Services
Birth control online in Puerto Rico: pill, patch, ring and emergency contraception
Get birth control online in Puerto Rico through a private video visit with Dr. Diana Nieves Castro, MD, a physician licensed in Puerto Rico. She reviews your health and blood pressure, helps you choose the pill, patch, ring or emergency contraception, and, if appropriate, the doctor prescribes and we send your prescription to your pharmacy. You don't need a pelvic exam to start.
Is it an emergency? Call 911.
Video visit
- Doctor licensed in Puerto Rico (24027) Verify (opens in a new tab)
- Children and adults of all ages
- In Spanish or English
- Secure video link
- Visits are not recorded
- Full refund if the visit can’t take place
- No insurance needed
Is this an emergency?
This is not an emergency service. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you have:
- Pain or swelling in one leg, especially the calf (possible blood clot).
- Sudden shortness of breath, chest pain that gets worse when you breathe, or coughing up blood.
- A sudden severe headache, vision changes, or weakness or numbness on one side of the body.
- Sudden severe pain low in the belly, vaginal bleeding or fainting, especially if you could be pregnant.
Help lines
On this page(9)
Birth control online in Puerto Rico: what the visit is
It's a private video visit, in English or Spanish, to start a method, switch methods, continue the one you use or get emergency contraception. You see Dr. Diana Nieves Castro, MD, a general practice physician licensed in Puerto Rico with several years of emergency-department experience.
The CDC's contraception guidance (U.S. SPR 2024) says most people need few or no exams or tests before starting a method, and that pelvic and breast exams are not needed to start the pill, patch or ring.
Before you leave home
Why a video visit
For anything that isn’t an emergency, compare what each option takes.
| Comparison | Video visit | Emergency room | CDT or doctor’s office |
|---|---|---|---|
| Getting there | From home: join from your phone, tablet or computer. | Drive and find parking. | Drive and find parking. |
| Waiting room | Skip the waiting room: join from wherever you are in Puerto Rico. | Yes, a waiting room. | Yes, a waiting room. |
| Hours and time | We do not publish a wait time. Request a visit online 24/7 — we confirm your time by email or text. | In Puerto Rico, a median of 4 h 52 min from arrival to departure for patients sent home (US: 2 h 42 min; Oct 2024–Sep 2025).1,2 | An in-person visit takes about 2 hours on average, including travel.3 |
| Price | US$79 visit · US$49 follow-up · US$35 forms. You see it before you pay; no insurance needed. | Depends on your insurance and on what is done. | Depends on your insurance and on what is done. |
| Language | Spanish or English, with the same doctor. | Depends on the place. | Depends on the place. |
| Prescriptions | If appropriate, the doctor prescribes and we send your prescription to your pharmacy. | Yes, if needed. | Yes, if needed. |
| When to go in person | If the doctor needs to examine you in person or run a test, she tells you and guides you. | In an emergency: chest pain, trouble breathing, weakness on one side or bleeding that won’t stop. Call 911. | If you need stitches, an X-ray or a test on the spot. |
For problems that are not emergencies. In an emergency, call 911.
Table sources
- 1. CMS Care Compare, “Timely and Effective Care – State”, measure OP-18b: median time in the emergency department, arrival to departure, for patients sent home (opens in a new tab), data for Oct 2024–Sep 2025 (accessed 2026-10-02)
- 2. CMS Care Compare, “Timely and Effective Care – National”, measure OP-18b (US figure) (opens in a new tab), data for Oct 2024–Sep 2025 (accessed 2026-10-02)
- 3. Ray KN et al., “Opportunity costs of ambulatory medical care in the United States,” Am J Manag Care 2015;21(8):567-74 (US data, 2003–2010) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-10-02)
We found no published source for what a patient pays at an ER or a CDT in Puerto Rico, so we give no figure.
How we care for you by video
The doctor goes over your health history, medicines, whether you smoke, whether you get migraines, and your blood pressure. For combined (estrogen-containing) methods, CDC guidance calls for a blood pressure reading before you start, and accepts one you take at home or at a pharmacy, so have it handy.
With that, the doctor walks you through the options that suit you. If appropriate, the doctor prescribes and we send your prescription to your pharmacy. If a test is needed, such as a pregnancy test or lab work, she gives you an order for a lab near you.
If you also have irregular periods, period cramps or PCOS, tell the doctor: she takes it into account when she helps you choose a method.
Your doctor
Dr. Diana Nieves Castro, MD
General practice physician
Several years of emergency-department experience.
Founding Executive Director of The Health Initiative.
Three steps
Here's how it works:
Request a visit.
Request a visit online 24/7 — we confirm your time by email or text. Choose Doctor visit on the booking page.
Join by video.
We send you a secure video link. It works on your phone, tablet or computer. Find a private spot.
Pick up your method.
If appropriate, we send your prescription to your pharmacy.
Price
A doctor visit costs US$79, with no membership. If you already use a method and just need a refill, that's a US$49 follow-up visit. If it turns out you need a full evaluation, for example to switch methods, the doctor explains why and, with your consent, you pay the difference. You pay by card when you request the visit. See pricing for details.
Video visit
Doctor visit
US$79
For a new problem, urgent care (non-emergencies), primary care, children, birth control, STIs, skin and acne, and visitors. Includes a doctor's note if you need one.
- You’re charged when you request the visit.
- Full refund if the visit can’t take place
Birth control we prescribe by video
According to the CDC, the pill, patch and ring each have a 7% failure rate with typical use. The doctor explains how to use yours so it works as well as possible.
Methods placed in person, such as an IUD or implant, are done in an office; if you're interested, the doctor can talk you through them.
- Birth control pills: combined (estrogen and progestin) or progestin-only.
- The patch: changed once a week.
- The vaginal ring: you place it yourself.
- Emergency contraception, including the morning-after pill (see below).
Emergency contraception: the morning-after pill
Emergency contraceptive pills should be taken as soon as possible within 5 days of unprotected sex or a method failure (CDC). There are two kinds: levonorgestrel, which the FDA approved for sale without a prescription or age limit and which is taken within 72 hours, and ulipristal acetate, which needs a prescription and, according to the CDC, works better than levonorgestrel on days 3 to 5.
According to the FDA, emergency contraception does not affect an existing pregnancy. If you need it, request your visit as soon as you can: sooner is better.
Which method is right for you
Combined methods (the pill, patch and ring with estrogen) aren't for everyone. Under the CDC's criteria (U.S. MEC 2024), they are not recommended if, for example, you smoke and are 35 or older, have had a blood clot, have migraine with aura, or have very high blood pressure. In those cases, the doctor explains progestin-only and other options.
No hormonal birth control protects against sexually transmitted infections; the CDC recommends condoms for that. If you're worried about an infection, see STI testing and treatment.
If you're under 21
In Puerto Rico the age of majority is 21. So if you're under 21, a parent or legal guardian signs the consent, stays on camera for the whole visit and shows photo ID. Our lawyers are reviewing the consent rules for minors in these visits; if anything changes, we'll update this page.
How we care for you
We evaluate, diagnose and treat; if needed, we give you a lab order for a lab near you.
We see adults and children of all ages. Patients under 21: a parent with patria potestad (parental authority) or a legal guardian is on camera for the whole visit and shows photo ID.
Real-time video visit. We send you a secure video link. It works on your phone, tablet or computer.
If appropriate, the doctor prescribes and we send your prescription to your pharmacy. We do not prescribe controlled substances.
You must be physically in Puerto Rico during the visit (visitors, tourists and cruise passengers are welcome).
In an emergency, call 911.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get birth control online in Puerto Rico?
Do I need a pelvic exam to start the pill?
How long after sex can I take the morning-after pill?
I'm under 21. Can I do the visit on my own?
How much does it cost?
Need to see the doctor?
US$79Doctor visit
- You’re charged when you request the visit.
- Full refund if the visit can’t take place
Request a visit online 24/7 — we confirm your time by email or text.
Doctor visit: US$79 — BookAbout this page
Author: The Health Initiative
Medical care provided by Dr. Diana Nieves Castro, MD (PR license 24027)
Disclosure: Founding Executive Director of The Health Initiative
Published: 2026-09-30 · Updated: 2026-10-02
Sources (9)
- CDC: U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use, 2024 (MMWR) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-09-30)
- CDC: U.S. Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use, 2024 (MMWR) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-09-30)
- CDC U.S. SPR: examinations and tests before starting contraception (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-09-30)
- CDC U.S. SPR: emergency contraception (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-09-30)
- CDC: contraception and birth control methods (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-09-30)
- FDA: levonorgestrel 1.5 mg information (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-09-30)
- ACOG: emergency contraception (FAQ) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-09-30)
- CDC: about venous thromboembolism (blood clots) (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-09-30)
- MedlinePlus (NIH): ectopic pregnancy (opens in a new tab) (accessed 2026-09-30)