Testing with your GP

Being open about your sex life 

Your GP is there to answer all your questions about health. Tell your doctor you have sex with men. If you do, they will be better able to help you. Your GP has a good overview of your health. Your dossier will include your earlier questions and health problems. And also which medication you have taken before.  

Why would you get tested with your GP? 

Many people visit their GP to get tested for HIV and other STDs. These are the advantages: 

• Do you have symptoms? Your doctor can properly assess if these are caused by an STD or by a disease  

• Do you maybe have herpes, genital warts, scabies or pubic lice? If so, your GP can help you. The GGD won’t test for these. 
• You will get the results as quickly as with the STD clinic, if not sooner  

Do you have an STD? Then you GP can give you medication directly. In case of HIV, the doctor will redirect you to a specialist at the hospital. Same thing if you have hepatitis B or C.  

Health insurance  

STD testing with your GP is not for free. You will pay for the tests and medication with your GP through your health insurance. It can be very expensive. 

Your health insurance provider sees which tests and medications are requested for you. Sometimes they will include the names of these tests or medications on your bill. To see this you can log in with DigiD on your health insurance provider’s website. 

Costs and eigen risico  

Do you need medication, tests or other medical help? If you’re insured with a health insurance provider, you will have to cover the first costs. This is called eigen risico (health insurance excess): 

• in 2023, the minimum amount is fixed by law at 385 euros 
• You can also choose a higher eigen risico 
• The costs or STD tests and medication fall under your eigen risico 

Did you need little to no medical care this year? Then you’ll be charged for the STD test. 

PrEP through your GP 

Do you want to use PrEP? Your doctor can help you get it. They will first make sure you can use PrEP safely. Read more about how you can get PrEP through your doctor and your pharmacy.

HIV, STD and kidney function tests are covered by your eigen risico. Your health insurance won’t cover the costs of PrEP. You will have to pay for it yourself at your pharmacy. 

Feeling at ease 

Your GP can’t share any information about you with anyone without your permission. Your questions about health and sex will stay between you and your doctor.  

Not every GP is as good when it comes to talking about sex. If you find it hard to have these conversations with your GP, it might be better to find a new one. 

Suitable GP?  

Unfortunately, there is no good list of suitable doctors for gay, bi, trans or non-binary people. A couple of tips to find a good GP: 

• Ask your friends and acquaintances for recommendations 
• Check out your doctor’s website. Sometimes it will include some information about sexuality 
• Call the practice and ask how they deal with sexuality 
• Tell the doctor’s assistant that you’re looking for a doctor who is a member of ‘SeksHag’. This group of GPs knows a lot about sex, relationships and health