options clinic or calling the Howe Sound Women's Centre, all great places to start. And that even though it can seem very difficult, and it is very difficult...for people, there is a lot of like advocates who are trying to work hard to ensure that access to women's health is available... Not to give up and to know that whatever is happening to you is really important. And there are people that are there to support you, and there may take a challenge, but finding a safe space is the first place to start."
