How to Get Birth Control Without a Prescription

If you ask us, access to birth control should be easy and comfortable. One of the most common questions we've heard is: can I get birth control without a prescription? The short answer is: absolutely.

With more than 99% of reproductive age women in the United States using contraception at some point in their lives, reliable access to contraception is more important now than ever. Let's explore how to get birth control online or in person without a prescription.

Do I Need a Prescription for Birth Control?

Whether you need a birth control prescription depends on the specific type of birth control that you're considering. In general, many contraception options require a prescription from a health care provider in the United States. However, there's recently been a wider push for more easily accessible options.

As of 2023, for example, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of Opill^® (norgestrel), a daily oral contraceptive, to be sold over the counter without the need for a prescription¹. Opill^® is the first FDA-approved over-the-counter daily birth control pill and does not require a doctor's appointment or a prescription before you begin use².

Beyond Opill^®, only methods like emergency contraception (the morning-after pill) male and female condoms, and spermicides are available over-the-counter without a prescription³.

However, other forms of birth control still require a prescription and a consultation with a healthcare provider. You can get a prescription for most birth control from a health clinic, a doctor, or nurse at your local doctor's office. In some states, you can also get birth control prescribed by a pharmacist.

How to Get Birth Control 101

From menstruation to menopause, over the counter (OTC) options like Opill^® are a convenient alternative that do not require a prescription or a consultation with a doctor. When exploring contraception that requires a prescription, you should always talk to a doctor before starting a new hormonal birth control or switching to a new form of birth control method.

What birth control methods need a prescription?

Most hormonal birth control methods require a prescription from a doctor, nurse, or pharmacist, including the patch, diaphragm, shot, ring, cervical cap, IUD, and combination birth control pills (COCs). A trained health care provider (HCP), such as an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN), must insert an IUD. Plus, a trained HCP must also give the Depo Provera shot (injection), insert the implant, and fit a cervical cap.

Let's explore a few birth control options that require a specific prescription or routine procedure from a healthcare provider:

1. Birth Control Pills (Oral Contraceptives), include combination birth control pills

   , also known as COCs, and progestin-only pills, also known a POPs are taken daily to prevent pregnancy. All combination pills (containing estrogen and progestin) require a prescription from a doctor or health care provider. Most progestin-only pills require a prescription as well.

2. Intrauterine Device (IUD)

   is a small device inserted into the uterus by a healthcare provider to prevent pregnancy. There are hormonal IUDs and non-hormonal copper IUDs; both types require a visit to a clinic for a routine insertion by a trained healthcare professional.

3. Birth Control Implant

   also requires a doctor's visit for insertion. The implant is a small, flexible rod placed under the skin of the upper arm. It releases progestin to prevent pregnancy for up to three years.

4. Birth control injections

   , also known as birth control shots, require a healthcare provider to give an injection that contains the amount of progestin needed for approximately every three months to prevent pregnancy.

5. The vaginal ring

   is a self-insertable flexible plastic ring that releases estrogen and progestin. Unlike an IUD, a vaginal ring doesn't need to be inserted by a doctor. However, you do need a prescription from a healthcare provider.

6. Contraceptive patches

   also need to be prescribed by a healthcare provider, but you can apply and remove the patch yourself. The patch releases estrogen and progestin into your bloodstream to prevent pregnancy.

7. Emergency Contraception Pills

   may or may not require a prescription depending on the type. There are two types of Emergency Contraception (EC) pills. There is one option called ella^® that is available by prescription from a healthcare provider. You can ask for advanced prescriptions of ella^® so that you have it on hand when you need it. "Morning-after pills" that are available over-the-counter without a prescription, contain levonorgestrel – a type of progestin.

    

How to get over the counter birth control without a prescription

Short on time? Concerned about paying for a doctor's visit? No problem. To get over the counter (OTC) birth control without a prescription, you can buy certain contraceptive methods directly from pharmacies or online retailers.

In general, there are reactive and proactive birth control methods that are available without a prescription. Methods like condoms and Opill^® — the only progestin-only birth control pill available over the counter — are proactive methods to prevent pregnancy. Other proactive methods like IUDs, implants, contraceptive injections, and all combination birth control pills require a doctor's visit.

Reactive methods like most emergency contraceptive pills don't require a prescription. But you will need to visit a doctor if you're interested in ella^® or a copper IUD as emergency contraception.

Let's explore how to get access to birth control without a doctor's visit:

1. Consider emergency contraception

   as a reactive measure taken after unprotected sex to prevent or delay ovulation and the fertilization of an egg. In the United States, emergency contraception pills with levonorgestrel are available without a prescription to individuals. ella^® is an emergency contraceptive pill that contains ulipristal acetate and requires a prescription.

2. Buy male condoms at your local store

   . Barrier methods like male condoms are widely available without a prescription in most supermarkets, grocery stores, drugstores, and convenience stores. Female or internal condoms, on the other hand, require a prescription.

3. Order Opill^® online or in-store

   . Opill^® is a progestin-only pill, also referred to as a "mini pill", that contains one hormone and is estrogen-free. Opill^® is the only progestin-only, daily birth control pill that you can purchase over the counter without needing a doctor's prescription.

4. Fertility Awareness-Based Methods (FABM)

   are also an option and require learning about and tracking fertility signals, such as basal body temperature and cervical mucus.

How much does birth control cost?

Prices may vary depending on a few key factors, including whether you have health insurance or qualify for Medicaid or similar government assistance programs that cover the cost of birth control.

For birth control methods that require a prescription, talk to a doctor or a representative from your health insurance provider for more information.

How much does Opill^® over-the-counter birth control cost?

The cost of Opill^® depends on how many packs you purchase, which are available in 1-, 3- and 6-month pack options. Our 6- and 3-pack sizes offer a less expensive price per pack while discounts are also available through auto-shipping and subscription options when purchasing through Opill^® directly.

Opill^® is also available at pharmacies, retailers, convenience stores, and grocery stores near you and is covered by some insurance plans. Check your individual plan for eligibility details.

Wait, do I need a prescription to get Opill^®?

No, you don't need a prescription from the doctor or pharmacist to purchase Opill^®. Our daily oral contraceptive is available over the counter, which means it can be found in the aisles of most major retailers and pharmacies nationwide and is also available for purchase online.

Where can I buy Opill^® over-the-counter birth control pills?

You can order Opill^® online here on our website, purchase it in-store, or online via retailer sites.

Here's where to find Opill^®:

Order Online on Opill.com

Consumers can purchase Opill^® on Opill.com. Free shipping? Discreet Packaging? Check and check. Please note, we cannot process insurance for purchases made on Opill.com. However, you may be able to submit your receipt for reimbursement to your insurance carrier. Please check your individual plan for eligibility details.

Sign Up for Auto-Ship & Save on Opill.com

With auto-ship and save, you can choose to ship every month, 3 months, or 6 months and save 5%. Skip, delay, or cancel any time and renew on your timeframe. Plus, your privacy is extremely important to us, so we take great care to ensure that your order is shipped in discreet packaging. You can trust that we use plain, unbranded packaging for all shipments.

Purchase Online via Retailer Sites

Opill^® is available for purchase online without a prescription at Walmart, Amazon, Target, CVS, Walgreens and others. Some insurance plans, such as CVS Caremark^®, have added Opill^® to their Preventive Medications List. That means Caremark customers may be able to purchase Opill^® for $0 out-of-pocket, without a prescription.

Shop In-Store Near You

Opill^® is available in the family planning aisles at a wide range of retailers across all 50 states. Visit our store locator page to find a retailer near you.

Still have questions? Learn more about how Opill^® works or visit Opill^® FAQs.

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*When used as directed

Reference Links

1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive. (2023, July 13). https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-nonprescription-daily-oral-contraceptive. Accessed 14 Feb. 2025. 
2. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Opill (0.075 mg oral norgestrel tablet) information. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/opill-0075mg-oral-norgestrel-tablet-information. Accessed 14 Feb. 2025. 
3. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Access to contraception. Committee Opinion No. 615. (2023, Jul 13). https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2015/01/access-to-contraception. Accessed 14 Feb. 2025. 
4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Key statistics from the National Survey of Family Growth - C listing. Updated 29 Jun. 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nsfg/key_statistics/c-keystat.htm#everused. Accessed 14 Feb. 2025. 
5. Choose the right birth control - MyHealthFinder | odphp.health.gov. (2023, October 1). https://odphp.health.gov/myhealthfinder/healthy-living/sexual-health/choose-right-birth-control. Accessed 14 Feb. 2025.
6. IUD placement. (n.d.). ACOG. https://www.acog.org/education-and-events/creog/curriculum-resources/cases-in-high-value-care/iud-placement. Accessed 8 Jan. 2025.
7. Professional, C. C. M. (2024, May 1). Birth control patch. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/24490-birth-control-patch. Accessed 8 Jan. 2025.
8. Progestin-Only birth control pills. (n.d.). ACOG. https://www.acog.org/store/products/patient-education/fast-facts/progestin-only-birth-control-pills. Accessed 14 Feb. 2025.
9. Birth control. (n.d.). ACOG. https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/birth-control. Accessed 14 Feb. 2025.