Vienna gets new center for sexual health: help in sight!

Vienna gets new center for sexual health: help in sight!

Something is happening in the area of ​​sexual health in Vienna. Aids Hilfe is expanding its commitment and is planning to create a new center for sexual health. This will be set up on the first floor of a building on the Mariahilfer Belt and promises comprehensive advice and testing services as well as medical treatments for anyone who wants to deal with sexual health issues. How news.at reports, infectiologist Alexander Zoufaly will take over the medical management of the center.

The soft opening is planned for April 2026, while full operations with extensive opening hours of 61 hours per week are planned to start in the second half of 2026, including Saturday opening hours. A large number of tests and treatments are already projected for the year 2027: 9,000 tests for sexually transmitted diseases, 4,300 treatments, 200 new diagnoses of HIV and 1,500 therapies are being planned. The need for such an offer of help is urgent, as new HIV diagnoses in Austria remain stable at around 450 per year, but are increasing internationally. In particular, the number of sexually transmitted diseases is increasing rapidly.

Need for education and support

The Ministry of Health's 2024 contraception report also shows a decline in condom use, which further exacerbates the situation. Agnes Streissler-Führer, an AIDS Help expert, expresses concern that many young people display careless sexual behavior because they believe they are not affected. The opening of the center is therefore seen as an important step towards educating and supporting groups at risk.

The magnus* center will also provide a contact point for psychosocial support. Not only medical care is promoted here, but also psychosocial care, which is very important in a city like Vienna, which still has to do some convincing in this area. In addition, a scientific position and a statistical competence center for sexual health are planned in Vienna in order to improve the available data on sexually transmitted diseases - because such comprehensive information is currently lacking in Austria orf.at notes.

Regulations for sex service providers

Strict regulations apply to sex service providers in Austria: They must be tested for sexually transmitted diseases and HIV before starting work and every six weeks. These checks take place at the Center for Sexual Health in the third district, where the responsible medical officer's office issues check cards. Anyone who notices signs of a sexually transmitted disease should not hesitate to seek medical attention, as early diagnosis is crucial.

The regulations stipulate that an initial examination including a blood test must be carried out, followed by regular checks. Anyone who has a control card issued for the first time must budget 21 euros for it. The advice center for sexual health offers free social work support for this group and their environment, while the Aids-Hilfe Vienna provides comprehensive advice on questions about HIV, as can also be found on the City of Vienna website: wien.gv.at.

Overall, the planned expansion of the Center for Sexual Health is a clear step in the right direction to promote and protect sexual health in Vienna more effectively. The wide range of services, from medical treatments to psychosocial support and education, will benefit both those directly affected and the entire community.