Where you get birth control depends on what method you choose.
You can buy these forms over the counter:
- Male condoms
- Female condoms
- Sponges
- Spermicides
- Emergency contraception pills (girls younger than 17 need a prescription)
You need a prescription for these forms:
- Oral contraceptives: the pill, the mini-pill
- Skin patch
- Vaginal ring
- Diaphragm (your doctor needs to fit one to your shape)
- Cervical cap
- Cervical shield
- Shot/injection (you get the shot at your doctor\’s office)
- IUD (inserted by a doctor)
- Implantable rod (inserted by a doctor)
You will need surgery or a medical procedure for:
- Sterilization, female and male
Office on Women\’s Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, womenshealth.gov (or girlshealth.gov)