Pit Braquet meets us at the entrance hall of the Centre Hospitalier in Luxembourg City (CHL) with a smile. As part of the department for infectious diseases, he tests and treats STIs daily. An interview about blowjobs, PrEP, and a community that needs to care.
queer.lu: As an STI specialist, what is the main obstacle to improving sexual health care in Luxembourg?
Pit Braquet: Sex is still a taboo. I always say, talk about it with your children, your colleagues, your parents, your friends — and especially your sex partners.
I see it here in the office — people test positive but don't have the contact info for their last five sexual partners. We often bury our heads in the sand. Community actually means caring for one another.
I see it here in the office — people test positive but don't have the contact info for their last five sexual partners. We often bury our heads in the sand. Community actually means caring for one another.
Does the fact that most STIs are now treatable make people less serious about them?
Yes. Since HIV is no longer deadly anymore, the fear has faded. That's a good thing, and we don't want to go back to those times! But we want people to replace fear with responsibility: if you have multiple sexual partners, then you owe it to them — and yourself — to stay informed.
In 2023, Luxembourg had the highest syphilis rates in Europe. How does it look now in 2026?
Syphilis is still a major concern. We contact one to two people every day for treatment. Syphilis is a bacterial STI, which is curable, but we will not get rid of it anytime soon. It's like lice in pre-school… And, yes, you can absolutely get it from a blowjob.
HIV remains at the forefront of our concerns, as it is basically the only non-curable disease in 2026. We see fewer infections among men who have sex with men (MSM). So at the moment, we need to better target the straight population with our prevention work.
HIV remains at the forefront of our concerns, as it is basically the only non-curable disease in 2026. We see fewer infections among men who have sex with men (MSM). So at the moment, we need to better target the straight population with our prevention work.
This is a good reminder why it is important to get tested. How should one handle the 'test anxiety' — the fear of bad news?
First of all, it's completely natural to be anxious. As you're about to get tested or while waiting for results, your mind may cycle through worst-case scenarios, which could trigger a sense of unease.
The best way to overcome this anxiety is to make testing a regular habit. The longer you wait between appointments, the more daunting it feels.
The best way to overcome this anxiety is to make testing a regular habit. The longer you wait between appointments, the more daunting it feels.
How often should one get tested?
If you have more than one partner, get tested every three to six months. In monogamous relations, once a year is fine.
Beyond testing, what is the best safer sex practice today?
Condoms and dental dams are still essential or the safest barriers, especially outside of a committed couple. It saves you from having to explain to your partner why they've contracted something… Besides, a condom prevents unwanted pregnancies.
PrEP is a vital protection for those who cannot or do not want to use a condom. The amount of partners is also an important thing. I'd rather you had 10 times good sex with the same partner than as much with different ones.
PrEP is a vital protection for those who cannot or do not want to use a condom. The amount of partners is also an important thing. I'd rather you had 10 times good sex with the same partner than as much with different ones.
PrEP is an efficient tool for HIV prevention. In your experience, is public awareness where it needs to be?
Awareness is growing in high-risk communities, but gaps remain. Too often I hear: "I don't know where I got HIV from. All my partners took PrEP" from patients who relied on a partner's word rather than their own protection.
Besides, one needs to bear in mind that PrEP does not protect from all other STIs. Blowjobs, rim jobs, eating someone out and so on can also be vectors of transmission of an STI. So, what I would recommend is to get tested every few months. If you get symptoms like a sore throat after a blowjob; or if you have an unusual anal discharge; or if it scratches or bleeds; or if it burns when you pee — then, you should also see your doctor.
Besides, one needs to bear in mind that PrEP does not protect from all other STIs. Blowjobs, rim jobs, eating someone out and so on can also be vectors of transmission of an STI. So, what I would recommend is to get tested every few months. If you get symptoms like a sore throat after a blowjob; or if you have an unusual anal discharge; or if it scratches or bleeds; or if it burns when you pee — then, you should also see your doctor.
Activists, such as last year's Luxembourg Pride organizers, have criticized the long wait for PrEP at the CHL. Why can't general practitioners (GPs) prescribe it yet?
The problem is access. It isn't where it needs to be. We have two-to-three-month wait times for non-urgent consultations. While we've trained 16 doctors, only four are currently prescribing. Our goal is to expand this to more GPs. The "Luxembourg model" can be summed up as a trade-off: access may be slower than, say, France, but unlike other countries, PrEP here is entirely free.
Does activism still take the health issue seriously enough?
The crisis of the 80s and 90s pushed for political organization. We don't have that sense of urgency today — which is actually good, it allows us to talk about it calmly and with more of a long-term vision. However, I think we should shift our focus toward mental health.
In 2025, the Red Cross and the Rainbow Center held a very productive public discussion on Chemsex. Whether individuals use chemsex as a recreational substance or as a response to depression or anxiety, we need to understand why people take pills, sniff or inject drugs during sex, and how to mitigate their health risks. Mental health issues — stigmatization, isolation, and anxiety — all intersect with sexual health.
In 2025, the Red Cross and the Rainbow Center held a very productive public discussion on Chemsex. Whether individuals use chemsex as a recreational substance or as a response to depression or anxiety, we need to understand why people take pills, sniff or inject drugs during sex, and how to mitigate their health risks. Mental health issues — stigmatization, isolation, and anxiety — all intersect with sexual health.
Where do you see the future of health activism?
It's about social inclusion. More studies on health campaigns in the EU are today available to read and take stock from. For instance, we now know that the Luxembourgish-grown populations have lower STI rates, likely due to better access to information and prevention in their own language.
We also need to learn how to talk again. Apps have taken away our need to negotiate or communicate. To have a constructive conversation — whether it is a one night stand or a romance — we need words. We need to be able to talk in order to have better safer sex.
We also need to learn how to talk again. Apps have taken away our need to negotiate or communicate. To have a constructive conversation — whether it is a one night stand or a romance — we need words. We need to be able to talk in order to have better safer sex.
Essential Guide: HIV Prevention & Testing in Luxembourg
PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis)
PrEP is a highly effective medication used to prevent HIV infections. It's recommended for people who do not or cannot use condoms consistently.
On demand
2 pills 2–24 hours before sex, followed by 1 pill 24 hours later, and a final pill 24 hours after that. Recommended for occasional exposure (e.g., once a month).
Daily
1 pill every day. Recommended for those with multiple partners per week.
Cost
PrEP is free in Luxembourg, though appointment waiting periods may apply. Consult the CHL Infectious Diseases Department to begin.
Recommended Vaccinations
- Hepatitis A & B: For all sexually active adults
- HPV: Recommended for everyone under 30
- Mpox: Available via CHL
- Gonorrhea: Vaccine with approximately 30% efficacy
Where to get tested
- Free & anonymous: Appointments at CHL or Planning Familial
- Mobile testing: The Red Cross DIMPS van offers free testing nationwide
- Lab testing: With GP prescription refunded; without prescription out-of-pocket
Emergency: PEP
Had a high-risk exposure (unprotected sex with a partner of unknown HIV status)?
Go to the CHL or any hospital emergency department within 72 hours — the sooner, the better.
PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) is an emergency medication that can prevent HIV from taking hold after exposure.
Photocredits: The team of the Service National de Maladies Infectieuses (SNMI) with Pit Braquet in their midst (first row, second from left). It was the SNMI’s submission to the Féissbook-Präis of the Love-Bretzel 2025, sponsored by Namur and organized by the Red Cross’ HIV Berodung for World AIDS Day – 2025. Photo SNMI
