Belgian attitudes towards sexuality and sexual health
Belgium supports an open and liberal approach to sexuality and sexual health. Its progressive sex education program promotes sex education as a normal and healthy behavior. In addition, Belgium provides subsidized public health care for sexual health issues and has one of the best contraceptive policies in Europe. As a result, the country has an extremely low teenage birth rate.
A same-sex female couple embraces each other in bed
Belgium has also made great strides in becoming an LGBT+ friendly country, with efforts that go far beyond legalizing same-sex marriage and banning discrimination based on sexual orientation.
Read more about dating and relationships in Belgium
For example, Belgian law grants lesbian couples and individuals equal access to fertility treatment. It also gives Belgians the right to legally change their gender and undergo gender reassignment surgery if they wish.
Access to sexual health services in Belgium
Belgium has a quality health care system, including both public and private health care. Anyone living in the country who is registered with the Belgian Social Security Institute and enrolled in a public health insurance fund has access to public health care services.
The public health care system subsidizes most sexual and reproductive health services in Belgium. This includes abortion, contraception, maternity care, cancer screening, and STI and STI testing services. To access sexual health services, you can get a referral from your general practitioner/family doctor or you can visit a clinic or specialist yourself. However, you will need to check if the clinic is part of the public health care system.
For services that are not covered by the public health care system, you can buy private health insurance. In addition, your local pharmacy (apotheek/pharmacie) can provide basic advice and over-the-counter medication for minor problems, such as yeast infections and vaginal dryness. You can also buy other items directly from the pharmacy, such as pregnancy tests and ovulation test strips, as well as the morning-after pill.
Sexual and reproductive health insurance
Belgium offers public and private insurance for health care. If you live and work in Belgium, you will need to register with the social security service. You will also need to contribute to a public health insurance fund, which will enable you to access public health care.
It is important to note that if you are temporarily staying in Belgium or have recently moved there, you may not be able to obtain local insurance. However, if you are an EU/EEA or Swiss citizen, you can still use your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to access the public health care system.
The doctor hands the patient the European Health Insurance Card
It is important to note that public health insurance funds only reimburse a portion of the total medical costs. For this reason, many Belgian residents choose to purchase additional private insurance to help cover the remaining unsubsidized costs of public health services. This also allows them to access private healthcare services nationwide.
