DoctorsHome

TreatmentsWomen's health

Birth control

Birth control is a staple of women’s telehealth, including Nurx and similar services. Visits usually cover the pill, the patch, the ring, and sometimes the shot. DoctorsHome describes those categories. It does not pick a method or write a prescription.

Birth control
  • Combination methods contain estrogen and progestin. Progestin-only methods skip estrogen.
  • The pill, patch, ring, and shot are the forms people most often start online.
  • No method is the best one for everyone. A clinician matches history, migraines, smoking, clots, and goals.

Types people ask about

Telehealth menus often sort options this way. This is not a ranking and not a complete list of every brand.

  • Combination birth control pills
  • Progestin-only pills, sometimes called estrogen-free
  • The patch and the vaginal ring
  • The injection (shot), when a service offers it
  • Emergency contraception, which is a separate, time-sensitive topic

What a birth-control visit usually involves

A clinician asks about blood pressure, migraine with aura, smoking, clot history, and other medicines. Some services require a recent blood pressure reading. If they prescribe, a pharmacy fills it. This site does not.

Safety notes

Estrogen-containing methods are not appropriate for everyone, including some people with migraine with aura, a clot history, or certain smoking histories. Birth control does not protect against sexually transmitted infections. Bleeding changes are a common reason people message their clinician after starting.

Related topics

DoctorsHome publishes educational information about telehealth treatments. It is not a medical practice, clinic, pharmacy, or telehealth service. It does not diagnose, prescribe, or sell medication, and it is not a substitute for care from a licensed clinician.

Medication names on this site are examples clinicians may discuss. They are not recommendations. Availability varies by state. Nothing here is for emergencies. Call 911 for a medical emergency. If you are in a mental-health crisis, call or text 988.