Accessible Ways To Get Birth Control Online And Delivered To Your Doorstep

Using contraceptives, or birth control, is still a taboo subject today. In many parts of the world, particularly in more conservative countries, women who seek out contraceptives encounter great social stigma. While people's views on contraceptive use differ, it's important to note that birth control is an essential part of family planning for individuals who are sexually active but want to avoid pregnancy (for whatever reason). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that between 2015 and 2017, 64.9% of the 72.2 million women in the U.S. between the ages of 15 and 49 were using birth control.

Birth control, per MedlinePlus, is the use of medicines, devices, or surgery to prevent sperm from reaching the uterus and or to prevent the ovaries from releasing eggs. There are four types of birth control: the barrier method, the hormonal method, long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), and sterilization. Barrier methods include condoms, spermicides, sponges, and diaphragms. Pills and vaginal rings are typical examples of hormonal contraceptives.

Depending on the type of contraceptive you want to use, you'll likely have to visit your healthcare provider to get a prescription. During the visit, you will be asked questions about your medical history and may receive a pelvic exam (via Planned Parenthood). Once you have a prescription in hand, you would typically visit the local pharmacy to pick up your birth control. However, now there is a growing number of options to purchase birth control online and even have it shipped directly to your door.

You'll find a myriad of wellness services and products for women at Hers, including access to oral contraceptives. And because birth control pills can do more than keep you from becoming pregnant, there are a variety of options to suit different needs. For instance, by completing a simple online intake form, you can choose from birth control pills that can help ease period pain, such as headaches, or pills that can treat acne problems.

You must be at least 18 years old to buy birth control pills from Hers. Plans start at $12 per month, whether you're insured or not. In many states in the U.S., you need a doctor's prescription to get hormonal birth control pills (via Planned Parenthood). At Hers, you can get medical consultation and an online prescription from a licensed provider — at no extra charge — before placing any order. You can purchase more than one month's worth of birth control pills, and periodic refills are available. Currently, Hers does not offer international shipping, but if you live in the U.S., your medication will be shipped to your address free of charge.

Birth control isn't one-size-fits-all, so not everyone benefits from using the same type of birth control. For instance, those who smoke are usually advised against using hormonal birth control methods, like combination pills or patches. This is because smoking cigarettes while on oral contraceptives has been found to significantly increase the risks of strokes and heart disease (via Jefferson Health). Another example is if you have a BMI of 30 or higher. In this case, Plan B pills might not be effective for you.

Virtuwell.com offers three types of birth control online: patches, pills, and rings. At Virtuwell.com, the procedure to receive birth control is thorough and confidential. You'll need to log onto the portal and respond to a few questions from an online nurse or doctor. Based on your medical history, a practitioner will select a birth control method that works best for you. After that, Virtuwell.com will send a prescription to your pharmacy for pickup and payment. Virtuwell.com charges $59 per visit, which includes follow-up questions. You can pay by credit card if you don't have insurance. If you're insured, Virtuwell.com will submit the claim to your insurance company on your behalf. If for whatever reason Virtuwell.com is unable to provide you with a prescription for birth control after your consultation, there will be no charge.

Birth control is a basic need for anyone who is sexually active. For teenagers, however, access to birth control isn't always readily available or convenient. Enter Twentyeight, which provides discreet healthcare services to girls and women ages 13 to 49. Twentyeight sells over 100 brands of birth control, with options ranging from condoms and pills to shots. 

To begin the process of obtaining birth control, you'll need to fill out an online intake form to answer questions about your age, your weight, and your medical needs. Then, you can schedule a free call with Twentyeight's physicians to find the most optimal birth control options for you. Once prescribed, your order will be shipped free of charge to your address within three to five working days.

According to Lemon Lab, your birth control product will arrive in a discreet package without any labeling, so nobody knows where it is shipped from or what it is. Without insurance, expect to pay $170 for a pack of three patches or $16 for a pack of pills, plus a $20 medical evaluation fee.

Favor, formerly known as Pill Club, is another go-to service for those looking for various birth control options at affordable prices. The company has a Google review score of 4.6, with a majority of reviewers expressing satisfaction with its availability, freebies, and helpful staff.

Offering more than 100 different types of birth control pills and hormonal rings, Favor provides free-of-charge consultations and customized ongoing healthcare services to most of its insured clients, including access to Plan B pills, female condoms, self-care extras, auto-refills, and discreet delivery. If you're not covered by insurance, you can choose between a one-year supply of pills at $6.99 per pack or a three-month supply at $10.66 per pack. If you want to add online consultations to your cart, expect to pay an additional $15 annual fee. 

Favor is available in all 50 U.S. states and also offers international shipping.

Lemonaid Health is another birth control provider that's garnered overwhelmingly positive Google reviews; it has a solid 4.8-star rating. There is a broad selection of medical treatments and services available, in addition to access to birth control pills, patches, and rings. To begin, fill out a questionnaire about your medical history and current needs and expect a practitioner to contact you within 24 hours via phone or video call for follow-up questions and treatment recommendations.

Typically, consultations cost $25 and cover both the evaluation and the prescription. If the practitioner is unable to write you a prescription for whatever reason, you won't be charged. For $15, you can choose to have your birth control pills mailed to you every three months, so you won't ever have to worry about not being prepared. First-time purchasers receive a $5 discount on their first order. For those with insurance, these fees will be lower.