CeGIDD: France's free sexual health clinics, a user's guide

What is a CeGIDD?

A CeGIDD (free information, testing and diagnosis centre) is a public clinic specialising in HIV, hepatitis and STIs. They exist all over France, often in hospitals or local health centres. In 2024 alone, CeGIDD clinics diagnosed 22,200 chlamydia, 13,500 gonorrhoea and 2,500 syphilis cases according to Santé publique France.

What can you do there?

According to Sexosafe (Santé publique France), a CeGIDD offers:

• free testing for HIV, hepatitis B and C and STIs (blood tests, throat, anal and urine swabs);
• treatment of STIs found;
• PEP after a risk (during opening hours);
• PrEP consultations: prescription and follow-up;
• vaccines (hepatitis A and B, HPV, often mpox), covered on site;
• free condoms and lube;
• appointments with a psychologist, sexologist or social worker, especially after sexual violence or discrimination linked to orientation or identity.

How much does it cost? Do I need a health card?

It’s free. You can go without health insurance, and ask for anonymity: you then don’t give your name. For PrEP or treatments dispensed by a pharmacy, your identity is needed, but medical confidentiality applies.

How does it work?

1. You arrive, with or without an appointment depending on the clinic.
2. A confidential chat with a doctor or nurse: your practices, partners, risks. It’s not to judge you, it’s to know which swabs to take.
3. Samples: blood test, swabs (often self-taken).
4. Results: a few days later, sometimes online or by phone; a positive result is always given in person, with treatment.

What about community clinics?

Sexosafe also mentions community-based sexual health centres, opened since 2020 and designed first for men who have sex with men, sex workers and drug users. They offer testing, PrEP, vaccines and support, with staff from the community. AIDES also runs sexual health spaces (SPOT).

How to find the nearest CeGIDD?

• the Sida Info Service directory (sida-info-service.org) or 0 800 840 800;
• the Sexosafe website;
• your regional health agency (ARS).

If clinics aren’t your thing, remember your GP can do the whole check-up and prescribe PrEP, and labs do HIV tests without prescription (testing).