The Island Sexual Health clinic at Belmont secondary is only half as successful as it could be.

B次元官网网址淏oys arenB次元官网网址檛 coming in here because they are afraid of being judged by girls and other boys,B次元官网网址� Caitlyn OB次元官网网址橞rien, events and volunteer co-ordinator for Island Sexual Health.

The clinic is open each Thursday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and some weeks up to 25 students come in.

Most are female seeking birth control options and tests for sexually transmitted infections.

B次元官网网址淥ften the clinic is full of girls and that can be intimidating for the guys,B次元官网网址� said Bobbi Turner, executive director of Island Sexual Health.

Some weeks no males use the clinic at all and staff are working with a student committee to generate ideas to get more male students through the door.

Currently staff use a private cell phone to book appointments and soon male students could text the phone for a time to go to the clinic when itB次元官网网址檚 empty. Another option theyB次元官网网址檙e looking at is to set aside a guys only time.

Male students who do use the clinic are taking advantage of the free condoms or asking questions about sexually transmitted infections. Often itB次元官网网址檚 to ask for information about signs and symptoms of STIs.

B次元官网网址淭hey are very afraid of herpes and genital warts,B次元官网网址� Tamara Barnette, a registered nurse.

Barnette would like more male students to use the clinic.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not the urethral swab anymore. Boys still think itB次元官网网址檚 a swab and it will hurt. But itB次元官网网址檚 just a pee test now,B次元官网网址� said Barnette. B次元官网网址淲e want them to come in now to start the awareness early. B次元官网网址� Then they will continue to have STI screening as adults.B次元官网网址�