Three Golden Rules
1. Venhälsan Is the Gold Standard in Stockholm — Self-Referral Welcome Venhälsan at Södersjukhuset (08-616 37 20; 1177.se) is the specialist clinic for gay and bisexual men and trans people — free, expert, and covering everything from testing to PrEP to chemsex support. You do not need a GP referral (remiss) — contact them directly. Outside Stockholm, go to your regional Infektionsmottagning or Sesam clinic.
2. Smittskyddslagen Makes STI Testing and PEP Free by Law Under Sweden's Communicable Diseases Act, testing and treatment for HIV, gonorrhoea, chlamydia, syphilis, and other listed infections are completely free — no patient fee (patientavgift). PEP is also free. This applies everywhere in Sweden. PrEP is covered by the medicine benefit scheme (Läkemedelsförmånen) — out-of-pocket costs are capped at ~2,900 SEK/year across all prescriptions.
3. For PEP: Infektionsakuten at Karolinska Huddinge, Within 72 Hours PEP is free and must start within 72 hours. In Stockholm, go to Infektionsakuten, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge (Alfred Nobels Allé 30; 08-585 800 00). Outside Stockholm, go to the nearest Akutmottagning and say: "Jag behöver PEP efter en HIV-riskexponering."
General Education
- HIV facts and transmission
- STI landscape — what's actually circulating
- Testing protocol — why three sites matter
- How PrEP works
- PEP — emergency HIV prevention
- Prevention stack — layering your tools
- Vaccines for gay and bisexual men
- Internalised shame and minority stress
- Chemsex safety
- GHB and GBL — specific risks
- DoxyPEP — bacterial STI prevention
- Finding an affirming doctor
Sweden-Specific Guides
Testing
Prevention
Emergency
Living in Sweden
- Mental health — RFSL, Noaks Ark, Mind
- Chemsex — harm reduction and support
- Outside Stockholm — Gothenburg, Malmö, Uppsala
- Swedish vocabulary — healthcare terms and phrases
Emergency Contacts
| Service | Number | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency services | 112 | 24h |
| 1177 healthcare advice | 1177 | 24h |
| Venhälsan (Stockholm) | 08-616 37 20 | Office hours |
| Karolinska Huddinge Infektionsakuten (PEP) | 08-585 800 00 | 24h |
| Södersjukhuset Akutmottagning | 08-616 10 00 | 24h |
| RFSL national helpline | 020-34 13 16 | Check rfsl.se |
| Noaks Ark (HIV support) | 020-78 44 00 | Check noaksark.org |
| Mind Självmordslinjen (crisis) | 90101 | 24h |
The Context
Sweden is one of the best countries in Europe to be gay or bisexual. Legal equality is comprehensive, social attitudes are broadly affirming, and the healthcare system is world-class. The Smittskyddslagen framework — making sexually transmitted infection care entirely free — is uniquely protective.
The Personnummer (Swedish personal identity number) is the main practical barrier for visitors and recent arrivals. Without it, 1177.se self-booking is restricted, though phone booking and RFSL community testing remain accessible.