A quick look at the best online birth control pill services:
- Best overall: Nurx
- Best for timely care: Lemonaid
- Best for variety of pill offerings: SimpleHealth
- Best for overall sexual health: Hers
- Best for female doctors: Pandia Health
- Best technology: Emme
- Best for giving back: PRJKT RUBY
- Best for sweet surprises: The Pill Club
If you have a menstrual cycle, there’s a good chance you’ve considered taking the pill. According to the
With a 99 percent effectiveness rate when used perfectly, contraceptive pills have become a reliable and popular choice for pregnancy prevention.
Nowadays, birth control pills are even more accessible thanks to the profusion of online resources and delivery companies at your fingertips.
Read on to learn more about birth control and the services you can access online.
What are birth control pills?
Oral contraceptives are pills containing hormones that control the functions of the ovaries and uterus to prevent pregnancy. The pills come in a pill pack, typically including 21 to 28 days, and they’re taken daily. When taken daily, the pill is a safe and effective prevention method that stops sperm from fertilizing an egg.
For those who are sexually active, the pill helps them plan life and family on their terms.
Combination birth control pills prevent ovulation, or the release of an egg, by tricking your body into thinking it’s pregnant. The pill’s hormones can also thicken the mucus on the cervix, working like quicksand to prevent the sperm from making contact with the egg.
Outside family planning, the pill has been proven to help regulate menstrual cycles, treat acne, relieve symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), prevent ovarian cysts, and manage endometriosis.
“[Birth control] can even decrease someone’s risk of endometrial and ovarian cancer,” says Sophia Yen, MD, MPH, the co-founder and CEO of Pandia Health.
What are the different types of birth control pills?
There are two types of pills to consider when choosing a birth control option: combination pills — containing both estrogen and progestin — and progestin-only pills.
Both pills are equally effective with typical use. According to the
Combination pills
Combination pills contain synthetic forms of the hormones estrogen and progestin. Within a pill pack, there’s a combination of active pills (containing hormones) and inactive pills, which are hormone-free placebos.
These are the types of combination pills on the market:
- Monophasic pills. These pills are the most commonly prescribed and are used in a 1-month cycle. The active pills are taken daily and include the same amount of hormones in each pill. During the final 7 days of the cycle, you take the inactive pills remaining in your pill pack or skip them.
- Biphasic pills. These pills, used within a 1-month cycle, deliver one strength for 7 to 10 days and a different strength for 11 to 14 days. During the last 7 days of the cycle, you take the inactive pills or skip them.
- Triphasic pills. As with biphasic pills, triphasic pills are considered multiphasic. The pills are color coded and separated into three phases, each lasting 5 to 10 days. During the final week of the cycle, you take the inactive pills or skip them.
- Extended-cycle pills. These are typically used in 13-week cycles. You use active pills for the first 12 weeks and take the inactive pills during the last week of your cycle. These pills result in having a period only 3 to 4 times per year.
Progestin-only pills
Often called the “minipill,” progestin-only pills are free of estrogen. All pills within the 1-month cycle are active and include the progestin hormone.
This pill might be best suited for someone who can’t take estrogen due to a health condition or if they experience bad side effects on the combination pill.
According to American Family Physician, the progestin-only pill may be safer for women who have high blood pressure, are overweight, or have a history of blood clots. The progestin-only pill is also recommended for breastfeeding mothers because it doesn’t impact milk production.
Are birth control pills safe?
For most people, birth control pills are completely safe. Oral contraceptives have been approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), and they are often recommended for more than just pregnancy prevention.
However, before getting on the pill, it’s important to speak with a medical professional about your health and discuss any risks.
How to buy birth control online
Obtaining birth control is more convenient than ever with the surge of on-demand delivery companies. You can now order contraceptives with a few clicks online without having to take the time to visit your doctor or a clinic.
When shopping online, you want to make sure that the online delivery is legitimate and features medical professionals who specialize in birth control.
“Look for companies that lists their doctors’ first and last names, education, and experience,” Yen suggests. “You want expert care by expert doctors, so it’s worth taking the time to do some research before choosing a birth control or telemedicine company online. Look at the Google reviews for how reliable the service is.”
When should you not buy birth control online?
If you have contraindications to estrogen-containing birth control, a condition that serves as a reason to not take the pill due to the potential harm, you should consider obtaining a birth control prescription in person.
Common contraindications include:
- high blood pressure
- history of blood clots
- history of lupus with clotting antibodies
- breast cancer
- liver cancer
- smokers over the age of 35
- diabetes with complications
How we chose
To select a series of online birth control delivery services, we researched each service and spoke with medical professionals.
We also read reviews to find which delivery services were most reliable and offered customers a positive overall experience.
Healthline’s picks for the 8 best online birth control pill services of 2021
Best overall
Nurx
Nurx is one of the most popular birth control pill delivery services online, with more than 18,000 customer reviews. Nurx offers birth control pills, as well as other contraceptives, like the ring, patch, and shot.
To get a prescription, you must first answer a few basic medical questions before being paired with a Nurx medical professional. A brief health assessment will ask for your gender, age, weight, height, and experience using birth control.
Nurx will also ask for a blood pressure reading and your health history to determine which method of birth control is best for you.
For a $15 fee, the Nurx medical team will set up a medical consultation, which includes a year of unlimited messaging for any questions you may have, and they’ll provide a prescription.
After your consultation, the Nurx pharmacy will fill your prescription and send along a 3-month supply with automatic refills. This allows you to receive medication without having to request a new prescription or follow-up appointment.
Plans can be canceled at any time.
Most reviewers praise Nurx’s customer service, professionalism, discreet packaging and ease of use. The company has a 4.9 rating on its website, though some reviewers complain the company can be slow to respond to their messages.
Aside from birth control, Nurx also hosts a suite of health services, including dermatology, emergency contraception, treatments for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV PrEP, and migraine medications. The company also offers at-home STI and COVID-19 testing.
Price: Insurance usually covers the price of birth control, making the pills free of cost. If you don’t have health insurance, Nurx has options available from $15 per month with free delivery.
Best for timely care
Lemonaid
Lemonaid writes prescriptions for more than 100 birth control pills, as well as NuvaRing and the Xulane patch. Each prescription lasts a year, and deliveries typically include a 3-month supply.
One of the main draws of Lemonaid is the company’s quick turnaround time. The delivery company aims to review medical requests within 24 hours business hours, depending on the state requirements. Some states will require patients to conduct a telehealth visit via phone or video before obtaining a prescription.
Lemonaid is also one of the few companies available to treat patients in all 50 states as well as Washington D.C. Patients must be over the age of 18 to order through the service.
Customers must pay out-of-pocket for prescriptions delivered through Lemonaid’s mail-order pharmacy. If you’d like to use insurance on your birth control order, Lemonaid can prescribe your birth control pill and send the order to a local pharmacy. Medical consultations conducted by the site are not covered by insurance.
Most reviewers describe Lemonaid as fast, easy, and affordable. Some reviewers voice concerns about long wait times when planning a video visit with a medical professional.
Lemonaid provides a variety of testing options and treatments for those experiencing anxiety, depression, insomnia, urinary tract infections, acne, asthma, hypothyroidism, and more.
Price: The medical consultation fee is $25. Medication prices start at $15 per month for a 3-month supply. Promotions on first time orders may be available.
Best for variety of pill offerings
SimpleHealth
Like its name indicates, SimpleHealth makes obtaining birth control easy. Customers can fill out a medical history form that will be reviewed by one of SimpleHealth’s doctors to determine a birth control brand that’s safe and effective.
The consultation costs $20 and includes ongoing messaging with your doctor and patient experience team.
SimpleHealth has garnered more than 3,000 reviews and a 4.59 rating on Reviews.io. Ninety percent of reviewers say they would recommend SimpleHealth, and 95 percent report on-time delivery. Reviewers enjoy the simple process and convenience of delivering online.
Some reviewers, however, say their birth controls orders were delayed, and the customer service team wasn’t helpful.
Aside from birth control, SimpleHealth offers its own brand of multivitamins, urinary tract support, and probiotic supplements.
Price: The one-time consultation fee is $20. Most insurances will cover birth control entirely, and out-of-pocket costs start at $15 per month.
Best for overall sexual health
Hers
When it comes to packaging, nothing compares to this aesthetically-pleasing style. From the millennial-targeted typeface to the colorful pill pack envelopes, Hers offers simplistic packaging with a process that’s just as easy.
Hers offers 13 different birth control pills, but only the generic versions are available. Like most online prescription services, Hers requires a short questionnaire. After the medical questionnaire is reviewed by a Hers physician, you’ll have a brief consultation to understand the best pill for you.
Hers professionals are available in every state and can address concerns beyond pregnancy prevention, like acne, mood changes, headaches, and missed periods. After your visit, your professional is available for any follow-up questions and concerns you may have.
New pill packs will arrive 6 days before your last dosage, ensuring you never miss a day. Reviewers like the affordable price point and stress-free delivery.
Hers also offers various sexual health products, like condoms, personal lubricants, vibrators, yeast infection treatments, and STI treatments.
The company is the sister to Hims, a brand for hair growth supplements directed toward men (although they provide hair growth products for women as well).
Price: Hers doesn’t accept health insurance, so you have to pay out of pocket. They offer plans as low as $12 per month, but some pills are more expensive than others.
Best for female doctors
Pandia Health
Pandia Health is the only birth control delivery service that’s female-founded and led, making it an ideal option for those wanting to support a woman-owned business.
Founded by Yen, a physician with more than 20 years of experience, the company has a mission to make their customers’ lives easier by providing timely access to birth control.
If you have an existing prescription, you can upload it and begin to receive deliveries for your desired birth control. If you’re in need of a prescription, you’ll need to pay $20 to fill out a brief health form, which is reviewed by one of Pandia Health’s doctors.
You’ll also need your latest blood pressure measurement, your government ID, credit card, and your health insurance card if you’re using insurance.
Once Pandia Health writes a prescription, you’ll receive free deliveries of your birth control from the company’s partner pharmacy with automatic refills for a year. How many months of pills you receive at a time varies by your insurance coverage. If you’re paying out-of-pocket, Pandia Health can ship as many months of medication as you are willing to pay (up to a year).
Reviewers say Pandia Health is affordable, convenient, and features quick delivery. In addition to birth control pills, they also offer birth control patches, rings, and emergency contraceptives.
Price: With insurance, most people pay $0. Without insurance, prices start at $15 per month with free delivery. Customers can apply for financial aid to cover the cost of the $20 consultation fee, birth control, and emergency contraceptive in California, Florida, Louisiana and Texas.
Best technology
Emme
Emme is a relatively new birth control delivery service. The company provides a complete system for getting, taking, and tracking your pill. If you’re the type of person who relies on reminders and loves making organization easier, Emme is a great option to consider.
The Emme Bluetooth-enabled smart case, priced at $99, is a stylish pill holder that wirelessly connects to an app to track your pill intake and send custom reminders.
The free app also allows you to track your overall health, mood, and symptoms to get a better understanding of your cycle. It’s also full of informative articles and tips on what to do if you miss a dose. According to the company, the Emme smart case and app are effective in reducing 80 percent of missed pills.
Emme customers in 16 states can take advantage of EmmeRX, the company’s recently launched delivery service. After filling out a health questionnaire and paying for a $15 medical consultation, Emme’s medical team will prescribe the pill (when medically appropriate) and begin automatic shipments.
Reviewers say the smart case and app help them stay on track and positively impact their health habits. Reviewers call the product a “game changer,” and many share that they haven’t missed a pill since using the Emme case.
While the case is available separately, the company just launched its birth control delivery service in 16 states.
Price: The medical consultation is $15, the smart case is $99, and birth control options start as low as $15 per month. Insurance is not required. Emme’s birth control is FSA and HSA eligible.
Best for giving back
PRJKT RUBY
PRJKT RUBY keeps birth control simple with affordable options of 12 generic birth control pills.
Customers just starting on birth control pills can benefit from the video consultation option, which allows them to explore the different types of birth control pills in a face-to-face conversation with a medical professional.
One of the standout qualities of PRJKT RUBY is the company’s commitment to giving back. For every month of oral contraceptives purchased, PRJKT RUBY donates 25 cents to Population Services International. Each donation helps provide access to contraceptives to women in developing countries.
Reviews of PRJKT RUBY are generally positive, with customers calling the service timely and supportive. Some reviewers voice frustrations that the website isn’t user-friendly and say several overnight shipments weren’t delivered within the next-day time frame.
PRJKT RUBY also provides emergency contraception.
Price: PRJKT RUBY costs $20 per month, with a minimum order of a 3-month supply. Shipping is free through USPS First Class Mail, but rushed shipments through FedEx are available at $6 for 2-day shipping and $36 for overnight shipping.
Best for sweet surprises
The Pill Club
The Pill Club delivers special goodies in every shipment. The company, which carries more than 120 FDA approved brands, fills every box with a self-care sample product, fun sticker, and a sweet treat. The Pill Club also features an add-on option to receive a generic Plan B or an FC2 internal condom with the pill delivery.
After you fill out a questionnaire, The Pill Club’s medical team will work with you to pick out a birth control that fits your needs. Once you receive your prescription, you can choose between a 1 or 3-month supply, depending on your insurance coverage.
If you have an active prescription from a previous provider, you can skip the medical consultation and work with The Pill Club to fill your prescription. Bonus: They deliver to all 50 states, including Washington D.C., and they can prescribe in 48 states.
With more than 5 million prescriptions delivered, The Pill Club has a 4.6 rating on Google. Reviewers praise the brand’s helpful medical team, the company’s texting options, affordability, and, of course, the goodies.
The Pill Club carries the Annovera ring, emergency contraception, the FC2 Female Condom, and a large selection of popular birth control pill brands.
Price: If you have health insurance, your consultation and birth control pills are covered. If you decide to pay out-of-pocket, The Pill Club offers pricing from $9 per pack for a 1-year supply, or $10.66 per pack for a 3-month supply.
How to use birth control pills
Birth control comes in monthly packs, and most follow either 21-day, 24-day, or 28-day cycles.
If you’re using combination pills, you must follow the order of the pills on the pack, as dosages in multiphasic birth control can vary per pill.
Consistency is key. Your birth control pill must be taken daily to be effective. For progestin-only pills, you must take your pill within the same 3 hours every day to stay protected.
Pro tip: Set a daily alarm with a reminder to take the pill, so you don’t have to panic over a missed dose.
If you miss one dose, take it as soon as you remember. If you don’t remember until the next day, it’s safe to take two pills in one day. For anything more than a single dose missed, contact your doctor for instructions.
Risks and side effects
Birth control pills are safe for most women, but they do have some side effects and risks. Each person reacts differently, so you may or may not experience side effects associated with the pill.
Common side effects include:
- spotting between periods
- nausea
- headaches
- sore breasts
Side effects typically go away after the first few months, but you should contact your doctor if your discomfort exceeds the t3-month mark. Birth control shouldn’t make you feel sick, and your doctor can help you find your best method.
While rare, there are also some more serious health risks associated with oral contraceptives. Blood clots are a serious but rare risk of using birth control pills, particularly combination pills.
Blood clots can cause:
- deep vein thrombosis
- heart attack
- stroke
- pulmonary embolism
If you have high blood pressure or are overweight, you should talk with your doctor about the risk of using combination birth control.
Takeaway
Oral contraceptives are a safe, effective way to prevent pregnancy and relieve period pain. Birth control pills treat a variety of health issues, and can even help prevent endometrial and ovarian cancer.
Online birth control delivery companies help remove barriers to access by offering a convenient and affordable way to obtain birth control, with or without insurance coverage.
When shopping online, it’s best to apply caution and research companies before making an order.
While not suited for those with more extreme health conditions, online birth control delivery programs are an easy and time-saving route for obtaining birth control.
Jillian Goltzman is a freelance journalist covering culture, social impact, wellness, and lifestyle. She’s been published in various outlets, including Cosmopolitan, Glamour, and Fodor’s Travel Guide. Outside of writing, Jillian is a public speaker who loves discussing the power of social media — something she spends too much time on. She enjoys reading, her houseplants, and cuddling with her corgi. Find her work on her website, blog, Twitter, and Instagram.
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