Barcelona

Spain / Catalonia / Barcelona

OVERVIEW

Contraception

General Note: There are many types of contraceptives, also known as "birth control," including IUDs, oral contraceptives, patches, shots, and condoms, etc. If you would like to view a full list, click here.

Laws & Social Stigmas

Contraception is legal and widely available in Spain. If you would like to buy condoms, they can be found at most supermarkets and pharmacies, and there are even condom-dispensing machines in Spanish cities. However, if you would like hormonal birth control, a prescription is required. You will need to visit a doctor who will conduct a basic assessment and then issue the birth control prescription. Note that, while you legally need a prescription for birth control pills, it appears that some pharmacies may sell them over-the-counter without a prescription. Spanish pharmacies also tend to be rather liberal in dispensing hormonal birth control if you they know you have any prescription, past or present (including a foreign one), if you have a strong rapport with the pharmacist or if you bring an empty box of the birth control that you are seeking out.

What to Get & Where to Get It

If you're looking for hormonal birth control pills, you may come across brands like Dianette, Diane 35, etc. You should also be able to find contraceptive rings (like Nuvaring) at pharmacies. As for pharmacies, you'll be able to find them on almost every corner in Barcelona. But one recommendation for foreigners is Farmacia Central, as they speak English, French, German and Arabic. Address: C/Via Laietana, 40 - 08003 Barcelona - Spain - Tel. +34 932 68 45 54 - barcelonapharmacy@gmail.com.

Costs

For a month's supply of birth control pills, you can expect to pay 2.5-5 euro for a box.

Emergency Contraception

Important Notes: Emergency contraception may prevent pregnancy for three days (72 hours) and sometimes five days (120 hours) after unprotected sex. Take EC as soon as possible after unprotected sex. If you don't have access to dedicated EC, oral contraceptives can be used as replacement EC, but remember the following: 1) Only some contraceptives work as EC 2) Different contraceptives require different dosages and time schedules to work as EC 3) You must only use the first 21 pills in 28-day packs and 4) They may be less effective than dedicated EC. For general information on emergency contraceptives, click here and here.

Laws & Social Stigmas

The morning after pill ("píldora del día después" in Spanish) is available without a prescription. There are no age restrictions. However, if you want to take ellaOne (see details below), you have needed a prescription, though it appears that ellaOne is now available in the EU without a prescription. According to one study, about 50% of women in Barcelona who purchase EC at pharmacies are between the ages of 15-20.

What to Get & Where to Get It

Note: The longest-lasting EC is currently ellaOne. It lasts up to 5 days (120 hours) after unprotected sex.. If your country doesn't carry ellaOne, copper IUDs may also prevent pregnancy up to 5 days after unprotected sex. If none of these options are available, and it's been over 3 days since you had unprotected sex, you can still take EC, which may work up to 5 days. Note that EC pills are not 100% effective and should be taken as soon as possible.

For dedicated anti-progestin, you can take ellaOne (take 1 pill within 120 hours after unprotected sex), but you may need a prescription. If you would like more information ellaOne, here's the website for Spain. For all other morning after pills, you don't need a prescription. If you are looking for dedicated, progestin-only EC, you can take NorLevo 1.5mg or Postinor 1500 (take 1 pill within 120 hours after unprotected sex). There's also Postinor (take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex). If you cannot access dedicated EC, you can use some hormonal birth control pills as EC. To do this, you can use Neogynona or Ovoplex (take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 2 more pills 12 hours later). There's also Microgynon, Ovoplex 3 and Ovoplex 30/50 (take 4 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 4 more pills 12 hours later).

Here's a list of 24-hour pharmacies in Barcelona:

• Farmacia Bonanova: Plaza Bonanova, 6, 08022 Barcelona, Tel: 934-178-032
• Farmacia Torres: Calle Aribau, 62, 08011 Barcelona, Tel: 934-539-220
• Farmacia Cervera: Muntaner, 254 (Between Travessera and Diagonal), 08021 Barcelona, Tel: 932-000-996
• Castell's: In front of Gaudi’s la Pedrera/Casa Milà. Also open on Sundays.

Here's a list of English-speaking pharmacies that are open on Sundays:

• Coliseum: May be open on Sunday, but we can't confirm. Close to Plaça Catalonia. Open 9 am-10 pm
• Castell's: Open 24 hours. In front of Gaudi’s la Pedrera/Casa Milà.
• Internacional: One block from Casa Batlló. Open 8:30 am-9:30 pm.
• Mario Cerra: Around the corner from the Picasso Museum. Open 09AM to 1:30PM and 4:30PM to 8PM.
• Nadal: Located at the top of La Rambla. Opens everyday from 9AM to 10PM.

Costs

LNG: € 19, as of 2013; UPA: € 32, as of 2013. You can supposedly get EC pills for free at some ER and health centers.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs/STDs)

Important Notes - Learn about PEP and PrEP: If you think that you've been recently exposed to HIV (i.e. within 72 hours), seek out PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis). It's a month-long treatment to prevent HIV infection after exposure, and it may be available in your city. Take PEP as soon as possible. For more information, click here. If you are at risk of HIV exposure, seek out PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis). It's a daily oral pill that can prevent HIV infection before exposure. To learn more about PrEP, click here.

What to Get & Where to Get It

To say STD in Spanish, say "Enfermedades de transmisión sexual."

Testing Facilities

• Better2Know Barcelona: "Better2Know are specialists in Sexual Health testing. Our medical experts have designed our test panels, so that you can be sure that we have the right screen for you. Our Full Screen includes: HIV, Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Syphilis, Hepatitis B, Mycoplasma and Ureaplasma. All of our testing is confidential, you do not have to give us your real name. You will get your results quickly. We will help you with treatment and onward referral if you test positive."
  • L'EIXAMPLE: Tel: 800 810 063
  • LES CORTS DE SARRIA: Tel: 800 810 063
  • BONANOVA: Tel: 800 810 063
  • CALLE DE LONDRES: Tel: 800 810 063
  • BUIGAS: Tel: 800 810 063
  • PROVENÇA: Tel: 800 810 063
• Openhouse: "a private sexual health clinic which specialises in STI screening tests with the overwhelming majority of results in 20 minute." Screens for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, hepatitis (a, b and c), herpes, and risks in oral, anal or vaginal intercourse. Address: Carrer Sicília 253, 1st floor, door 3, Subway Station: L5 Sagrada Família. Phone: 934 58 77 00.
• Unidad de Medicina Tropical y Salud Internacional Drassanes, Address: Avinguda Drassanes, 17-21, 08001 Barcelona, Spain.c Tel: 93 441 46 12/ Phone number +34 933 270 550. Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8:30-13:30 and 15:00-19:30. Emergencies: Mon-Fri 8:00-11:00. Reviews vary from "Be prepared to wait a long time in the most awkward waiting room ever" to "I was expecting to see crowds of people, awkward waiting room [full] of people, long registration and endless waiting... the reality was much better! Once you get in, you need to go to the 4th floor. Nice lady at the reception didn't speak any English, so I had to really stretch my Spanish. After very fast registration I was diverted to a small and fun meeting room with Keith Haring posters on the walls. But most shocking was the fact that apart from me there were...only 2 more guys! I was called in in the next 5 minutes. Nurse didn't speak any English, so she called up the doctor who kindly agreed to attend to me herself. After an examination I was offered a urine test and a blood test. I went outside for a coffee, prepared my sample and brought it back. In less than 10 minutes I was called back in to talk about [rapid] urine test results! Doctor explained the results, gave me the medicine and booked another appointment. Nice lady at the reception printed out an appointment confirmation and off I went at 10:15. That's 2 hours and 15 minutes of calm, politeness and professionalism. And most importantly - all free!"
• Anti-AIDS Clinic: Address: C/De la Lluna 11. tel: +34 93 3170505. More details here.

Support

Regarding HIV treatment, check out this link for hospitals that specialize in HIV treatment in Barcelona. According to HIVTravel: "Treatment is provided exclusively through the pharmaceutical services in hospitals. Care is provided by large hospitals through the specific service called "Unidad de enfermedades infecciosas" (infectious diseases unit); in smaller hospitals by the internal medicine service. Access to Spanish healthcare system is universal and free of charge for all citizens. Foreigners are also entitled to healthcare under the same conditions as any other citizen. All residents must be registered in the City council (municipality) irrespective of their migratory status in the country. This is a quick and easy process which can be done at no cost."

Regarding hepatitis treatment, Spain has one of the highest rates of hepatitis treatment in the world.

• Grupo de Trabajo Sobre Tratamientos del VIH: "Offers HIV treatment advice and online documents in Spanish, English, French, Russian, Arabic and Urdu in Barcelona. Website in Spanish and Catalan."
• UNAPRO (Unión para la ayuda y protección de los afectados por el SIDA): "Offers legal assistance, an HIV/AIDS information hotline, support groups, home and hospital accompaniment, social work, psychological care, temporary emergency housing, technical training for volunteers, education and prevention, a library of newspapers, books and movies, massages, food distribution and medicine for HIV-positive people in Santa Cruz de Tenerife."
• VIH y SIDA: "Online information on HIV/AIDS: the viruses, detection, help for HIV-positive people, prevention, statistics, HIV-positive people's rights, clinical demonstrations and treatment."

Menstruation

Note: In addition to pads and tampons, you can also use menstrual cups and menstrual underwear for your period. To learn more about menstrual cups, click here. To learn more about menstrual underwear, click here.

What to Get & Where to Get It

You'll be able to find pads and tampons (with or without applicator) in supermarkets. As for menstrual cups, there is one registered seller of DivaCup in Spain: Crianza Natural S.L., Tel:, +34936452369, Contact: Rosa Sorribas, info@crianzanatural.com). You can purchase LadyCup through LadyTeen or Copas Menstruales. It's unclear if there are any registered MoonCup sellers.

Abortion

Important Note: There are two main types of abortions: medical (also known as the "abortion pill") and surgical (also known as "in-clinic"). For medical abortions, you take a pill to induce abortion. For surgical abortions, a procedure is performed to induce abortion. For general information about medical and surgical abortions, click here.

Laws & Social Stigmas

Abortion is legal in Spain during the first trimester of pregnancy. However, once the woman reaches the second trimester, it is only available under certain scenarios, which are: to save the life of the woman, to preserve physical health, to preserve mental health, rape or incest, risk of fetal impairment.

In 2013, Spanish lawmakers challenged abortion law when the cabinet approved a draft law that prohibited abortion, except in cases of rape. This was struck down in September 2014 due to lack of government consensus.