Women Travelers

We are seeing in our travel clinic a recent trend where young men and women are going for long extended times to work overseas teaching English or doing volunteer work.

Most young people do not see a doctor regularly but there are some situations that require a visit with a family doctor particularly for young women.

We recognize that many women travelers may be outside of Canada for over one year. While travelling abroad travellers usually access healthcare episodic in reaction to some health problem but not preventatively as it is with regularly seeing their family doctor back home.

This is worrisome as Cervical cancer screening with a pap test is essential and recommended for women whether they are in Canada or not.

Leaving the country for a long time delays screening as the traveller has no access to the regular benefits of Canadian Health Care.

We encourage women travellers to visit their Family doctor before they to determine if they need a Pap test. This is also best not left to the very last minute since the results should be discussed prior to departure.

Our own clinic does not provide this service but many do, and we have compiled a list to assist you

A Pap test can be done at your doctor's office, community health clinic, or nursing station in your area. Check with a health provider in your area.

If you need a Family Doctor, call the Family Doctor Connection Line, (204) 786-7111 or 1 (866) 690-8260.

Women may also be sure to check that they have enough of their birth control pills or other methods before they depart.

Some medications may interact with the absorption (and effectiveness) of oral contraceptives so check with a pharmacist or doctor about all medications including antibiotics and antimalarial medications.

Even a bad case of traveller's diarrhea will interfere with the effectiveness of the pill. Newer methods of contraception like the Birth Control Patch (Evra), injectable progesterone (Depo-Provera), or progesterone implantable devices (Mirena) all are independent of oral absorption and are unaffected. The choice of what is appropriate for each woman should be discussed with a Family doctor well in advance of travelling especially if changes are planned.

For information on Manitoba clinics offering a Pap test, contact the Manitoba Cervical Cancer Screening Program at (204) 788-8626 or 1 (866) 616-8805. http://www.cancercare.mb.ca/MCCSP/mccsp_where_e.shtml

The following clinics may also be contacted directly regarding their availability and services

Aikins Street Community Health Centre
601 Aikins St. Phone: (204) 940-2025

For women living in postal codes R2W or R2X. —Every 2nd Tuesday; call for an appointment.

Mount Carmel Clinic 866 Main St. Phone: (204) 582-2311
www.mountcarmel.ca For immigrant or refugee women. Call for an appointment.

Klinic 870 Portage Ave. Phone: (204) 784-4090 www.klinic.mb.ca

Any woman; no appointment necessary. Tuesday afternoons, 3:30 - 7:00 p.m.

Youville Centre 6 - 845 Dakota St. Phone: (204) 255-4840 www.youville.ca

For immigrant, refugee and Aboriginal women living in St. Vital.

The good news is that cervical cancer can be detected and treated appropriately. This will even help Manitobans spending extended time abroad.

Seeing a doctor for contraception and pap testing may be a bothersome nuisance for travelling women, but is unfortunately a necessary thing to do. Manitoba has excellent resources, which can be accessed pre-trip that are not just not available elsewhere, without great difficulty.