I tried an app that lets you order birth control pills online for free - and it's a game-changer
I've been taking "the pill" for a decade. This popular type of birth control, which involves a daily pill, works by keeping eggs (or "ova") from leaving the ovaries.
Birth control is important for many reasons — first and foremost for preventing unwanted pregnancies — but I was prescribed it for a slightly atypical reason: Shortly after starting my period for the first time, I stopped menstruating for five months.
This phenomenon, known as amenorrhea, has a variety of causes, but my doctors chalked it up to the fact that I was (and still am) highly physically active and below-average weight.
While I felt more than OK with the idea of not getting my monthly period (Good riddance, cramps!), my doctors weren't so happy to see it go.
Turned out I also had low levels of a key hormone called estrogen which, among other things, helps keep bones strong. Without my monthly cycle, I was at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis, a weakening of the bones.
So, I was given a prescription for the pill. Over the past decade, I've spent thousands of hours getting to and from doctor's offices (not to mention waiting to be seen) only to spend a few minutes with my physician and get a renewal for my prescription.
So, when I heard about an online app that lets you get a three-month supply of birth control in a few minutes — no doctor's visit required — I was skeptical. But last week, something happened that made me decide to give it a go.
Shortly before I was scheduled to fly overseas for vacation, I got a notice that my prescription needed to be renewed. In all the pre-trip planning excitement, I'd forgotten to schedule an appointment with my doctor, and by the time I called her office, she was booked solid.
Not wanting to go without the pill for my entire vacation, I decided to try an app. I'd heard about several available options, including one called Nurx. A quick Google search led me to an easy-to-use website that looked like this:
After clicking "Get Started," I was taken to a menu where I could select the type and brand of birth control I wanted. There were tons of options:
Having been on the pill for so many years, it was easy for me to pick the one I knew. Still, I wanted to see what the app would offer someone who was a little newer to the process and might want some help. So I clicked "Help me choose on my own!"
First, I was asked whether I preferred pills over the patch or the ring, and then, I was given a few questions to help narrow down my options.
A small blue dot next to each pill indicated that it was a generic, an lower-cost alternative to the brand-name version of a drug that is comparable in dosage form, strength, quality, and performance.
Source: US Food and Drug Administration
Once I'd selected my pill, I was asked a few questions designed to ensure that I didn't have any health risks that should prohibit me from taking it, such as high blood pressure or a history of blood clots.
The final step was uploading a photo of my driver license and health insurance card. Thanks to the 2010 Affordable Care Act (aka "Obamacare"), my birth control was free.
Source: HealthCare.gov
About a week later, a plain envelope simply marked with "Value Pharmacy" as the return address arrived in the mail.
Inside, I found a three-month supply of the birth control I'd ordered along with a standard sheet summarizing the medication's risks and benefits and a receipt.
For the foreseeable future, I don't have to worry about the stress of making another appointment. Like I said earlier: Complete game-changer.
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