Q: What types of birth control are available over the counter?
In the United States, the only birth control methods available over the counter (i.e., that you can get or buy without a prescription) are condoms, internal condoms (also known as the female condom), spermicide, the sponge, and emergency contraception (commonly recognized as “Plan B”). If you are interested in receiving other forms of birth control that require a prescription, like birth control pills or IUDs, you can use our searchable directory to find a health center near you that offers these.
For more information and tips, visit Bedsider.
Dr. Diane Straub, Chief, Division of Adolescent Medicine & Professor of Pediatrics, USF Health and Medical Director, Ybor Youth Clinic