Sexual health in Vaud
To verify This page has 4 items that could not be confirmed on an official page. Check them yourself before relying on them:
- Where: PROFA centres, EPFL Point Santé (up to 72 hours, see below) and pharmacies. Pharmacy prices: To verify …
- LAMal (basic health insurance): medical consultations are billed to your insurer, so your deductible and co-pa…
- Emergency contraception: the morning-after pill can be provided by nurses up to 72 hours after unprotected sex…
- HIV/STI screening: counselling and tests adapted to your situation, paid with your CAMIPRO card. Test prices: …
Where to get confidential advice, contraception, emergency contraception and STI or HIV tests near Lausanne, and what you pay.
Key facts
- PROFA (Consultation de santé sexuelle) is the Vaud sexual-health service, with centres in Lausanne, Renens, Morges and five other towns. Central reception: 021 631 01 40.
- Information and prevention talks with a sexual-health counsellor are free. Medical consultations are billed under LAMal.
- Emergency contraception: the levonorgestrel pill works up to 72 hours after sex, the ulipristal pill up to 120 hours, a copper IUD within 5 days. Sooner is better.
- HIV exposure: go to the nearest hospital emergency department (or Checkpoint Vaud) within 48 hours for PEP.
- EPFL students: the campus Point Santé nurses can also give emergency contraception and do STI/HIV tests. See GP and pharmacy.
1. PROFA sexual-health centres near Lausanne
The Fondation PROFA runs the cantonal sexual-health consultation. Counsellors and doctors see you for contraception, emergency contraception, HIV, PrEP and PEP, other STIs (testing, treatment, vaccination), gynaecological questions, unplanned pregnancy, sexual difficulties, sexual diversity and sexual violence.
| Centre | Direct line |
|---|---|
| Lausanne | 021 631 01 42 |
| Renens | 021 631 01 63 |
| Morges | 021 631 01 46 |
| Central reception (all centres) | 021 631 01 40 |
Other PROFA sexual-health centres: Aigle, Nyon, Payerne, Vevey and Yverdon-les-Bains. Book by phone (or online via the OneDoc link on the PROFA contact page). Appointments cannot be made through the contact form, and PROFA does not answer medical questions by email for confidentiality reasons.
What a contraception visit looks like: a counsellor explains the methods and helps you choose; a PROFA doctor then takes your medical history and prescribes. A gynaecological exam is not needed to get a contraception prescription. Your partner is welcome.
2. Emergency contraception
From PROFA:
- Ulipristal acetate (e.g. EllaOne): as soon as possible, at the latest 120 hours after the risk.
- Levonorgestrel (e.g. NorLevo): as soon as possible, at the latest 72 hours after the risk.
- Copper IUD: fitted within 5 days after the risk.
- Use it whatever the day of your cycle. It does not protect for later sex and does not protect against HIV or other STIs.
- If you vomit within 3 hours of taking the pill, go back to whoever gave it to you or to an on-call pharmacy.
- If your period is more than 5 days late, see someone or do a pregnancy test.
- If you are pregnant, what LAMal pays and the maternity allowance: see Pregnancy and maternity basics in Vaud.
Where: PROFA centres, EPFL Point Santé (up to 72 hours, see below) and pharmacies. Pharmacy prices: To verify with the pharmacy.
3. STI and HIV testing
The canton (Office du médecin cantonal) lists these options for HIV and STI tests, where anonymity can be guaranteed:
- PROFA sexual-health consultations (section 1).
- Unisanté anonymous HIV-STI consultation, Lausanne.
- Checkpoint Vaud (run by PROFA, in Lausanne): health centre for men who have sex with men, trans people and their partners.
- Your own doctor.
The canton also links the anonymous safer-sex check on LoveLife (federal prevention campaign) to assess a risk.
After a high-risk exposure to HIV: go as soon as possible, at most within 48 hours, to the nearest hospital emergency department (or Checkpoint Lausanne) for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
HPV vaccination: see Vaccinations in Vaud.
4. What you pay and what LAMal covers
PROFA published prices (Vaud LAMal tariff applies to medical consultations):
| Service | Under 25 | 25 and over |
|---|---|---|
| Information and prevention talk | Free | Free |
| Medical consultation | Under LAMal | Under LAMal |
| Rapid HIV test | CHF 12 | CHF 60 |
| Chlamydia and gonorrhoea tests | CHF 30 (may be billed under LAMal depending on the visit) | Under LAMal |
| Pregnancy test | CHF 15 | CHF 15 |
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Emergency pill, under 20 | CHF 15 |
| Emergency pill, 20 and over | CHF 25 |
| External condoms (3) | CHF 1 |
| Internal condom (1) | CHF 1.50 |
| Dental dam | CHF 1.50 |
LAMal (basic health insurance): medical consultations are billed to your insurer, so your deductible and co-payment apply (see GP and pharmacy). PROFA explains that hormonal contraceptives (pill, implant, IUD, injections) are not on the basic insurance list and are not reimbursed, with possible exceptions when prescribed as a treatment (for example for endometriosis). Your exact out-of-pocket cost for a given method: To verify with your insurer.
5. EPFL: Point Santé
The Point Santé EPFL (run with Unisanté) offers free, confidential nurse consultations. For sexual health it lists:
- Emergency contraception: the morning-after pill can be provided by nurses up to 72 hours after unprotected sex. The medicine is charged; the amount is To verify when you book.
- HIV/STI screening: counselling and tests adapted to your situation, paid with your CAMIPRO card. Test prices: To verify when you book.
Booking and opening details are on GP and pharmacy, not repeated here. Stress, relationships or feeling low: Mental health support at EPFL.
6. Sexual violence
PROFA's consultation covers abuse and sexual violence, and PROFA also runs the Vaud LAVI victim-support centres. For filing a report and LAVI contacts, see Police report and complaint in Vaud. In an emergency call 117 (police) or 144 (ambulance).