The CeGIDD (Centre Gratuit d'Information, de Dépistage et de Diagnostic) is the backbone of French sexual healthcare. If you are an expat, a tourist, or simply someone who prefers absolute anonymity, the CeGIDD is your primary destination.
🛡️ What is a CeGIDD?
CeGIDDs are public clinics entirely funded by the French state. Their mandate is to prevent, test for, and treat STIs and HIV. There is at least one CeGIDD in every French département.
Total Anonymity & Zero Cost. You do not need a Carte Vitale (French health insurance card). You do not need a passport or ID. You do not even need to give them your real name. All consultations, blood tests, swabs, treatments, and PrEP/PEP prescriptions are 100% free of charge.
🏥 What They Do
| Service | Details |
|---|---|
| Full STI Screening | Comprehensive blood work, urine tests, and 3-site swabs (throat, rectum, genital). |
| Treatment | If you test positive for chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis, they will provide the antibiotics or injections on-site for free. |
| PrEP Initiation | You can undergo the initial kidney/HIV screening and receive your PrEP prescription here. |
| PEP (TPE) Emergency | They can assess your risk and provide the 28-day emergency antiretroviral course. |
| Vaccines | They hold specialized stock of the Mpox, HPV, and Hepatitis A/B vaccines and will administer them for free. |
⚠️ The Reality: Wait Times
Because they are free and heavily utilized, CeGIDDs in major cities (like Paris, Lyon, or Marseille) are victims of their own success.
- Free, highly specialized, LGBTQ+ competent care.
- Everything is handled under one roof (doctor, blood draw, treatment).
- Walk-in chaos: Some CeGIDDs operate on a first-come, first-served walk-in basis. People often queue outside before the doors open to secure a spot.
- Appointment scarcity: If they use Doctolib or a booking system, appointments can be booked out weeks in advance.
The GP Bypass: If you just need a routine PrEP renewal or an asymptomatic STI check and you have a Carte Vitale, do not wait weeks for a CeGIDD. Go to a standard GP (médecin traitant) on Doctolib, get an ordonnance, and go to a private lab. Save the CeGIDD for emergencies, complex cases, or when you are uninsured.
Related: