Private, Nonprofit Companies Introduce Birth Control Apps, Websites, Women Need Not Visit Clinics For Prescriptions

Birth control apps and websites have been developed to help more women obtain prescription contraceptives without the need to go to a doctor. Public health experts believe that this new development will help in promoting contraceptives and other birth control methods to lower the increased rate of unintended pregnancies and abortions, as well as address issues faced by some countries,  like the use of birth control pills in the Philippines.

The birth control apps and websites have started under the political radar instead of a program funded through the taxpayer's money or a legislative proposal. According to reports, several digital ventures both by private companies and nonprofit organizations like Planned Parenthood already offer prescriptions from clinicians, specifically for birth control pills, birth control patches, birth control shots and birth control pills for acne. While some of these companies deliver the contraceptives directly to the women's doorsteps, others use insurance like the Medicaid for those with low incomes.

For instance, a birth control app known as "Lemonaid" provides women a doctor's review of their medical data and then delivers pill description for $15, according to Birth Control.Com.

Given the fact that almost 40 percent of pregnancies in the US are unplanned, birth control issues are essential public health concerns that experts wish to address by promoting methods like birth control implants. But for immediate methods, a visit to the doctor could be too demanding and expensive for some women, especially the teenagers.

Attempts were made to prevent all these obstacles, including the requirements set by the US government through the Affordable Care Act, which states that all health plans must pay for birth control prescriptions. However, this effort was met with controversy as religious and political organizations have been opposing the move.

A broaden birth control access is being worked on in Oregon and California by implementing laws that allow pharmacists to give prescriptions of contraceptives in drugstores. But since the new apps and websites are already capable of reaching more women, they no longer require legislative approval because the clinicians write the prescription.  Nevertheless, the companies are required to follow telemedicine rules depending on the state, and that they could on provide prescriptions in areas with licensed clinicians, as explained by Planned Parenthood.