Aerial view of Vancouver General Hospital Campus

We provide consultation and short-term treatment recommendations for most patients with sexual problems, including those of interest, arousal, ejaculation, orgasm and/or sexual pain. Therapy is possible in this clinic for some, but not all, sexual concerns.

How to access

  • Check eligibility

    Clients must reside within BC/Yukon Territory. 

    We are unable to accept referrals of patients with:

    • Untreated medical conditions, including drug or alcohol dependency.
    • Sexual dysfunctions primarily due to relationship turmoil in which counselling for the latter would be expected to resolve the sexual concerns.
    • Sexual dysfunctions due to psychiatric or personality disorders in which treatment of the primary condition would be expected to resolve the sexual concerns.
    • Sexual problems that have been addressed by other professionals but the patient has been noncompliant with treatment (i.e., low motivation).
    • Concerns centered on "sexual orientation" or "coming out".
    • Initial or primary therapy for sexual victimization/abuse.
    • Paraphilias in which criminal charges have been laid or are pending.
  • Get a referral

    BC Centre for Sexual Medicine referral form

    Only referrals by physicians can be considered. Physicians may ask for a referral form to be mailed, faxed from the clinic or downloaded from the link above. It is always helpful to have a detailed referral letter along with copies of other relevant consultations, investigations, etc. We confirm acceptance of a referral by sending a letter to the physician within two to three weeks.

    Special consideration is given to requests for "consultation only" (as opposed to ongoing care) of any sexual concern. That is, 1 to 3 assessment visits, following which the patient returns to the care of the referring physician with recommendations for management.

    With respect to the waitlist, individual clinicians accept referrals based on the Centre's overall policies, on teaching and research duties, and on respective clinical areas of expertise. Accordingly, each clinician will have a distinctive practice profile and waiting period for new appointments. For the Sexual Medicine program, in general, the wait will be 3 to 6 months, but may be longer. For the Reproductive Health Service, patients are usually seen within 1 to 2 months.

    When the clinic cannot accept a patient, a letter is sent to the referring physician suggesting other routes. These may include:

    • Recommending specific patient reading material.
    • Notifying the physician of upcoming CME workshops at which they can learn assessment and treatment techniques appropriate to general practice.
    • Providing other resources or therapists in the community who can give appropriate service.

Hours of operation

Currently open

We operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Visiting hours may vary depending on the unit. Please call the Vancouver General Hospital switchboard at (604) 875-4111 to determine visiting times before your visit.

Parking and transportation

Pick-up and drop-off

Contact the service, program or department for pick-up and drop-off information.

Parking

Pay parking 
If you're driving to VGH, leave enough time to find parking before your appointment. Consider dropping off elderly family members before seeking parking. Parkades can be found at the intersection of 12th Avenue and Laurel Street and within the Gordon and Leslie Diamond Health Care Centre at the corner of 12th Avenue and Oak Street.

Additional parking options, including parkades, street meters, and lots, are available within two or three blocks of the hospital. Refer to the site map for the parking symbol and respective locations. Note that overnight parking is not permitted for trailers or mobile homes. One-week parking passes for the VGH West 12th Avenue Parkade (at Laurel Street) can be purchased from the pay stations located in the parkade.

Download parking rates for VCH facilities

Wheelchair accessible parking
In both VGH parkades, wheelchair-accessible spaces are located near the elevators on levels 1, 2, 3 and 4. Metered spaces are available at the street level of the Jim Pattison Pavilion (enter from 12th Avenue) and within the inner courtyard. Be sure to display your “Disabled” parking permit.

Parking meters on-site
Some metered spaces are available outside the main entrance of the Jim Pattison Pavilion for dropping off and picking up patients. Other evening and weekend meters are within the inner courtyard north of 12th Avenue, entrance off Heather Street.

Free parking
You may find two-hour free parking between Oak and Granville streets (southwest of the hospital) and between West 12th and West 20th Avenues. Read the signs before you park. Parking attendants survey the area regularly, and many blocks are designated for residents only. 

For more parking information, please call (604) 875-4832.

Electric vehicle charging

Designated electric vehicle charging stations are available for patients and visitors. Charging is available for up to 4 hours at Level 2 stations and up to 1 hour at Level 3 stations. Please review our electric vehicle charging station etiquette for more information.

Electric vehicle charging stations at VGH:

EV Charger Type Parking Stall Number
Level 2 Charger 1574-1576, 1569-1573
4 stalls by level 2 elevator, no stall number
Level 3 Charger 1577-1578

Public transportation

VGH is accessible by TransLink services from Vancouver International Airport, BC Ferry Terminals at Horseshoe Bay and Tsawwassen, Pacific Central Station (downtown Vancouver rail and bus station), and SkyTrain stations.

  • Nearby bus routes include 9, 15, 17, and 99 B Line on West Broadway.
  • Canada Line access from Broadway-City Hall station located at West Broadway and Cambie St. (~1km walk or use aforementioned bus routes).

Plan your trip on the TransLink website

Vancouver General Hospital (VGH)

Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) offers specialized health-care services to residents in Vancouver and across the province through regional programs. We provide a full range of basic and highly specialized emergency health-care and trauma services to British Columbia.

Sexual Medicine Services

Sexual medicine services assess and treat individuals and couples of all ages with concerns with sexual dysfunction and reproductive health.