How to Safely Get the Morning-After Pill Online

No matter how safe you are when having sex, accidents can still happen. Whether you forgot to take your birth control, the condom broke or you’re afraid there’s a chance you may get pregnant, the morning-after pill can help ease those worries.

The good news is there are more ways than ever to safely access emergency contraception—you can even order it directly, and safely, online.

What is the morning-after pill?

The morning-after pill is intended to be taken shortly after unprotected sex to help prevent pregnancy. There are a few types of morning-after pills. Among the most common are Plan B and ellaOne.

Plan B contains the hormone levonorgestrel, a type of progestin, which can help stop ovulation and prevent an unplanned pregnancy. It can also help prevent a fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus, though it’s not entirely effective in all scenarios.

Ella contains ulipristal, which is a progesterone receptor modulator, which delays or prevents ovulation. Much like Plan B, if fertilization has already occurred, ella makes it difficult for an egg to implant in the uterus.

Overall, ella is slightly more effective than Plan B at stopping an unwanted pregnancy, but both are much more effective if you take them as soon as possible after unprotected sex—the sooner the better.

Accessing the morning-after pill

The pill is easily accessible in most states, and women often have the choice between different types of emergency contraception. Age requirements and even where you can purchase morning-after pills, however, vary depending on state laws. In most cases, you’ll be able to get some form of the pill over the counter, but you may be required to order some brands, such as ella, through your pharmacy.

Typically, you'll need to go to a pharmacy, ask for the morning-after pill and present your ID. Or, if opting for ella, you’ll call in the prescription with your doctor. While this process is relatively simple, some women may feel uncomfortable talking to a stranger about this type of emergency contraception. Luckily, online options are here to make a potentially stressful situation a little easier.

Ordering the morning-after pill online

When securing emergency contraception online, it’s important you find a reputable source. There are a few ways to order the morning-after pill online in the United States.

1. Online pharmacy orders

If you have an account with your pharmacy, you can order this pill online and pick it up within hours. While this still means you’ll need to visit your pharmacy, you can often pick up your order from the comfort of your car and you won’t have to speak to anyone about your medication needs. Depending on your pharmacy and state, the pharmacist might call you to confirm your order.

2. Nurx

Many women are fans of Nurx, an online platform designed to help women quickly order birth control, acne treatments, STI tests, STI treatments, contraception and the morning-after pill. This service is easy to use and allows you to quickly create an account and fill out a request form, and one of their certified nurses will review your order and have it shipped right to your door. In the case of the morning-after pill, they might recommend having it called into your pharmacy to ensure you get it within hours, rather than waiting days and decreasing the medication's chances of effectiveness.

Nurx allows you to input your insurance information, which means your morning-after pill might be fully or partially covered.

3. Wisp

Similar to Nurx, Wisp is another online service that lets you order emergency contraception completely online. Your information will be reviewed by a doctor, who will then fill your prescription order. While you don’t enter your insurance information onto this website, the prices of the medications are low and designed to be inclusive for everyone. If you want to order Plan B to have on hand, just in case, you can do so and have it shipped right to your door. If you need the morning-after pill immediately, they’ll ship you ella, which can be taken within five days of unprotected sex.

Morning-after pills have you covered

The morning-after pill puts you in control of your body, offering protection against unwanted pregnancy. While you can request emergency contraception from your doctor or pharmacist, if you’re uncomfortable speaking up, you might find that using one of these trusted online services to deliver your prescription right away is even easier.