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Berlin

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OVERVIEW

Image provided by Creative Commons.

As the capital of Germany, Berlin is one of the largest cities in Europe with plenty of high-quality health care. The city is renowned for its sexual openness and LGBT community, however there are some roadblocks to certain health care options. To obtain contraception, including emergency contraception, you must first receive a prescription. Furthermore, while abortion is permitted, there is a mandatory "counseling" session, which has made some women feel guilty, ashamed or incredibly uncomfortable (see "Abortion" section for details). On the positive side, there are some absolutely fantastic hospitals and doctors, as well as a wealth of resources specifically geared toward the LGBT community. The transportation system is rather efficient and English is spoken by most locals.

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:

Costs

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

Medication & Vaccines

Laws & Social Stigmas

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.

Costs

Menstruation

Laws & Social Stigmas

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).

Costs

Gynecological Exams

Laws & Social Stigmas

In Germany, every woman over the age of 20 is covered (either by private or public insurance) to receive a gynecological exam. These exams include a pap smear, pelvic exam, etc. If you go to a doctor in Germany and ask for an annual exam, they'll know what to do.

What to Get & Where to Get It

In German, "gynecologist" is "frauenarzt."

Costs

STD Tests

Laws & Social Stigmas

Important Note: If you are interested in long-term residency or citizenship in Germany, some regions (for example, Bavaria) require an HIV test before your approval. Furthermore, if an insurance claim is filed in Europe, the test results aren't necessarily protected/confidential. So it is advised to seek anonymous testing, if you would like to keep this information truly private.

There are many STD testing facilities in Berlin, though many of them are exclusively or almost exclusively for MSM (men who have sex with men). For this reason, it is best to confirm that a facility can test you in advance. We have provided a list below of facilities that test women (either all the time or on specific days).

What to Get & Where to Get It

  • Center for Sexual Health and Family Planning - Locations in Mitte & Friedrichshain/Kreuzberg. 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).
  • Praxiscityost - Allows drop-ins and appointments; tests for HIV, Hepatitis, fungal and viral infections, and many STDs; Efficient and professional but expensive; some have said the clinic asked for 150 euro for a mere consultation. So contact in advance to get a better sense of prices. Contact: Gubener Straße 37 / 10243 Berlin-Friedrichshain / Telefon 030.29 36 39 50 / info@praxiscityost.de. Website: http://www.praxiscityost.de/
  • Profamilia Counseling Center, Berlin - Has walk-in hours and appointments, works with low-income people. Address: Beratungsstelle Berlin Road, Kalckreuthstr. 4 , 10777, Berlin, Phone: 030 39849898. Directions: "The counseling center is located in the North Schöneberg in Kalckreuthstraße 4, a small road connecting the Kleist and Motzstraße, exactly between the two underground stations Wittenbergplatz and Nollendorfplatz. By bus you can reach us with the lines 119, 146, 185, 187 to the stop Urania." Website: http://www.profamilia.de/angebote-vor-ort/berlin/beratungszentrum.html
  • 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 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 ).
  • Institute of Tropical Medicine and International Health - Does anonymous HIV tests for 20 euro. Postal address: August Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Campus - or Internal address:, Südring 2 - 3 t: +49 30 450 665 728, f: +49 30 450 565 930, https://tropeninstitut.charite.de/ambulanz/hiv_beratung/
  • Blood Donation - For a free STD test (usually just HIV, Hepatitis and other blood-based diseases), you can donate blood. Call 0800 11 949 11 for more info.
  • MORE INFORMATION: Check out the Berlin Project, which tries to find low-cost STD testing clinics in Berlin for every day of the week. Please note that the Berlin Project primarily serves the gay male community and drug users, mostly focusing on HIV, hepatitis and syphilis testing. But there may be some useful resources for anyone, even if they don't fit into the target demographic.

Costs

All Germans and legal residents are required to have health insurance, so they may be covered through their insurance. For those who are uninsured, STD tests can vary from 200 euro (for consultation to testing and lab results) to 10 euro (for budget options). If you're looking for the cheapest option, go to Center for Sexual Health and Family Planning, which is run by the city and keeps costs low.

Pregnancy

Laws & Social Stigmas

From Internations: "It is important to note that ob/gyn care in Germany distinguishes clearly between gynecologists and obstetricians (Geburtshelfer). In case you are going to have a baby, you will have your pre-natal checkups at your usual gynecologist in Germany; but they will only be present during the birth if they happen to work as an obstetrician at your hospital of choice as well" (Source: Women's Health in Germany, Internations).

What to Get & Where to Get It

Costs

Abortion

Laws & Social Stigmas

In Germany, abortion is permitted in Germany for the first trimester. But there's one hard restriction: a woman must first seek counseling before getting an abortion. The goal of counseling, according to German law, is to "protect the unborn life. The counseling should encourage the woman to continue the pregnancy, and should help her see the opportunities of bringing up a child." After the counseling, the woman must observe a three-day "consideration period" during which she must decide if she wants the abortion. If she does want the abortion, she can proceed to do so, and the counselor will typically refer her to a clinic or hospital.

Despite these restrictions, abortion in Germany, especially in Berlin, is very common. In the first trimester, legal reasons for an abortion include: to save the life of the woman, to preserve physical health, to preserve mental health, rape or incest, fetal impairment, economic or social reasons, and available on request. After the first trimester, abortions can be performed if the woman has mental/health problems or if there is potential risk to the fetus. But this is an exception, not the standard, and a case must be made.

Before German reunification, West and East Germany had very different abortion policies. In East Germany, abortion was legal and common. Under the socialist government, abortion was seen as part of women's socio-economic equality. In West Germany, abortion was only permitted in certain scenarios, such as when there was a serious threat to the woman's life or child's health, or in instances of rape or incest. In some cases, women were allowed abortion due to extreme socio-economic distress, but this determination could not be done by the woman; it was decided upon by a third party. When the country was reunified, a new abortion policy needed to be made to accommodate the country. The compromise between the laws of East Germany and West Germany brought the abortion laws of Germany today.

While Berlin is a generally progressive city, some patients have reported unfriendly treatment at certain facilities. So, as always, it's important to research in advance. There are some Catholic hospitals that refuse to prescribe the abortion pill, even though it is legal, as well. However, Berlin has the most abortions out of any city in Germany each year, and it is reportedly much more tolerant toward abortion than more conservative regions of the country, such as Bavaria.

What to Get & Where to Get It

  • ProFamiia Berlin - Can provide the necessary counseling (legally required) before an abortion. Need to confirm if they also provide abortion service or just referrals after the counseling. Details: "Pro Familia is the leading non-governmental service and consumer organization for sexual and reproductive health and rights in Germany. Founded in 1952, it is a charity with a Federal structure. As a founder member of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) it is closely linked to international developments and activities in the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights." Address: Beratungsstelle Berlin, Kalckreuthstr. 4, 0777 Berlin, Phone: 030 39849898, Email: berlin@profamilia.de. Website: http://www.profamilia.de/index.php?id=909

Costs

In 2010, the average cost of a medical abortion was 300 euros. The average cost of a surgical abortion is 460 euros.

Advocacy & Counseling

Laws & Social Stigmas

What to Get & Where to Get It

Costs

List of Additional Resources

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