Athens

Athens / Greece

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 Greece, birth control is available at pharmacies, clinics or health centers without a prescription. However, modern contraceptive methods, like birth control pills, IUDs or injectables, are less commonly used in Greece than in many other Southern European countries. It's been estimated that 68.7% of Greek women (who are married/in unions and of reproductive age) use any form of birth control, including traditional methods, and about 10% of women had unmet family planning needs. By far, the most common contraceptive methods are condoms (33.9%) and withdrawal, also known as the "pull-out method" (21.7%). Meanwhile, there are low usage rate for most other modern contraceptive methods, such as birth control pills (4.8%), IUDs (3.6%), female sterilization (3.6%). There was an estimated 1.1% of women who used the rhythm method. According to 2015 data, there were practically no women who used contraceptive injectables (0.0%) or contraceptive implants (0.0%).

What to Get & Where to Get It

Yasminelle purchased in Greece for 10 euro

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 to prevent pregnancy. 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 Greece, you can access many brands of emergency contraceptive pills (the morning after pill) without a prescription. For example, you should be able to legally access UPA emergency contraceptives, like ellaOne, without a prescription. Meanwhile, there may be other brands or types of emergency contraception that technically require a prescription, but anecdotal evidence suggests that you can get these brands without a prescription at many pharmacies.

What to Get & Where to Get It

• In Greece, you can access dedicated emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs). You can find anti-progestin ECPs, like ellaOne (take 1 pill within 120 hours after unprotected sex). You can also find progestin-only ECPs, like NorLevo 1.5mg or Postinor 1500 (for bot of these brands, take 1 pill within 120 hours after unprotected sex).
• The longest-lasting EC is currently ellaOne, and it's available in Greece. It lasts up to 5 days (120 hours) after unprotected sex.
• If you can't access dedicated emergency contraception, you can use regular birth control pills as replacement ECPs. To do this in Greece, you can take any of the following pills (Take 2 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 2 more pills 12 hours later): Eugynon, Neogynon, Nordiol or Ovral. You can also take any of these following pills (Take 4 pills within 120 hours after unprotected sex and take 4 more pills 12 hours later): Microgynon-30, Nordette.
• Copper IUDs may also prevent pregnancy up to 5 days after unprotected sex.

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

In Greece, there are no specific laws aimed at people with HIV. This means that, if you are a non-Greek citizen and you plan to visit the country, you will not be asked for medical certificates or proof of HIV-negative status. There are also anonymous testing sites, community-based testing and counseling (before and after testing) in Greece.

In the past, there were reported roundups of sex workers who were suspected to be HIV-positive, and such sex workers were often forced to be tested by the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. If they were found to be HIV-positive, they were accused of causing bodily harm to other people, and they faced potential criminal charges and/or deportations. However, in 2015, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras announced the repeal of Public Health Decree 39A, which was the law used to justify these roundups.

In Greece, it's estimated that about 20,000 people are living with HIV, according to 2015 data from the Hellenic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. There are 14,500 registered people living with HIV and 6,500 HIV patients on ARV treatment. The majority of HIV transmissions are through sexual intercourse, including sex between men (44.1%) and heterosexual sex (17.4%), and intravenous drug use (13.2%).

What to Get & Where to Get It

• In Greece, you can order STI tests from most physicians. There's a type of doctor in Greece called "dermatologist/aphrodisiologist," which is a health cover provider who covers dermatology as well as STIs. They can also potentially order tests directly from test centers, called "mikroviologos."
• My Checkpoint: They provide free, confidential and rapid tests for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C with a pin-prick test. They say (translated to English) on their website, "We are here to help you feel confident and get acquainted with your sexual health, regardless of your sexual orientation, your gender identity, and the sexual practices you follow." They also seem to have PEP. Keep in mind that "ATH Checkpoint" runs daily from Monday to Saturday from 12:00 to 20:00, while "Thess Checkpoint" operates every Monday from 16:00 to 20:00, from Tuesday to Friday from 12:00 to 20:00 and every Saturday from 12:00 until 16:00. ATH Checkpoint Address: Pithataki 4, Monastiraki, Athens. Tel .: 210 33 10 400. Mon. - Sat: 12:00 - 20:00. Thess Checkpoint Address: Al. Svolos 15, Thessaloniki. Tel: 2310 282 284. Mon: 16:00 - 20:00, Tues: - Fri: 12:00 - 20:00, Sat: 12:00 - 16:00.

Costs

In some regions, you can find HIV tests for free, but not in all regions.

Gynecological Exams

What to Get & Where to Get It

• Claudia Schiementz: "She was great. I had a pap + gyno exam with her. I think was €80 in total though you'd have to call to double check." - Athens local
• Dr. Dirk Krosdorf: Recommended by many Athens locals. Address: Strat. Al. Papagou 11, Privatpraxis, GR-14671 Nea Erythrea / Athen, Termine nach Vereinbarung. Tel: +30 210 6256837. Fax: +30 210 6256842. E-Mail: info@krosdorf.de
• Venus Med: This clinic comes highly recommended by an Athens local, who said, "It wasn't the cheapest possible choice, but I felt well taken care of and could tell they really cared about their patients. Highly recommended." Their gynecological services include: General Gynaecological Problems, Fertility, Colposcopy, Menopause, Contraception, Incontinence, Regular Preventive Check-Up and Gynaecological Operations. Address: 4 Aiginitou & Vasilissis Sofias Corner, Athens, Greece. Phone: +30 21 0722 0444.
• Dr. Melina Fokialaki: 2109211928, 1 Misaraliotou str, Koukaki
• Dr. Karolina Koliopoulou" Recommended by an Athens local. Phone: +30 210 7239223
• Dr. Manolis Doulgerakis: Recommended by an Athens local.
• Dr. Michalis Rotas in Nea Smyrni: Recommended by an Athens local who calls him "the best!"
• Dr. Panagiotis Belitsos, Obstetrician Gynecologist located in Kalithea. 60 euro for Pap and ultrasound. Email: panbelitsos@yahoo.com
• "You can always go to ambelokopi there's a maternity hospital there and also they do woman checks etc there also I go there for 6monthly check ups first time I went I didn't need an appointment. Plus also if your unemployed but have amka they will see you without charge. The ladies there are good and speak English."

Pregnancy

What to Get & Where to Get It

• I can strongly recommend Dr. Ioannis Zervomanolakis, he is amazing doctor. I gave birth here in Athens and everything went perfectly just because of him.
• Venus Med: This clinic comes highly recommended by an Athens local, who said, "It wasn't the cheapest possible choice, but I felt well taken care of and could tell they really cared about their patients. Highly recommended." Their obstetrics services include: Antenatal Care, Ultrasound Assessment, Labour & Birth Care, Postnatal Care, Waterbirth and Vaginal Birth After Caesarian Section. Address: 4 Aiginitou & Vasilissis Sofias Corner, Athens, Greece. Phone: +30 21 0722 0444.

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