| It's good to decide what birth control method you want to use before you start having vaginal intercourse. Getting prescription birth control online in the U.S. may be not be as easy as it might seem. Not all states allow online prescriptions for birth control. And there are very few legitimate sites that charge reasonable prices for providing prescription birth control online, such as the site for Planned Parenthood of the Columbia/Willamette in Portland, OR (you need to live in Oregon to use this online service).
Many women would like to use hormonal methods of birth control. But some, especially younger women, don't want to go to a health care provider because they'd rather not have a pelvic exam or a Pap test. Online access is not their only alternative, however. Many providers will allow you to postpone having the pelvic exam. This varies from provider to provider, so ask about this option. If you are allowed to postpone the pelvic exam, be sure to ask how long you can postpone it.
For a woman to use hormonal methods safely, it is important for a clinician to take her medical history — whether online or in person. That way, she can be evaluated for any of the contraindications that would make it risky for her to use a certain method. For example, women who smoke or who have migraine headaches with aura should not use combined hormone methods, such as the patch, the pill, or the ring.
Although online prescription may be convenient and have other advantages, there are also important health advantages to having a face-to-face meeting with a provider. It allows women with important questions to get answers they can't find on the Internet. Conversation and follow-up with a health care provider are important whenever prescription medication is used. Not all sites that offer prescription contraceptives do follow-up phone calls to see how a woman is doing with a new method.
There are legitimate sites on the Internet for getting prescription medications. But there are also sites that are not legitimate. Millions of dollars' worth of fake medications are sold online. Some won't work because they don't have the right ingredients. Some may include other ingredients that may be dangerous. People who order medication online need to be sure that the source is trustworthy and the prices are reasonable.
If you are seeking prescription contraception online because you fear having a pelvic exam or are unable to have a conversation about your contraceptive needs with your usual health care provider, you may want to change providers. Or you may want to make an appointment with the nearest Planned Parenthood health center by calling, toll free, 1-800-230-PLAN.
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