This post was written by freelance contributor Sandra Salathe through our Daily Kos freelance program.
It’s common knowledge that being a woman comes with its own set of challenges. But since the Trump administration took office, it seems as if those challenges are at an all-time high—particularly within the realm of health care.
With each day that passes, Republicans appear hard at work trying to obliterate women’s healthcare privileges. And when you factor in the reality that numerous Americans still don’t have health insurance, it often feels as if the system is rigged. With that being the case, some women are turning their attention to a less traditional route.
Swooping in like a superhero, reproductive apps are an alternative option for women yearning for accessibility when it comes to their healthcare needs. With an array of apps targeting everything from birth control to fertility, this new form of medicine could be a complete game changer for women’s health.
Among those apps is Nurx. Described by some as the “Uber for birth control,” Nurx is a telemedicine app offering convenient contraception, delivered directly to users’ doorsteps. Available in 17 states and Washington, D.C., Nurx offers a wide range of birth control methods, such as contraception pills, patches, and rings. The app also provides emergency contraceptives, such as Plan B, and pills to prevent HIV infection.
“My co-founder and I wanted to create a company that improved services for patients, and telemedicine presented a unique opportunity to serve their needs, especially around expanding access and standard of care,” Nurx CEO Hans Gangeskar told Daily Kos. “Our goal was to pare this service into something that’s as fast as possible, but in a way that still gives a good and responsible service to our patients.”
Through Nurx, patients can consult with licensed medical providers, have their medications delivered to their home, and obtain ongoing information about their medication, while having their questions answered at any time. Additionally, the app works with most forms of insurance, with prescriptions either free or covered by the cost of one's copay. For those without insurance, generic options are available, starting at as low as $15 per month.
“There are far too many women living in healthcare deserts, with limited or no access to family planning and birth control,” says Gangeskar. “We are filling this critical void by providing women with an accessible, safe, and affordable way to receive birth control and be empowered to make decisions that are best for their health.”
Nurx isn’t alone. Companies such as Maven Clinic, Natural Cycles, and Modern Fertility have all jumped on the telemedicine bandwagon, raising millions in funding within the past year. “There was a huge and underserved need for a telemedicine network that specializes in women’s health,” Katherine Ryder, Maven Clinic’s founder, told Fortune in 2017. “I didn’t understand why there were so many networks but no women’s health providers on those networks.”
Founded by Ryder in 2014, Maven primarily focuses on universal health care for women, allowing them the flexibility to consult directly with doctors anywhere, anytime. In addition to users booking video appointments directly through the app (a 10-minute doctor’s appointment costs $35), Maven provides a 15-month program called Maven Maternity, which aims to help women have healthier pregnancies and help them ease back into the workforce after giving birth.
Ryder’s app is giving millennial women the opportunity to take control of their healthcare needs, all from the palm of their own hand. Natural Cycles and Modern Fertility have followed suit, both tackling natural fertility through ovulation tracking.
“Our mission is to pioneer women’s health with research and passion,” Rachel Vrettros, a representative of Natural Cycles, told Daily Kos. “We champion a world where technology represents innovation in the next era of women’s health.”
Although each company targets different methods of contraception as they marry technology with medicine, their overall goal is the same.
“I think the concept of providing medical care through telemedicine for women who otherwise would not have access to health care because of cost is an exciting one,” said Jennifer Butt, a renowned gynecologist at Upper East Side OB/GYN in New York City. “OB/GYNs are often times the only physicians women see and rely on as primary care physicians, so it is important that all women, regardless of medical coverage, can go to an OB/GYN when they need to.”
That being said, Butt advises patients against using telemedicine as a substitute for receiving care, such as an annual exam or physical evaluation. “Still, this is an exciting new field with a lot of potential, and it deserves to be considered and further developed,” she said.
Sandra Salathe is a freelance writer based in Washington, D.C. If you‘d like to help support more stories like this through our freelance program, contribute here.
