Hassle Free Women’s Clinic

I had a really good experience at Hassle Free. I came in last week to get an HIV test, which I booked a week in advance. I didn’t have to wait too long. I learned quite a bit about STIs and so on during the HIV test and got a Hep B test while I was at it since I was unsure if I had one before. I wanted to get a pap test and STI test done as well so I had to wait for a doctor after my HIV test with the counsellor.
The wait for the doctor took a bit longer but they had the latest magazines so I was able to kill time. Once I was seen by the doctor, I got my testing done and received antibiotics and shot (all free). Since I was told to wait for at least ten minutes in case the shot I received was going to affect me, they suggested taking a pregnancy test while I wait. It’s free so I was like, why not! Better to be safe than sorry since I was already there.
I ended up staying there for almost three hours but it was a pleasant experience to which I didn’t mind at all. Definitely recommend it. Try to book an appointment before hand if you can. I’m actually going back for a birth contraceptive appointment today. I was told birth control is less than $ 10 a month, incredibly affordable.

Hassle Free is a misnomer. I am a male and I go here for yearly HIV testing, and it is always a huge hassle to try to book an appointment. You have to call them exactly 2 weeks in advance of the date you wish to book your appointment. 13 days before, or 15 days before, out of luck, sorry. Ridiculous policies. Once you are at your coveted appointment that took you 2 months to try to book, you are given a 30 minute lecture-​like information session about everything you did sexually. They ask you all sorts of invasive questions too. Sorry but I came for a simple HIV test not to answer 20 questions and be given information that I have known since grade 8. It is a waste of time and I have never been told anything I didn’t know. Then when they finally give you the test, they make it all dramatic. They leave the room with the test and then come back several minutes later. Other places I have gone just stay there since you can pretty much tell what it is going to be within a couple minutes. Why create the unnecessary anxiety?
The only reason I go here is because it is one of the only places I know that does the HIV rapid test. However I challenge them to cut back on all the fuss and just administer the tests rather than turning it into a huge info session. Maybe if they did that, there would not be a 2 week wait to begin with.

holt sh#t
I had no idea the wait was going to be that long as a walk in.
I went at 4pm, which is the exact time open, i waited 3.5 hrs and was told to go home ‘casue doctor can’t see me. FML…
i went there cause i thought it would be comfortable environment to get pap done. but i really don’t think i’m going back.
maybe i should make an app way in advance, but still…
anyhoo. i’m still gonna give them 4* b/​c they were quite nice while i had questions and requests, and clean environment, convinient location.

I don’t think I can top Kate’s review, but I wanted to say «here here!» and add my five stars.
This place provides an incredible and invaluable service to Torontonians of all walks of life. I think I was expecting it to be sketchy or low-​rent or something, but the facilities are bright and clean, there’s lots of informative pamphlets, helpful and friendly staff, free condoms and lube, and testing is completely free!
This place, out of any venue in Toronto, is absolutely the most-​deserving of a five star rating.
Tell your friends.
ALSO, VERY IMPORTANT: Womens’ hours are Trans hours, too!

OK, people. Time to hunker down and get real serious-​like. There’s no appropriate Unilocal category for what the Hassle Free Clinic is — and that’s a reproductive and sexual health clinic. This is THE place to go for STI and HIV testing, sexual health counselling, abortion referral, questions about pregnancy, birth control acquisition and the like.
It’s a really great place to go if you’re not comfortable talking to your family doctor about birth control or if you don’t want to get on a ridiculous waiting list for a gynecologist. The staff is very open-​minded, compassionate and knowledgeable. The clinic actually lives up to its name — it has been truly hassle free during each of my visits.
There are separate hours for men and women. STI testing is on a drop-​in basis but HIV testing requires an appointment. You can only call to make an appointment during the hours for your particular gender. I’ve listed the women’s clinic hours but there’s a separate entry with the men’s hours on it. This is a bit tricky if you want to go in to get tested with your new boyfriend (notice I wasn’t gender neutral — we all know it’s usually the dude who has to be coerced into getting an STD test, right??) but usually you can work it out that you get tested towards the end of the women’s hours and they go at the beginning of men’s hours. Go grab food at Salad King while you wait for the turnover.
All testing is FREE and no health card is required. You read that correctly. HIV testing can be anonymous if desired. There are two types of HIV tests and both are blood tests: one is the regular test, which is sent to the Ministry Of Health for assessment and ready in 7 – 10 days. You call to see if your results are ready (you’re referred to by a number)
and then go in a second time to get the results. Fun, but not nearly as fun as…
Rapid on-​site testing! They’ve been doing this at the HFC since 2002. You fill out a sexual health questionnaire that assesses your risk for HIV in the first place, then they prick your finger with a needle, take the blood sample and test it for the presence of HIV antibodies. You get the results in 5 – 10 minutes, and if it’s positive they follow up with a full blood test to double confirm.
You get a certification that you are HIV and STI free as of whatever date you were there when you leave — a nice little reference for you to show off. You know, on your fridge, or whatever.