Patients no longer need to wait weeks to see a doctor in-person to access contraception. With online birth control visits you can confirm your medical history, discuss options, receive counseling, and have your prescription delivered to your pharmacy or doorstep. At companies like Omnia Telehealth , patients experience efficient access to contraception without sacrificing evidence-based safety protocols or clinical follow-up.

Virtual contraception counseling provides private, convenient and streamlined care. Switch methods, adjust for side effects, and order refills online.

How do virtual birth control visits work?

Visit types

• Live video visit (10-20 minutes)
• Phone visit if video is not available
• Secure online questionnaire followed by a review within 1-3 days

Asynchronous (“ questionnaire only”) visits can be quick and convenient if you simply need a refill of your current birth control pill or progestin-only pill. Your clinician may ask you to call or have a short video visit to clarify information.

Visits are HIPAA-compliant, and most companies support electronic prescribing, pharmacies, and mail-order options.

Clinical process

A standardized intake form guides you through entering information about:

• Age and smoking history
• Migraine history including migraine with aura
• Blood pressure history
• History of blood clots, stroke or heart disease
• Medications
• Risk of pregnancy

You may be asked to provide a recent home blood pressure measurement if you are requesting contraception containing estrogen.

Clinicians use the CDC U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use to ensure methods recommended are safe for you to use. In most cases, if there are no medical contraindications, the clinician will send an electronic prescription to your pharmacy within 24-48 hours.

Platforms usually have automated refill systems which prompt patients when they need a new prescription. Some companies offer optional check-in visits at 3 months and annually.

Methods available online

Clinicians can prescribe any short-acting hormonal contraceptive method via telemedicine:

Combined birth control pill
Progestin-only pill
Patch
Ring
Emergency contraception

Patients can receive prescriptions for anywhere from one month to twelve months of contraception depending on state laws and insurance coverage. Many states are expanding the allowance of twelve-month supplies.

Short-acting hormonal contraception

Start instructions will be provided to you. The instructions to start most methods are usually as follows:

• Combined pills: can start at any time if you reasonably exclude being pregnant. Use back-up contraception for 7 days unless you start within five days of your period.
• Progestin-only pills: timing is more important than with combined pills and varies based on the type you use.
• Patch: applied weekly for three weeks, then one week off.
• Ring: worn for three weeks, then removed for one week.

For depot medroxyprogesterone injection (“depot medroxy”, “Depo-Provera”), telemedicine providers can often facilitate administration at a local clinic. Patient self-administration of the subcutaneous version of depot medroxy is possible in certain states.

Long-acting reversible contraception (IUDs and Implant)

Providers can offer counseling and referral for placement of:

Hormonal IUDs
Copper IUD
Implant

LARCs have failure rates of less than 1 percent per year and work for three years ( Implant, copper IUD) to ten years ( hormonal IUDs) depending on the method.

An in-person office visit is necessary for insertion and removal of these methods. Telemedicine can make starting these methods easier by helping you decide which method to choose and quickly facilitating referrals to a clinic. This way, the only time you need to spend at the clinic is to receive the procedure.

When can I start birth control and what if I can’t?

Safety screening ensures that you can safely start birth control. Estrogen-containing methods should generally be avoided if you have:

History of blood clots in veins ( venous thromboembolism )
History of migraine with aura
Active liver disease
Uncontrolled high blood pressure
Heavy smoking at age 35 or older

Providers will want to confirm your blood pressure is healthy before prescribing contraception containing estrogen. They can then usually recommend a progestin-only method or LARC.

Body mass index (BMI) is also commonly assessed. Some providers may prefer that patients with a high BMI (greater than 35 kg per square meter) use progestin-only methods or LARCs. This is due to higher risk of blood clots at high BMI, as well as possible lower effectiveness with some birth control pills at high BMI.

Obtaining a pelvic exam prior to starting birth control is not necessary. You only need to visit a provider in-person to start birth control if you desire an IUD or implant, or if it cannot be reasonably determined that you are not pregnant.

Prescriptions and Pharmacies

Once approved:

• Your prescription is sent electronically to your preferred pharmacy.
• If you choose a mail-order option, you should receive your contraception in 2-5 business days.
• Insurance plans often cover contraceptives with generic options at no copay if your provider is part of their network.

Automated refill systems help you remember to request your next refill before you run out. Telemedicine companies can often submit prior authorizations electronically to your insurance.

Side effects and follow-up

Minor side effects like nausea, spotting or breast tenderness are common with hormonal birth control, but go away after 1-3 menstrual cycles.

Seek medical attention immediately if you experience:

Severe headache with neurological symptoms
Trouble breathing
Chest pain
Pain or swelling in one of your legs

Annual blood pressure checks and follow-up of your health status are usually recommended.

Privacy and legal issues

Clinicians conducting the visit will be licensed in your state of residence. Telemedicine companies confirm clinician license numbers and knowledge of state specific prescribing regulations.

All 50 states allow minors to access contraception without parental consent. Parents may still be listed on insurance cards and billing statements will still be sent to them. Companies offer options for confidential email or text messaging if this is a concern.

Online healthcare companies have strict privacy policies and employ technology such as encryption, restricted access to data, and secure storage. It’s always a good idea to confirm they follow HIPAA privacy rules.

Costs

Federal law requires that most private insurance plans cover contraception prescribed by an in-network provider without patient cost-sharing. The cost of telehealth visits will vary by insurance.

If uninsured:

Costs for birth control pills range from $20-50 per month without insurance. Clinics with sliding-scale fees and Title X programs exist. Discount cards and manufacturer coupons are also available.

Providers that offer audio-only visits may be covered by insurance depending on your provider. Audio-only visits increase accessibility for patients who do not have high-speed internet.

Conclusion

Online birth control visits help you quickly and privately access contraception. Virtual doctors can provide contraceptive counseling, prescribe birth control, and help you manage side effects or make method changes without waiting for an office appointment. Do your homework before your visit by reviewing your medical history, gathering a list of medications, and obtaining a recent blood pressure measurement if possible.

FAQ

Q1: Can I get birth control online?

A: Patients can receive birth control prescriptions after answering questions about their health history online and during a live visit with a clinician.

Q2: Which birth control can I get online?

A: Combined birth control pill, progestin-only pills, patch, ring, emergency contraception, and sometimes injectables can be prescribed online. Long-acting reversible contraception (implants and IUDs) require in-person placement, but online providers can help facilitate starting these methods.

Q3: Can I refill birth control online?

A: Yes, birth control can be refilled online through a secure patient portal. Some states allow providers to prescribe up to one year of birth control at a time.

Q4: Is it safe to get birth control online?

A: Telehealth providers review your medical history to ensure you can safely start birth control. As with starting birth control in-person, you will need to provide recent information about your health to confirm it is safe to start or continue a method.

Q5: Are online birth control prescriptions private?

A: Yes, online birth control prescriptions and visits are private. All telehealth companies are HIPAA compliant. Insurance statements will likely notify your insurance-holder of services rendered, so ask about confidential messaging options if this is a concern.