Berlin

Germany / Eastern Germany / Berlin

OVERVIEW

Contraception

Laws & Social Stigmas

In Germany, you need a prescription to obtain hormonal contraceptives ("verhütungsmittel" in German), such as the pill, IUDs, etc. So you will need to arrange an appointment with a gynecologist ("frauenarzt" in German) to obtain the prescription. If you a prescription from another country, there is a good chance that the pharmacy will accept the prescription and issue you the medication.

The majority of women (of reproductive age) in Germany are using some form of contraception. In the 1990s, it was calculated that 74.7% of German women were using contraception with 58.60% of these women on the pill.

Condoms are available in nearly all drug stores or pharmacies.

What to Get & Where to Get It

If you already have a prescription, you can visit a pharmacy ("apotheke"), which is typically open from 9:00-18:00, Monday to Friday, and 9:00-12:00 on Saturdays. If you do not yet have a prescription, you'll need to arrange an appointment with a doctor.

Costs

For women under 18 years, birth control pills are free or can be purchased with a 5 euro copay (as of 2015). For women over 18, they will need to pay the full price, which will vary based on the brand. But a one month supply of Desofemine cost 15 euro in 2015.

Emergency Contraception

Laws & Social Stigmas

To access emergency contraception, you will need a prescription.

What to Get & Where to Get It

Once you have a prescription, you can find emergency contraception in public sector clinics, private clinics, pharmacies and emergency rooms. Some Catholic hospitals may refuse to prescribe or issue EC, but this is not very common. For dedicated EC products, there's ellaOne, an anti-progestin, and you should take 1 pill within 120 hours after unprotected sex. There's also PiDaNa, a progestin, and you also should take 1 pill within 120 hours after unprotected sex. As for contraceptives used as EC, there are a variety of contraceptives in Germany, and instructions for how many to take will vary according to the pills. For more details, visit the Princeton EC website, where you can find all possible combinations accessible in Germany.

Further Reading:

• Interesting Article On Getting EC in Berlin (IndieBerlin, May 2015)

Costs

LNG: € 17, as of 2013; UPA: € 35, as of 2013.

Medication & Vaccines

What to Get & Where to Get It

The HPV vaccine was introduced to Germany in 2007. There's no PreP availability in Germany, as of 2015.

Menstruation

What to Get & Where to Get It

You can easily find pads and OB tampons. Tampons with applicators can be found in select shops but it's much more difficult. For DivaCup, visit the Berlin location of Globetrotter (Schloßstraße 78-82, 12165 Berlin, Phone: 030/85 08 92 0, Website: www.globetrotter.de/). You can also buy online on German websites like Biogarten (http://www.biogarten.de/), MEDintim (https://www.medintim.de/), Washbaer (https://www.waschbaer.de/shop/), etc. The Mooncup is sold in Berlin the following locations: Lifelines (Bundesallee 117, 12161 Berlin, e-mail@Lifelines-berlin.de, Telephone: +49 30 85401548), Lebensfluss (Boxhagener Straße 13,10245 Berlin Phone: 030-60982382, www.lebensfluss.de) and Vielfalter (Brunnenstraße 147, 10115 Berlin Phone: 1787 610663).

Gynecological Exams

What to Get & Where to Get It

In German, "gynecologist" is "frauenarzt."

STD Tests

What to Get & Where to Get It

• Center for Sexual Health and Family Planning Berlin-Mitte - This is part of the public health service. Offers HIV testing and counseling for 10 euro; may potentially have tests for other STDs too (not confirmed); has Thai and Bulgarian translators on staff. Contact Information: Gesundheitsamt – Beratungsstelle für sexuelle Gesundheit - Potsdamer Str. 65, 10785 Berlin, Tel.: (030) 263966930. Email: sti-hiv-bera@ba-mitte.berlin.de. More information: https://www.berlin.de/ba-mitte/politik-und-verwaltung/aemter/gesundheitsamt/zentren/artikel.248356.en.php

• Berliner Aids-Hilfe e.V. - Offers anonymous HIV and syphilis tests. On Tuesdays, they only test for men who have sex with men (MSM), but on Wednesdays, women can be tested if they make an appointment in advance. Hours: Wednesday 14:30 to 18:30

for gay and other men who have sex with men Pre-registration is not required. The number of seats without registration is limited, we ask for your understanding.

Dates are welcome to be agreed in advance.

for women and men, only by telephone arrangement. Reservations from Wednesday of the previous week, anonymously at 030/88 56 40-0 (on opening times Mon-Fri from 12:00 ).

• Praxiscityost - Allows drop-ins and appointments; tests for HIV, Hepatitis, fungal and viral infections, and many STDs. Contact: Gubener Straße 37 / 10243 Berlin-Friedrichshain / Telefon 030.29 36 39 50 / info@praxiscityost.de. Website: http://www.praxiscityost.de/