Where to Buy Birth Control Online in 2024
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Since the repeal of Roe V. Wade, the reproductive rights and bodily autonomy of the people of the United States are increasingly under attack. Twenty-one states have either banned abortion entirely or have restricted the window in which one can legally get an abortion. On Feb. 16th, the Alabama Supreme Court also ruled that frozen embryos, which are essential for in vitro fertilization (or IVF treatments), should be considered people in the eyes of the law.
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As a result, many providers of IVF treatments in Alabama are halting their services to ensure that they stay abreast of the law. Many families and providers of IVF have been left grappling with questions about their already existing frozen embryos, and whether or not they can get treatment out of Alabama. Right now, access to birth control emergency contraceptives are still protected under state law, but with the backsliding of rights for people with uteruses, this makes safe and reliable access to contraceptive care more important than ever before.
Most commonly taken as a pill, birth control is a medication that regulates hormones to prevent pregnancy with a 99% rate of effectiveness. But that’s not all it does — lots of people take birth control to help manage acne, anemia, cysts, endometriosis, and to reduce or lighten period cramps and period bleeding. Birth control has also frequently been used to alleviate gender dysphoria in transgender men and AFAB non-binary people.
Where to Buy Birth Control Online
For all these reasons and more, birth control is a great investment to help keep you and your body safe and happy. While over-the-counter birth control is on its way, right now one of the most accessible ways for you to get birth control is online. There’s lots of great telehealth and provider services to look through, so if you’re wondering how to buy birth control online, we’ve rounded up some of the most reputable options so that you can easily find the best one for you.
1. Hers
Hers is a woman-driven telehealth app and online prescription service that offers more than just birth control. Signing up for a membership with Hers will also help you treat other medical issues you may have such as hair loss, dermatological conditions, and mental health struggles. However arguably its best resource is its easy access to birth control — with a subscription as little as $12 dollars a month, Hers will quickly connect you to a doctor that will prescribe you one of many birth control pills they have available. There are 13 different birth control pills, but only the generic versions are available. After filling out a medical questionnaire, you’ll have a brief consultation with a physician to understand the best pill for you.
Pros:
Virtual visitation for prescription is included in fee
Only $12 a month
Wide variety of birth control pills
Free shipping
Available in all 50 states
Cons:
Only pills and condoms, no patches
Does not accept insurance
2. Wisp
Wisp is a super convenient option for your birth control needs. Not only do they offer discreet delivery, but you’ll on-demand consultations with doctors and local pharmacy pick-up for your medications. In fact, you don’t need to have insurance in order to use Wisp — the company doesn’t even accept insurance (although insurance may help cover any co-pay the pharmacy charges).
They also provide access to other resources and medications regarding sexual health and wellness, such as treatments for urinary tract infections or STIs. Though birth control is highly effective in reducing pregnancy risks, it is not a viable form of STI protection. Wisp has your back covered, offering both.
Pros:
No subscription or consultation fee
Also sells Plan B and STI medication
Accepts FSA (flexible spending account) and HSA (health savings account)
Will ship to your house or pharmacy
Cons:
Does not accept insurance
Only sells pills
Limited to US only
3. Nurx
Nurx is arguably one of the most popular birth control delivery services online, and we can see why, with over 26,000 customer reviews praising their ease of use and discreet packaging. Nurx birth control offers pills as well as other contraceptives, like the ring, patch, and shot. For just $15 upfront, you’ll get set up with a medical consultation, which includes a year of unlimited messaging for any questions you may have about your prescription. It’s a good amount of guidance if you’ve never been on birth control before, or if you’re getting back on it again.
It’s not just for birth control either, and you can get health services for dermatology, emergency contraception, STIs, and even migraine medication. If you don’t have health insurance, no worries — Nurx has options available that also start at $15 a month.
Pros:
Affordable options for those without insurance
Over 100 generic and brand-name birth control options
Recognition and support for trans and non-binary customers
Offers at-home STI and Covid-19 testing
Cons
Insurance doesn’t cover consultation fee
Deliveries can take up to a week
Currently unavailable in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, or Wyoming
4. Twentyeight Health
Our favorite thing about Twentyeight Health that sets it apart from most other birth control retailers is that it’s easy to get a prescription for medication for teenagers. Whether we want to acknowledge it or not, yes, teenagers do have sex, so this is a great way to ensure that your teen is avoiding any pregnancy scares. Beyond that, Twentyeight is a great resource for anyone of any age seeking birth control. Its only real negative is that it isn’t available in every single state, but Twentyeight currently has plans on expanding. Another commendable aspect is Twentyeight Health’s model of prioritizing gender and sexuality inclusivity, giving access to tests, treatments, and medications for all genders.
Pros:
Offers available for teens (starting at 13)
Has pills, patches, rings, shots, and emergency contraception
Accepts insurance
Consultation fee included with subscription
Free, discreet shipping
Cons:
Only available in 32 states
5. Alpha
Alpha is a great pick if you’re looking for more than just birth control, providing care for over 100 health conditions. It’s a telehealth company that focuses on women’s medicine and care — Hello Alpha was even founded by women. I’m sure lot of us can understand the urge to find a doctor who really respects women and caters to our health and wellness needs considering the statistic that almost 50% of women have had experiences with doctors who belittled them and their pain. Plus, they have a wide variety of options to choose from, both in regards to birth control and other aspects of your medical care.
Whether or not you want a full subscription, or whether or not you want to use your family insurance to purchase birth control, Alpha can tailor to your specific needs. You can sign up for a membership or pay for a single visit to use Alpha’s services, although a membership will give you access to two visits a month and discounted additional visits.
Pros:
Great for ongoing care
Offers pill, patch, ring and emergency contraception
Accepts insurance, but it also is not necessary
Can get membership or use just once
Cons:
Can get pricey if you don’t use insurance
6. Pandia Health
Compared to other services, we appreciate that Pandia Health‘s focus is first and foremost on birth control. While it can be nice to have an all-in-one telehealth network, sometimes you just want a service that caters to one need and does it really well. If that’s what you’re looking for, Pandia is the option for you, offering over a hundred different medications both in brand-name and generic versions (they often send little goodies along with each package of medication you order, too). As a start-up, they also have some of the best customer service around.
Pros:
Accepts insurance
Has brand-name and generic
Has a vegan option (Twirla patch)
Free shipping and automatic refills
Cons:
Pills are not suitable for vegans
$15 dollar fee for all pill packs purchased without insurance
If you don’t already have a prescription, Pandia only offers telehealth doctor appointments in 17 states, including Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Tennessee, Pennsylvania or Wyoming (although they do have plans to expand to more states in 2024)
Is it OK to Buy Birth Control Online?
Yes. Whether you’re looking to get an existing prescription sent to you by mail or need to get a prescription virtually, online birth control services can help. Not only are they easy-to-use, but buying birth control from reputable retailers online is safe. You will still need to get a prescription to buy birth control online, but you can receive a prescription through an online birth control service as opposed to from your regular doctor’s office.
That being said, if you have certain medical conditions, like high blood pressure or a history of breast cancer, we recommend you consult with a medical professional at in-person care before buying birth control online.
The pill form of birth control is safe for most people, but there are still some side effects and risks. Every person will react differently, so you may or may not experience common side effects such as spotting between periods, nausea, headaches, or sore breasts. Blood clots, while rare, are also a serious side effect of using birth control pills (mostly combination pills). Again, these side effects typically go away after the first few months, but you should reach out to your doctor if you’re still feeling uncomfortable after three months.
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