While doctors in major hospitals often speak English, receptionists, nurses, and the booking systems generally do not. Knowing the exact Spanish terminology is the difference between getting tested and being sent to the wrong building.
🏥 The System & Facilities
| Spanish Term | Translation | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Centro de Salud | Health Center / GP Clinic | Your primary care center. Bad for complex sexual health. |
| Urgencias | Emergency Room | Where you go for PEP. |
| Farmacia Hospitalaria | Hospital Pharmacy | Where you must go to pick up PrEP or HIV meds. |
| Cita Previa | Prior Appointment | Mandatory for almost everything in the public system. |
| Tarjeta Sanitaria | Health Card | Your regional public health card (e.g., SIP, CatSalut). |
| Enfermedades Infecciosas | Infectious Diseases | The hospital department that manages PrEP and HIV. |
🦠 Medical Terms
Do not use English slang when asking for a test. Use the clinical Spanish term so the nurse knows exactly which swab to order.
| Spanish Term | Translation |
|---|---|
| Clamidia | Chlamydia |
| Gonorrea / Gonococo | Gonorrhea |
| Sífilis / Lues | Syphilis |
| Prueba de VIH | HIV test |
| Frotis faríngeo | Throat swab (essential to ask for explicitly) |
| Frotis rectal | Rectal swab (essential to ask for explicitly) |
| Análisis de sangre | Blood test |
| Análisis de orina | Urine test |
| Indetectable | Undetectable (U=U) |
💊 Medication & Prevention
| Spanish Term | Translation |
|---|---|
| PEP (Profilaxis Post-Exposición) | Emergency HIV prevention (within 72 hours). |
| PrEP (Profilaxis Pre-Exposición) | Daily/On-demand HIV prevention. |
| Receta | Prescription. |
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