Thanks to an ever-growing list of online birth control delivery options, you can now get the birth control you need without ever leaving the house. Online companies make it easy to order from home and have your birth control delivered right to your door. Learn all about online birth control delivery and how it can work for you.
How Does Online Birth Control Delivery Work?
Most online birth control companies offer a range of birth control methods, including the pill, patch and ring. Accessing birth control online usually involves the following steps:
- You complete an online form with your medical history, previous or current birth control, and birth control needs and goals.
- A doctor, nurse or other health professional reviews your form and tailor a birth control plan according to your needs.
- You do a telephone or email consultation with the doctor to discuss your needs and birth control plan in more detail. (Most companies also offer ongoing support over time.)
- You provide your address, payment and health insurance details.
- The doctor writes you a prescription and their pharmacy sends you a 3-month supply of your birth control in discreet, unbranded packaging.
- The company fills and ships repeat prescriptions automatically, but you can cancel at any time.
What Are the Pros of Ordering Online?
Online birth control has a number of advantages that make it more accessible. For example, it’s:
- Convenient — You can do it on your own schedule, without taking time off from work to visit a doctor or pharmacy.
- Affordable — Online birth control offers a wider range of options, including less expensive generic versions. Your prescription gets delivered free of charge, saving hidden costs like transportation and parking. Online providers often accept Medicaid and other forms of health insurance — or they may offer affordable birth control plans for people without insurance.
- Discreet — You won’t need to answer personal questions face-to-face with a doctor or pharmacist. And your order arrives in discreet, unbranded packaging — so your birth control is nobody’s business but your own.
Is It Safe to Order Birth Control Online?
Like all medicines, hormonal birth control does come with health risks — and that’s true whether you buy it online or in person. For example, hormonal birth control pills can raise your risk of blood clots and strokes. So if you’re at higher risk for certain health conditions, it’s important to talk with your regular doctor before ordering birth control online. An online birth control company might also recommend that you see a doctor in person based on your medical history.
Hormonal birth control pills may not be safe for everyone. For example:
- If you’re over age 35 and you smoke, you’re at higher risk for heart disease and stroke. Your doctor may recommend that you quit smoking before using birth control pills.
- If you’re over age 35 and stopped smoking less than a year ago, your risk may still be high, as it takes some time for your body to recover from smoking. Ask your doctor when it’s safe for you to take birth control pills.
- If you take certain other medicines, they may interfere with birth control pills. Ask your doctor if medicines you take — like certain antibiotics, antifungal treatments, or medicines for epilepsy or HIV — can affect how your birth control works.
You may also be at higher risk of complications from hormonal birth control if you’ve had other health problems, including:
- Blood clots
- Heart attack, stroke or other heart problems
- Certain cancers, including breast, cervical, endometrial, ovarian or uterine cancer
- Migraine headaches with aura (seeing flashing, zigzag lines)
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure
- Diabetes
If you’ve had any of these health problems, ask your doctor what types of birth control are safe for you.
What If My Delivery Is Late?
Birth control is time sensitive, so online birth control companies try to make sure that your prescription arrives on time. But delays do happen. If your order is late, it’s important to use another birth control method in the meantime. You can use condoms or other over-the-counter methods until your order arrives.
Once the delayed birth control arrives, start to use it immediately. Just remember that depending on the method and how long the delay was, the birth control may not be effective straight away. You may need to use backup methods (like condoms) for seven days to prevent pregnancy.
Where Can I Order Birth Control Online?
There are a lot of online birth control companies, including:
- Planned Parenthood Direct — The free Planned Parenthood app offers unlimited access to doctors and nurses, without an appointment, anytime and anywhere.
- Nurx — You pay a $15 fee for a medical consultation, which includes unlimited messages with the medical team for a year. Birth control plans start from as little as $15 per month for customers with health insurance, with $0 co-pay with most insurance plans.
- Hers — Plans start from $12 per month. The website also provides clear info about which birth control options can help with things like treating acne, period pain and heavy periods.
- Lemonaid — You pay $25 for one medical consultation per year. Lemonaid requires that you know your blood pressure before ordering.
If you have more questions about types of birth control or the best method for you, you can talk with your regular doctor before you try ordering online.
Resource Links:
- “How Safe Is the Birth Control Pill?” via Planned Parenthood
- “How Do I Get Birth Control Pills?” via Planned Parenthood
- “Birth Control Pill FAQ: Benefits, Risks and Choices” via Mayo Clinic
- “Combined Pill: Your Contraception Guide” via National Health Service (UK)
- “What To Do When Your Birth Control Delivery Is Late” via Bedsider
