A company that delivers birth control to your doorstep is angering pro-life activists as it looks to expand nationwide.
Dubbed the "Uber of birth control," Nurx is a Silicon Valley start-up which offers females over the age of 12 access to contraceptives, Plan B and anti-HIV medication directly to residences in 15 states plus Washington, DC, including Missouri, North Carolina, and Texas.
With a touch of a smartphone, Nurx will ship the medication directly to a patient's home or local pharmacy after three simple steps: fill out a medical questionnaire, provide your basic demographic information, and then choose a preferred drug. A doctor then reviews the information and writes a prescription, entirely sidestepping the need for the traditional doctor's visit.
"For many women, safe and timely access to birth control is their most important healthcare need," Nurx says on its website. "We want to challenge the status quo, break down unnecessary barriers and give women more control over their own health."
Conservative lawmakers are against the app's premise as they liken the morning after pill to the abortion pill RU 486, despite the fact U.S. Food & Drug Administration classifies Plan B as emergency contraception.
John Seago, the legislative director for Texas Right for Life, is also one of those believers and told Stat News he believes life begins at fertilization.
"That's the point where we have an individual, and morally that's who we want to protect," he said.
Brook Randal, a doctor who works for Nurx and with Whole Women's Health in Texas, told Daily Mail there has been a history to this confusion, originating from when birth control was first approved.
"In the 60s, when [birth control pills] first came out, there was some confusion about how they worked. And when it was first approved by the FDA, the regulators hedged themselves by saying 'nobody understands precisely how drugs work, even penicillin.' Not longer after, it became clear that we do know how these drugs work. But conservative groups who are opposed to even condoms have used that phrasing to defend their views," Randal said.
Despite the hesitation, plenty of women are applauding Nurx and its innovative approach for easier accessibility to birth control.
I have only great things to say about Nurx, the birth control app. Such a positive experience while I wait months for a doctors appt. ðŸ‘
— Mega Miyu (@megamiyu) September 5, 2017
Nurx is a more popping app than Lemonaid for birth control pills, ladies. They don't impose a $15-25 a visit fee.
— rita poon (@KelseyGrammer_) August 29, 2017
Thank god for the #nurx app doing more for women's health than our government ever has. So glad it's in Indiana now.
— Paige Marie Kniola (@paigemkniola) August 31, 2017
For those without health insurance, the affordable app offers birth control for as low as $15 per month, while users with health insurance can get the birth control for free in most cases. There is no cost for consultation or standard shipping.
Would you use Nurx?