Women need to have easy access to physicians to help with female health concerns. For many, using health care apps can be a more convenient way to address their health concerns. An app such as Text2MD can put you into contact with a licensed physician to discuss all of your birth control options.
Is It Possible to Get Birth Control on an App?
Yes, you can get birth control through a health care app. In addition to apps that are specially designed to provide easy access to contraceptives, a general health care app may also be able to connect you with a physician who can provide a prescription. For some, it may be more convenient to address all of your health care needs with a single app rather than using multiple apps.
So, how can health care apps help you get access to contraceptives? Ultimately, the process is similar to going to a doctor at a health care facility, but you can access your health care at your convenience with an app. Many apps allow you to message doctors, receive urgent on-demand care, and much more.
Consult With a Licensed Physician
The first step in getting online access to contraceptives is consulting with a licensed physician. When you want to have a prescription for the pill, you need to discuss all of your health concerns with your physician. Your doctor will ask about your sexual activity, your general reproductive health, and any other health concerns you may have.
For example, you may want to let your doctor know if you frequently feel lightheaded or if you have heavy menstrual cycles, as this will help your doctor identify the contraceptives that are best for your needs.
Explore Birth Control Options
There are dozens of contraceptive brands available for women through a physician. Based on your general health, your menstrual cycle, and other factors, some birth control options may be more appropriate for you than others. In general, there are four main types of pills you may have a prescription for, such as:
Combined Estrogen-Progesterone
Combined estrogen-progesterone pills are the most common form of contraceptive for women. The combination of estrogen and progesterone balances a woman’s hormone production with synthetic hormones. As a form of contraceptive, the combination pill is known to be 99% effective when taken daily.
When using a combined estrogen-progesterone pill, your prescription will either be monophasic or multiphasic. Monophasic pills only have one phase of active hormones that remain static in each of the active pills for the month. Multiphasic pills, on the other hand, have varying levels of active hormones that correspond with your cycle throughout the month.
Progesterone-Only
Also known as the mini pill, this form of contraception only uses progesterone as an active hormone. Progesterone-only pills are usually recommended for women who are sensitive to estrogen. Furthermore, progesterone-only pills may be recommended for women who have very heavy periods.
Unlike combination pills, the mini-pill generally does not have any inactive pills included in the prescription. When using this form of contraceptive, it’s common for women to skip multiple periods, similar to a continuous pill.
Continuous Pill
Continuous pills are usually prescribed as a way to reduce menstrual cycles, particularly for women who have major health concerns or heavy periods. With the continuous pill, the extended dosage will generally include 84 active pills and seven inactive pills. The goal of the continuous pill is to only allow for four menstrual cycles a year.
Low-Dose
Low-dose pills are typically estrogen-only pills that contain a very small dose of estrogen. While low-dose pills are a good option for those who are just starting oral contraceptives, they may also be a good option for women who are experiencing symptoms of menopause. Although low-dose pills will reduce symptoms of PMS, it’s common for women to experience breakthrough bleeding while taking this contraceptive.
Receive Prescription in the Mail
After you and your doctor identify the oral contraceptive that is most appropriate for your needs, your physician will contact a mail-order pharmacy to fill your prescription. Alternatively, your physician can send your prescription to your local pharmacy so that you can pick up your prescription instead.
Regular Check-Ups
When you are using oral contraceptives, it’s important to maintain regular health check-ups with your physician. This will ensure that your oral contraceptive is addressing your health concerns. If you aren’t satisfied with the results of your prescription, your physician may explore a higher dose option instead.
Why Do Women Consider Birth Control?
A woman’s access to birth control is important for several reasons. While many women use oral contraceptives to prevent pregnancy, there are several other health reasons to use oral contraceptives. Some of these reasons include:
PMS and PMDD
Women who experience extreme symptoms associated with PMS and PMDD are good candidates for oral contraceptives. The symptoms of PMS and PMDD are caused by the hormonal fluctuation associated with the menstrual cycle. Some of these symptoms can be so extreme that they are disturbing to everyday life.
For example, some women experience migraines, severe back pains, mood swings, and extremely painful cramps about two weeks before the menstrual cycle. Oral contraceptives can reduce the severity of these symptoms.
Heavy Menstrual Cycles
Women who have heavy menstrual cycles are also candidates for oral contraceptives. Sometimes, heavy menstrual cycles are caused by a hormone imbalance that causes excessive bleeding during a period. Using oral contraceptives is one way to reduce heavy bleeding each month.
Irregular Menstrual Cycles
Some women may also experience irregular menstrual cycles. For example, instead of having a period each month, women may have periods sporadically a few times a year or may have continuous periods for several weeks or months. Irregular menstrual cycles can be difficult to manage and can pose certain health risks, so oral contraceptives can help regulate the cycle for the benefit of a woman’s health.
Acne
Some women may also experience hormonal acne associated with PMS. Hormonal acne forms painful cysts, typically on the lower face and jaw, that can also cause scarring. Cystic acne can be difficult to treat with only topical medications, so if you are developing regular hormonal cystic acne, your doctor may recommend oral contraceptives to regulate your hormone production
Peri-Menopause
Women who are in the early stages of menopause or peri-menopause may also experience irregular menstrual cycles or other symptoms associated with menopause, such as hot flashes and mood swings. Some studies show using a low-dose oral contraceptive can reduce some of these symptoms.
Prevent Anemia
Aside from reproductive health, women often consider using oral contraceptives to address other health concerns. For example, women who have very heavy menstrual cycles are more at risk for developing anemia, which can lead to other health complications. To reduce the risk of anemia, physicians may recommend extended cycle pills.
Additionally, some women who may have bleeding disorders may need to use this medication to prevent periods altogether. Women who have bleeding disorders are at a higher risk of health complications during the menstrual cycle, and a continuous-dose pill can help them stay healthy.
What Happens When You Take the Pill?
When you use oral contraceptives, you are essentially resetting the hormone balance in your body. By balancing your levels of estrogen and progesterone, you can achieve a more normal menstrual cycle, as well as reduce symptoms of PMS.
Is Breakthrough Bleeding a Cause for Concern?
Breakthrough bleeding is a common phenomenon that occurs with oral contraceptives, especially with low-dose pills. Breakthrough bleeding or spotting between periods is usually not a cause for concern. If you are concerned about heavy breakthrough bleeding, you should contact your doctor to discuss a higher-dose oral contraceptive.
When Is the Best Time to Take the Pill?
Many physicians recommend taking the pill at bedtime or a few hours before bed. Taking oral contraceptives at night may reduce symptoms such as nausea. It’s important to take oral contraceptives at the same time every day. If you miss a dose, you should take the pill as soon as you remember. You should not ever double up on your dose.
Consider a Health Care App for Women’s Health Needs
If you want access to a physician for women’s health concerns, you may want to consider a health care app. Oral contraceptives and many other women’s health concerns can be managed through telemedicine. Download Text2MD to talk to a physician about your woman’s health concerns today.
