French healthcare has an administrative culture all its own. This guide decodes the key terms you'll encounter when accessing sexual health services in France.
The System: Key Concepts
| French | English | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sécurité Sociale / Assurance Maladie | State health insurance | The French public healthcare system |
| Carte Vitale | Health insurance chip card | Your green card — carry it everywhere |
| Mutuelle | Private top-up insurance | Covers what Sécu doesn't |
| Tiers Payant | Direct billing | The doctor/pharmacy bills Sécu directly; you pay €0 upfront |
| Ordonnance | Prescription | Required for most tests, medications, and nurse visits |
| Remboursé | Reimbursed | The state pays |
| ALD (Affection de Longue Durée) | Long-term illness status | HIV/PrEP patients get ALD 7 — 100% coverage |
| AME (Aide Médicale d'État) | State medical aid | For undocumented people in France 3+ months |
| PASS | Emergency health access point | In public hospitals; for people without any coverage |
| Médecin généraliste (MG) | GP / General practitioner | |
| Spécialiste | Specialist doctor | |
| Infirmière libérale | Independent nurse | Administers injections at your home or in a clinic |
| Pharmacie | Pharmacy | |
| Laboratoire d'analyses | Medical analysis laboratory | Where you go for blood tests and swabs |
| Urgences | Emergency department | 24/7 hospital emergency room |
Sexual Health Acronyms
| French | English |
|---|---|
| IST (Infection Sexuellement Transmissible) | STI |
| VIH (Virus de l'Immunodéficience Humaine) | HIV |
| TPE (Traitement Post-Exposition) | PEP |
| PrEP (Prophylaxie Pré-Exposition) | PrEP |
| GC (Gonocoque) | Gonorrhoea |
| CT (Chlamydia Trachomatis) | Chlamydia |
| CeGIDD | Free sexual health clinic |
| TROD (Test Rapide d'Orientation Diagnostique) | Rapid diagnostic test (e.g. rapid HIV test) |
Medical Terms
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Prélèvement | Sample / swab |
| Prélèvement gorge | Throat swab |
| Prélèvement anal | Anal/rectal swab |
| Prélèvement urétral | Urethral swab |
| Bilan | Panel / work-up |
| Sérologie | Blood antibody test |
| Créatinine | Creatinine (kidney function test) |
| Résultats | Results |
| Anonymat | Anonymity |
| Hépatite | Hepatitis |
| Syphilis | Syphilis |
| Gonorrhée | Gonorrhoea |
| Chlamydia | Chlamydia |
| Condylomes | Genital warts (HPV) |
| Préservatif | Condom |
Useful Phrases
Booking at a CeGIDD or lab:
"Je voudrais prendre rendez-vous pour un dépistage des IST." "I'd like to make an appointment for an STI screening."
Requesting three-site testing:
"Je voudrais un bilan IST complet avec prélèvements gorge, anal et urétral." "I'd like a complete STI screen with throat, anal, and urethral swabs."
At the lab for HIV Sans Ordonnance:
"Je voudrais faire un test VIH sans ordonnance." "I'd like an HIV test without a prescription."
Asking about PrEP:
"Je voudrais démarrer la PrEP. Quel est le processus?" "I'd like to start PrEP. What's the process?"
At the Urgences for TPE/PEP:
"J'ai eu un risque d'exposition au VIH il y a [X] heures. J'ai besoin d'un TPE." "I had a risk of HIV exposure [X] hours ago. I need PEP (TPE)."
Asking about anonymity:
"Je souhaite rester anonyme. Est-ce possible?" "I'd like to remain anonymous. Is that possible?"
At the pharmacy:
"J'ai une ordonnance pour la PrEP. C'est pris en charge à 100%?" "I have a PrEP prescription. Is it 100% covered?"
Digital Health
Ameli (ameli.fr) — Your Assurance Maladie online account. Check your reimbursements, download attestations, update your GP.
Mon Espace Santé (monespacesante.fr) — France's national health record system. All your test results, prescriptions, and medical history in one place.
Doctolib (doctolib.fr) — The main appointment booking platform for most French healthcare providers.
Emergency Contacts
| Service | Contact |
|---|---|
| Emergency (all) | 112 |
| SAMU (Medical Emergency) | 15 |
| Police | 17 |
| SOS Amitié (crisis line) | 09 72 39 40 50 (24/7) |
| National suicide prevention | 3114 (free, 24/7) |
| AIDES (HIV organisation) | 0800 840 800 (free) |