Yes, hormonal birth control is generally more effective than condoms in preventing pregnancy. Hormonal contraceptives, like the combined pill, have around a 99% effectiveness rate when used correctly. However, several factors such as timing, interacting medications and human error can decrease effectiveness to about 91-93% with typical use.

While it is less effective than an IUD or implant, oral contraception offers more reliable birth control than barrier methods like condoms.

It is important to use both birth control pills and condoms to effectively prevent pregnancy and protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs). While birth control pills offer good pregnancy prevention, they do not provide STI protection. Only condoms protect against STIs. Given the 30% increase in reported STIs in the United States between 2015 and 2019, using condoms is crucial for overall sexual health and safety.

Birth control pills work by releasing hormones into your body to prevent ovulation, the release of an egg from the ovaries. They also thicken the cervical mucus making it difficult for sperm to travel to and fertilize an egg, and thin the uterine lining making it difficult for a fertilized egg to implant itself and grow. 

Eligibility for hormonal contraceptives at Rite Aid Pharmacy is specific to Maryland, New Hampshire, California and Oregon locations. In these states, eligible individuals aged 18 and over can receive a prescription and contraceptive medication directly from our licensed, on-duty pharmacists. Our pharmacists will conduct a consultation to determine eligibility. Certain health related factors may affect eligibility and require a referral to a physician. 

Pharmacists can prescribe several types of hormonal contraceptives including pills, transdermal patches and vaginal rings. The pharmacist will determine which method is best for you during the consultation.

We can also provide emergency contraceptives like Plan B One-Step if you do not use your method of birth control correctly. If you would like to test for pregnancy, we also have over-the-counter pregnancy tests available

Pharmacists at all Rite Aid locations in California, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Vermont and Virginia can prescribe hormonal contraceptives.

Rite Aid ensures your privacy by conducting consultations in dedicated consultation areas. This private area allows you to discuss your healthcare needs confidentially with our pharmacists. 

All our pharmacists are trained to conduct consultations and prescribe hormonal contraceptive therapy. You can trust their expertise to guide you toward the best healthcare options.

The consultation at Rite Aid usually takes about 15-20 minutes, although there may be additional wait time depending on store traffic. We offer scheduled appointments, but walk-ins are also welcome. Our services are available during regular pharmacy hours, which include nights and weekends. This makes it a flexible option that may be more convenient than a typical doctor's office visit.