The age of sexual consent in Sweden is 15 years and sex education has been taught in schools since the 1950s. Contraceptive counseling is free and emergency contraception (like the morning-after-pill) are sold over counter all over Sweden. Abortion has been free on demand since the 1975.
Now what does this actually mean? Well let us try to explain.
The age of consent is 15 which means that if you are 15 you can have sexual relations with anyone as long as this person is also 15 or older. HOWEVER - if you are in a position of dependency the sexual consent age is raised to 18. This means that if you have sex with a legal guardian, you must be 18 or older.
Note that it is ALWAYS illegal to force anyone to have sex or to participate in any sexual act be it in real life or online, regardless of how old any of the participants are.
So where can you turn for sexual and reproductive care? There are several health institutions to turn to for counseling, testing and treatment.
These are your options depending on gender, age and life situation:
- Vårdguiden - general information.
- UMO & Youth Clinics - for teenagers and young adults.
- Gynecologist - mainly for women.
- Maternity centre - mainly for pregnant women.
- RFSL - The Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights.
- Järva Men's Clinic - mainly for men in Stockholm.
- Noaks Ark - Clinic specialized on HIV and AIDS.
As a child (if you are younger than 18) there are places and people where you can get support. For instance, schools have councilors and BRIS (Barnens rätt i samhället) has helplines that are free and anonymous.
1. Vårdguiden - Health Care Guide
Vårdguiden has general information about sexual and reproductive care in Sweden. The information comes in several languages.
2. UMO Ungdomsmottagning - Youth Clinic
UMO.se is a website for people between 13-25 years of age and has comprehensive information about sex, health and relationships. The information is translated into several languages.
3. Gynekolog / Gynmottagning - Gynaecologist
A gynaecologist or gynmottagning can help women with most matters concerning sexual and reproductive health, like e.g.:
- contraceptive counselling and prescription
- examination and treatment for menstrual problems
- cervical cancer screening (called cellprovtagning in Swedish)
- STI testing and treatments
4. Mödravårdscentral - Maternity centre
The mödravårdscentral (also called barnmorskemottagning) can help women with:
- Pregnancy tests and counseling
- Contraceptive counseling
- Prescribe contraceptive pills (like mini-pills, spirals, the day after pill, contraceptive injections, implants, etc.)
- Perform check-ups during the pregnancy and prepare for the childbirth
- Perform cervical cancer screening (cellprovtagning)
4. RFSL
The Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights is a non-profit organization that works with and for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people (LGBT). RFSL has centres all over Sweden.
- HIV quick test - Some RFSL centres offer HIV tests where you get a result directly.
- What is RFSU up to? Short movie about their work
5. Stockholm Men’s Clinic
Stockholm Men's Clinic is a sexual health clinic for men in Stockholm with information in many languages.
6. Noaks Ark
Noaks Ark deals with HIV and AIDS issues and offer free, anonymous HIV testing, as well as support and activities for people who have been infected with HIV and their families.
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