Nurx review 2022 Birth control STI testing PrEP and more
Nurx review 2022: Birth control, STI testing, PrEP, and more Health ConditionsHealth ConditionsAlzheimer's & DementiaAnxietyArthritisAsthma & AllergiesBreast CancerCancerCardiovascular HealthCOVID-19Dermatology & SkincareDiabetesEnvironment & SustainabilityExercise & FitnessEye HealthHeadache & MigraineHealth EquityHIV & AIDSHuman BiologyInflammatory Bowel DiseaseLeukemiaLGBTQIA+Men's HealthMental HealthMultiple Sclerosis (MS)NutritionParkinson's DiseasePsoriasisSexual HealthWomen's HealthDiscoverNewsLatest NewsOriginal SeriesMedical MythsHonest NutritionThrough My EyesNew Normal HealthPodcastsHow to understand chronic painWhat is behind vaccine hesitancy?The amazing story of hepatitis C, from discovery to cureNew directions in dementia researchCan psychedelics rewire a depressed, anxious brain?Why climate change matters for human healthToolsGeneral HealthDrugs A-ZHealth HubsHealth ToolsBMI Calculators and ChartsBlood Pressure Chart: Ranges and GuideBreast Cancer: Self-Examination GuideSleep CalculatorHealth ProductsAffordable Therapy OptionsBlood Pressure MonitorsDiabetic SuppliesFitness TrackersHome GymsGreen Cleaning ProductsHow to Shop for CBDQuizzesRA Myths vs FactsType 2 Diabetes: Managing Blood SugarAnkylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or FictionConnectAbout Medical News TodayWho We AreOur Editorial ProcessContent IntegrityConscious LanguageNewslettersSign UpFollow UsMedical News TodayHealth ConditionsDiscoverToolsConnectSubscribe 2022 Nurx review Services costs alternatives and FAQsMedically reviewed by Avi Varma, MD, MPH, AAHIVS, FAAFP — By Danielle Dresden — Updated on September 20, 2022We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process. Nurx is an online healthcare company providing birth control, sexually transmitted infection (STI) screenings, skin care treatments, and more. The company offers convenient and discreet home delivery, allowing people to access healthcare services remotely. Share on PinterestThis article discusses the Nurx brand, its products and services, the advantages and drawbacks of using Nurx products, and alternative prescription medication services. Please note that the writer of this article has not tried these products. All information presented is purely research-based and correct at the time of publication. Medical News Todayfollows a strict product selection and vetting process. Learn more here. Who is Nurx for Nurx is a viable option for anyone who wants healthcare on demand, particularly online access to doctors, testing, and treatments. Nurx offers a range of services, including:women’s healthbirth controlSTI screeningHIV preventiondermatologymigrainesmental health A clear advantage of Nurx is that people do not need to wait in line for a doctor or prescription. Consumers can also get automatic refills and generic medication to save money when paying out-of-pocket. However, Nurx has practical limitations and does not cater to every condition. For example, receiving a prescription can take up to 72 hours. This makes it unsuitable for individuals requiring urgent care. What does Nurx offer Nurx offers a range of health screenings and treatments. Some examples are outlined below. Acne treatment Nurx sells various products to help manage acne, including:oral medicationstopical gels and creamsantibiotics For people with insurance, the cost could be as low as the copayment once the person pays any applicable deductible. Without insurance, fees start from around $20 per month.LEARN MORE Rosacea skin care Nurx offers rosacea treatments containing tretinoin acid or retinoic acid in three different concentrations. These products are available as medications, cleansers, and gels. Learn more about rosacea treatments here.LEARN MORE Birth control A person buying birth control from Nurx can choose from the following options: contraceptive pillcontraceptive patchcontraceptive ringan injectable that the person takes every 3 months The cost of birth control could be as low as a copayment for people with insurance. For those without insurance, the costs vary according to their chosen birth control method. For example, the lowest price is for the contraceptive pill at $15 per pack, while the highest price is for the patch, which starts from $180 per month. Learn about other places to get birth control online here.LEARN MORE Emergency contraception Nurx offers “New Day”, an over-the-counter (OTC) emergency contraceptive medication. The medication can prevent pregnancy if a person takes it within 3 days of having sex without a condom or other barrier method. New Day costs $14.99 per pill. Nurx also sells Ella, a prescription medication that can prevent pregnancy if a person takes it within 5 days of having sex without protection. For those with insurance, Ella may be free-of-charge, though some may have to pay the cost of the medical consultation. The out-of-pocket cost for Ella is $45 per pill. Learn more about Ella here.LEARN MORE PrEP for HIV prevention Preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medication is for people who are HIV-negative. It is 99% effective at preventing HIV infection. Learn more about PrEP medication here. To purchase this medication from Nurx, a person must complete either Basic or Complete screening. These tests are available from Nurx and cost $94 for those with insurance, or $164 for those paying out of pocket. The Nurx website does not say how much PrEP medication costs out-of-pocket. The company states it works with payment assistance programs to help individuals with costs.LEARN MORE Headache and migraine Nurx sells six different medications for treating migraine, including:gepantstriptansantinausea medicationanticonvulsive medicationbeta-blockersantidepressants The company also sells supplements that it claims help reduce the severity and frequency of migraine episodes. When purchasing treatments for headaches and migraine through Nurx, a person will first pay for a $60 medical consultation. If the person has insurance that covers the medications, they may only pay their copayment. The out-of-pocket costs range from $25–70 per month, depending on the type and frequency of the headaches. Learn about home remedies for migraine relief here.LEARN MORE Oral and genital herpes For oral herpes, Nurx offers OTC, doctor-recommended cold sore creams costing $20–25 per container. Nurx also offers the prescription medication Valacyclovir, which reduces the severity and frequency of cold sores and the chance of transmitting the herpes simplex or herpes zoster viruses. The cost is between $45–75 for a 3-month supply of Valacyclovir, plus a $15 consultation fee. A person’s insurance may cover the medication cost minus any applicable copayment.LEARN MORE COVID-19 testing Nurx sells two types of tests for COVID-19; a rapid antigen test that delivers results in 15 minutes and a PCR-quality molecular test that provides results in 30 minutes. A person does not need a prescription to order these tests. A person can purchase one rapid antigen test for $19, or 25 tests for $225. The PCR-quality test costs $89 each. Learn more about at-home COVID-19 tests here.LEARN MORE HPV home screening The Nurx Home HPV Test screens for the 14 strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) associated with an increased risk of cervical cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), advice varies, but most authorities agree that people with a cervix ages 25 years and over should take an HPV test every 3–5 years. Everyone using the Nurx HPV Home Test screening service must pay $15 for a consultation. People with insurance pay $49 for the test kit, and Nurx then bills the insurance company after processing the tests. People without insurance must pay $79 for the test. Learn more about at-home HPV tests here.LEARN MORE STI testing Nurx offers three different STI test kits, and the prices for each may be as low as $75 for those with insurance. These different STI test kits are outlined below: The Basics Covered Kit Prices for The Basics Covered Kit start from $75. The kit tests for: HIVchlamydiagonorrheasyphilis The kit includes a urine sample container and a finger prick device. The Full Control Kit The Full Control Kit covers the same four tests as the Basics Covered Kit, plus Hepatitis C. It includes the following contents:a urine sample containera finger prick devicea throat swaba rectal swab The Healthy V Kit The Healthy V Kit tests for the following: HIVchlamydiagonorrheasyphilistrichomoniasis Learn more about at-home STI testing here.LEARN MORE Fertility and pregnancy Nurx sells OTC tests for the following:pregnancyovulationsperm quality Learn about the best at-home ovulation and fertility tests here. The company also sells prenatal multivitamins.LEARN MORE Mental health Nurx offers anxiety and depression treatments but does not provide counseling or ongoing therapy sessions. People must pay around $55 monthly for continuous treatment, including medication. This is the case even if there are months in which the individual does not communicate with their healthcare team. Learn more about online therapy here.LEARN MORE How it works Below, we explain how a person can order a product or kit from Nurx. Fees and processes may differ depending on the product or service. 1 Choose a service A person can access services and create an account via the Nurx website or through iOS and Android apps. After a person has chosen their desired service or product, they need to:indicate their home stateprovide their email addressgive their consent to telehealth 2 Complete a medical history Customers need to answer a comprehensive set of questions regarding their medical history relating to the test or medication they wish to purchase. Anyone who wants to purchase dermatological treatments must also provide photos of their skin. A person must also upload a photo ID and supply their name and date of birth before proceeding to payment. 3 Medical consultation Customers need to pay for a medical consultation once they submit their request. The fee for a medical consultation varies according to the service but ranges from $15–60. This covers the following: an evaluation of the person’s medical historyrequests from state-licensed medical practitionersprescriptions, if neededpersonalized treatment plansscheduled follow-upsunlimited 1-year messaging with the Nurx medical team 4 Checkout and delivery Following the medical consultation, the customer proceeds to the checkout stage. A state-licensed healthcare professional will then:review the person’s health assessmentwrite a prescriptionorder the person’s productsarrange delivery of the medications or testing kits The company will then ship the person’s test kit or prescription for free. The product will arrive in discreet packaging. Home test kits also come with a prepaid return shipping label. The company partners with Molecular Testing Labs (MTL) for its home testing kits. Nurx ships prescription drugs from partner pharmacies that are fully licensed to dispense medications to their state. Nurx usually sends people a 3-month supply of medications. However, it can also send a 1-month supply if the person’s insurance only pays for 1 month at a time. In these cases, a $5 processing fee applies. Payment and insurance Each of Nurx’s product pages shows both out-of-pocket and estimated insurance prices. The final insurance cost varies depending on the person’s insurance coverage. People may opt to pay the out-of-pocket price or go through their insurance. Nurx accepts online payments from Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. People can also pay using their Family Savings Account and Health Savings Account. Nurx accepts most private health insurance for medications. However, a person needs to pay for all consultation fees out-of-pocket. Several insurance plans are in-network with MTL for Nurx’s at-home testing kits. However, if a person’s plan is not in-network with MTL, it will bill them directly in addition to the fee for medical consultation.LEARN MORE Pros and cons at a glance Prosoffers certain generic medications, including birth control pillsoffers emergency contraceptionoffers at-home test kitsoffers skin care medications, including those for acne and rosaceaprovides personalized medication plansaccepts copay and insurance Consdoes not offer an IUD for birth controldoes not provide Accutane prescriptions for acnedoes not provide therapy for mental health carecan take up to 72 hours to deliver prescriptionscan be costly without insurancereceives low customer ratingsreceives criticisms regarding poor customer service Nurx reviews and reputation The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognize Nurx as an online health organization offering many services, including testing, prevention, and treatment. Nurx has an “A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and has closed 218 complaints in the last 3 years. As of September 2022, the brand has a rating of 1.89 out of 5 stars based on 389 customer reviews on the platform. On the BBB page, there are few positive reviews. An early review praises the company’s communication and medical representative availability. Negative reviews frequently mention the following issues:delayed shippingpayment charges without permissioncharging customers without providing a servicedifficulties canceling accounts poor customer service and communication. On TrustPilot, the company has a rating of 2.3 out of 5 stars across 260 reviews. Alternatives The following brands are similar alternatives to Nurx:Favor (formerly The Pill Club): Provides birth control and offers more than 120 Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved branded and generic birth control pills.Simple Health: Provides online consultations and prescriptions, including automatic refills.Hers: Provides female wellness products, including birth control pills, hair products, and medications for anxiety and depression. Comparison table The table below compares the different online health services featured above:NurxFavorSimple HealthHersTreatments and servicesfamily planningbirth controlemergency contraceptionSTI screeningHIV preventionmigraine and headache treatmentsacne and rosacea treatmentstreatments for mental health conditionsbirth controlemergency contraceptionbirth controlemergency contraceptioncold soresgenital herpesbirth controlgenital herpescold soresyeast infectionsurinary tract infection (UTI)hair lossacnemental health conditionsProductsvarious birth control optionsemergency contraceptionHIV PrEProsacea over-the-counter skincarefertility and pregnancy testsCOVID-19 testssexual health tests and screeningsAnnovera RingFC2 female condombrand name and generic birth control pillsAnnovera RingFC2 female condombrand name and generic birth control pillscold sore treatmentgenital herpes treatmentsupplementsprescription mental health medicationsvarious birth control optionssex toyslubricantssupplementsMedical consultation optionsonline consultation required, costing between $15 and $45prescribing services only offered in some statesannual, online consultation, costing $15annual, online consultation, costing $5telehealth services available Accepts insurance?yes, including HSA and FSAcoinsurance and copayments may applyyes, including HSA and FSAcoinsurance and copayments may applyaccepts many private insurance plansdoes not accept insurance, but the company claims its prices are 50–80% less than retail Frequently asked questions Below are some answers to frequently asked questions about Nurx. Is Nurx safe to use Medical professionals licensed in the customer’s state review all requests received through Nurx. Also, prescription drugs from Nurx follow the same rules and processes as any other licensed pharmacy. A Nurx medical professional will only prescribe medications if they are safe for a person to use, based on the medical information they provide. However, individuals should consult their doctor before consulting with Nurx. How long does Nurx take to process When the medical team reviews and approves a person’s request, one of Nurx’s partner pharmacies ships the prescription within 72 hours. Customers can expect to receive their prescription within 3–5 business days. People also have the option to pay for expedited delivery. Does Nurx automatically refill my birth control Nurx sends people a 3-month supply of prescriptions and automatically processes refills as scheduled. Summary Nurx is an online healthcare company offering prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, and home test kits through its website or mobile app. It also provides online consultations, free shipping, and automatic prescription refills. Nurx receives mixed online customer reviews. Common complaints focus on shipping and customer service issues. However, positive reviews praise the convenience and discreet nature of the company’s services and delivery. Last medically reviewed on September 20, 2022Birth Control / ContraceptionSexual Health / STDs 1 sourcecollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.ACS's updated cervical cancer screening guidelines explained (2020). https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2020/cervical-cancer-screening-hpv-test-guidelineFEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by Avi Varma, MD, MPH, AAHIVS, FAAFP — By Danielle Dresden — Updated on September 20, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? Their unusually large neuronsOmega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlifeSeasonal affective disorder (SAD): How to beat it this fall and winterCDC: Monkeypox in the US 'unlikely to be eliminated in the near future'Why are more women prone to Alzheimer's? New clues arise Related Coverage9 birth control delivery providers for 2022Medically reviewed by Carolyn Kay, MD People can order birth control from a range of online retailers. Here, learn how and where to order birth control online, and find answers to some…READ MORE9 of the best online therapy optionsMedically reviewed by Danielle Wade, LCSW Many online therapy options are available online, via video chat, text messaging, and voice chat. Read about some of the best options here.READ MOREWhere to get free or low cost birth control: What to knowMedically reviewed by Alexandra Perez, PharmD, MBA, BCGP People in the United States have a few options for free or low-cost birth control. Learn where and how to access this, and more. READ MORE