Belgrade

Serbia / Belgrade

OVERVIEW

Contraception (Birth Control)

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

In Serbia, you can purchase oral contraceptives (birth control pills) without a prescription. While there are minimal religious or moral stigmas attached to birth control pills, some women may avoid the pill because they consider it detrimental to hormonal health.

What to Get & Where to Get It

• You can buy birth control pills in Serbia without a prescription at pharmacies. Some brands you can expect to see are Neogynon, Stediril, Stediril-d and Microgynon-30. Note that progestin-only pills, like Cerazette and Azalia, are not sold in Serbia (as of May 2017), so local women tend to purchase them in Croatia or Hungary (and then bring them back to Serbia), if they prefer progestin-only pills.
• If you have a prescription for birth control from another country, you can probably get the prescription filled in a Belgrade pharmacy. Bring the prescription with you and show it to the pharmacist.
• You can get an IUD in Serbia. It is typically used by women who have already had children, but it's not commonly used in general in Serbia. One local said: "I don't know the price or if they will give them to a younger woman." If you know of gynecologists giving IUDs to younger, unmarried or women without children in Serbia, please add information to this section.
• According to a Belgrade local, contraceptive shots/injectables are not available in Serbia.

Costs

Serbian health insurance covers about 20% (or more) of birth control costs, according to a Belgrade local (May 2017).

Emergency Contraception (Morning After Pill)

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

In Serbia, you can purchase emergency contraception (the morning after pill) without a prescription. It's important to note that while you can get LNG emergency contraception (like Escapelle and Postinor-2) without a prescription in Serbia, you may need a prescription for UPA emergency contraception (like ellaOne).

What to Get & Where to Get It

• In Serbia, you can get emergency contraception (the morning after pill) without a prescription at pharmacies. Typically, EC is not on the shelves of pharmacies and you must specifically ask for it from the pharmacist. You will primarily find the LNG type of emergency contraception, like Escapelle (take 1 pill within 120 hours after unprotected sex) or Postinor-2 (take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex). You may also find the UPA type of emergency contraception (like ellaOne) sold in Serbia. For ellaOne, you take 1 pill within 120 hours after unprotected sex. Note that ellaOne is considered the most effective EC on the market. So, if you feel that you may need ellaOne, you should contact a physician to see if you can get a prescription.
• If you can't access dedicated emergency contraception (like Escapelle, Postinor-2 or ellaOne), you can use regular birth control pills as replacement EC. If you do this, remember that, in 28-day packs, only the first 21 pills can be used. You can do the following:
  • For any of these brands, take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 2 more pills 12 hours later: Neogynon, Stediril, Stediril-d
  • For any of these brands, take 4 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 4 more pills 12 hours later: Microgynon-30
• You can also get an IUD as emergency contraception. Contact your physician to learn more details.

Costs

You may pay the equivalent of € 8,80 for LNG emergency contraception and € 24 for UPA contraception. Note that EC is not reimbursed or covered by social security.

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.

Laws & Social Stigmas

There are no travel or residency restrictions related to HIV status in Serbia. You're also allowed to carry around antiretroviral medication for personal use.

Some locals report that there's significant stigma around HIV tests. It's common for locals to feel like they don't want to get tested or to feel like they don't need to be tested.

Testing Facilities

• In December, there are free HIV tests in Serbia for HIV awareness month.
• You can a range of STI/STD tests at Konsilium Laboratories. They have a location on Makenzijeva.

Treatment & Support

• AIDS-INFO LINE: 011 3248 235. From Monday to Friday, 9am - 5pm. Email: aidsinfo@jazas.rs
• Yugoslav Youth Association Against AIDS – Youth of JAZAS: This nonprofit organization focuses on HIV prevention and support for people living with HIV. Address: 27, Marta 35, 11000 Beograd. E-mail: office@jazas.org.yu.
• Clinical Centre of the Republic Serbia - Institute for infectious and tropical diseases (Belgrade): This clinic specializes in HIV/AIDS treatment.
• Armed Forces Medical Academy of Serbia - Clinic for infectious diseases (Belgrade): This clinic specializes in HIV/AIDS treatment.
• UNAIDS Serbia: Telephone: +74956636784. Email: SALDANHAVP@UNAIDS.ORG.
• Stav Plus: Address: Bose Milićević bb, 24000 Subotica, Serbia. Telephone: (+381) 024 547 444 :: (+381) 024.547.444 :: (+381) 065 9 547 440.
• Institute of Public Health of Serbia "Dr Milan Jovanovic Batut" - National Office for HIV/AIDS: Address: Dr Subotića 5, 11000 Belgrade. Telephone: +381 11 2684566. Fax: +381 11 2062749. Email: info@batut.org.rs
• Q-Club/Network of PLHIV organizations of Serbia: Address: Đurićeva 19/L1, Q Club, Belgrade 11000. Telephone: +381 11 3345852. Email: office@q-club.org.rs
• SPY - Safe Pulse of Youth: Address: Živojina Žujovića 2, Belgrade 11050. Telephone: +381 61 7207777. Email: office@spy.org.rs
• Unija organizacija Srbije, koja se bavi zaštitom osoba koje žive sa HIV/AIDS-om (Union of Serbian PLHIV) (USOP): Address: Sremska 6/IV, Belgrade 11000. Telephone: +381 112630055. Fax: +381 112630055. Email: office@unijaplhiv.rs

Medications & Vaccines

What to Get & Where to Get It

• You can supposedly access PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) for free in Serbia. Contact a local emergency room or hospital to get more information.
• There is currently no PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) program in Serbia, as of May 2017.
• If you have a yeast infection, you can try to get Fluconazole (the generic name for the active ingredient) at pharmacies. In Serbia, Fluconazole may found in the following medications: Diflucan, Fluco Sandoz, Fluconal, Flukonazol Zdravlje or Flumycozal.
• Serbia has no nationwide HPV vaccination program (as of April 2017), despite the fact that cervical cancer ranks as the second most prevalent cancer for women (ages 15-44) in Serbia.

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

• The most common menstrual products in Serbia are pads and sanitary napkins. They can be found in nearly all grocery stores, drug stores and pharmacies. They tend to be rather affordable and there's a wide range of options. The two most popular brands are Always and Carefree.
• You can find tampons in some stores, but they typically don't have applicators. Overall, tampons are less commonly used by Serbian women.
• There are no known local menstrual cup sellers in Serbia, but you can buy menstrual cups online.

Gynecological Exams

What to Get & Where to Get It

Note: To say "gynecological clinic" in Serbian, you say "Ginekoloska klinika."

Public Health Centers

• The public health centers tend to be free (if you're Serbian or have Serbian health coverage), but they can be crowded. You may have to wait a long time to see a gynecologist.
• "As for women's clinic, I've heard lots of praises about the public clinic Narodni front but lately I've heard some bad impressions as well." - Belgrade local

Private Health Centers

• It's common for Serbian women to visit private health centers (if they can afford it) for gynecological exams, since they tend to be efficient and less crowded.
• Poliklinika dr Rončević (Roncevic Clinic): One Belgrade local says, "As for private clinics, I would personally recommended Roncevic clinic, they offer a full package of exams for about 35 euros and their doctors are nice and great experts." Address: Baba Višnjina, Beograd, Serbia. Phone: +381 11 3447517.
• Clinica Nova: "Dr Maglic is amazing and he explains everything in perfect english!!!" - Belgrade local. From the clinic (May 2017): "Regular price for gynecologial examination is 3500,00 rsd [edit: we believe they mean 35,000 - waiting for confirmation]. But now we have special offer for ladies for only 1900 rsd. This price include gynecological scanning, ultrasound, colposcopy, papanicolau and VS test with final opinion. For appointment you can call our Call center +381 71 51 777." Address: Višegradska 26, Belgrade, Serbia. Phone: +381 11 7151777. Email: visegradska@clinicanova.rs
• Ginekološka Ordinacija Taurunum Medical: Address: Ugrinovačka 117, Zemun. Phone: +381 66 6334225. Email: taurunum.medical@gmail.com.
• Ginekoloska Ordinacija Raovic: Address: Golsvordijeva 6, Belgrade, Serbia. Phone: +381 11 244.77.63; 063 687889. Email: office@ordinacijaraovic.com
• Ginekološka Ordinacija Biljana Živaljević: Address: Kumanovska 23, Belgrade, Serbia. Phone: +381 11 3863716. Email: biljanazivaljevic@gmail.com

Pregnancy

What to Get & Where to Get It

• Tip from Belgrade local, May 2017: "I used Dr Miloš Petronijević for both my pregnancies, his clinic is at Kičevska 13a. I found him to be extremely good at his job and very professional. He is also the head of the high risk pregnancies department @ GAK of Višegradska (Klinički Centar). His wife is also a gyno and took a long time to do a specialist ultrasound for me once, so nothing but praise for both of them. Miloš is also my standard gyno so he isn't just a pregnancy specialist btw."

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.

Advocacy & Counseling

List of Additional Resources

• Kontracepcija - sve što jeste i niste znali: This Facebook provides educational information for women in Serbia about contraception.