'Tripperburgen' the sexual health clinics that detained women

Jun 16, 2025

The harrowing saga of 'Tripperburgen' sheds light on the forcibly detained women in East Germany's sexual health clinics post-World War II. Personal stories reveal the traumatic encounters faced by individuals like Sabine, who experienced abuse under the guise of medical attention. The discussion highlights the grim realities of dehumanizing gynecological examinations and the deep psychological scars left by such experiences. This unsettling narrative serves as a wake-up call to recognize women's rights and the need for accountability.

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ANECDOTE

Sabine's Flight and Capture

Sabine ran away from a strict and violent family to seek freedom and was caught by police at a party.
She was forcibly detained, never told where she was going, and spent her first night in a police cell.

ANECDOTE

Tripperburgen Detention and Exam

Sabine was taken to a "Tripperburgen," a sexual health clinic where women were forcibly kept though mostly not sick.
She endured her first gynaecological exam without knowing what to expect and felt shame and fear.

ANECDOTE

Daily Exams and Internalized Blame

Sabine shared the routine of forced daily gynaecological checks alongside dozens of other women and girls.
She felt the punishment was deserved and did not resist, believing she was bad and a vagrant.

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After the Second World War, in what was then East Germany, or the German Democratic Republic (GDR), tens of thousands of women and girls were forcibly detained and abused in sexual health clinics.

In 1977, at the age of 15, Sabine was at a house party in Leipzig when police came for her. She was taken to a so-called ‘Tripperburgen’ which translates to ‘gonorrhoea castle’.

After 31 days she was told to leave. Research shows at least 10 of these wards existed in the GDR and 70% of the women had not been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted disease.

Sabine tells Megan Jones about what happened to her, including being subjected to her first ever gynaecological exam.

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(Photo: Tripperburgen at Riebeckstraße 63. Credit: Fotozentrum Leipzig)