1. What do you offer for Birth Control Refills?

We provide three refill options for contraceptive method

1) Oral Birth Control Pills with either combined with both estrogen and progestin or progestin only pills

2) Birth Control Patch (Generic Xulane)

3) NuvaRing

2. Who is eligible for hormonal contraceptives? Are there any limitations on the users for telehealth management at V.ARIA?

Combined hormonal contraceptives can be used safely in women with a range of medical conditions, including well-controlled hypertension, uncomplicated diabetes, uncomplicated heart disease, migraine headaches without aura, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) without antiphospholipid antibodies, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, thyroid disease, anemia, and uncomplicated kidney or liver disease.

However, with the limitations of telehealth management, V.ARIA takes extra precautions and has our own strict medical protocol when we evaluate treatment requests. For this reason, we do not provide hormonal contraceptive prescriptions via telehealth management for the following cases.

- Any females under 18 or older than 50

- Any patients who is pregnant, possibly pregnant or breastfeeding

- Males

- Patients who have never taken hormonal contraceptives. V.ARIA prescribes refills only for those who have used the same medications before (For example, we do not prescribe NuvaRing or a patch to those who have never used this type of contraceptives).

- Patients who previously had allergic reactions to hormonal medications with estrogen or progestin

- Current active smokers or who recently quit smoking within the last 6 months

- Patients with a history of Venous thromboembolism (VTE) such as blood clots in legs, in lungs or in brain (Stroke)

- Patients with underlying liver disease, kidney disease or hypertension

- Patients experiencing abnormal vaginal bleeding or has a history of abnormal vaginal bleeding

- Patients who plan to take contraceptive medications for non-contraceptive purposes (such as regulated menses or dysmenorrhea). V.ARIA prescribes contraceptive medications for contraceptive measures only.

3. Why do I need to provide my blood pressure information to get refills for birth control prescriptions?

Certain contraceptives contain estrogen that affects blood pressure. Exposure to estrogen consistently for a long time is linked to high blood pressure as well as other complications secondary to elevated blood pressures.

For this reason, our medical providers must know your baseline of blood pressure as well as the most recent blood pressure at least within the last 3 months to determine if you are suitable and eligible to get a prescription treatment through a telehealth management at V.ARIA. For your safety concerns, it is highly expected for you to disclose your medical information fully and honestly when you submit a request for birth control refills.

4. I do not know my blood pressure and it has been a while since I have checked them. What should I do?

Although it is always better to check your blood pressure in a clinical setting to have correct and consistent measurements on your baseline blood pressures, however, we fully understand your busy daily activities and life can be difficult to get into your doctors office to check your blood pressure.

If you do not carry an automatic blood pressure machine with a cuff at home, there are free blood pressure Kiosk stations located in local pharmacies (such as CVS or Walgreens) and retail stores and you can check your blood pressure free of charge at the stations in your area.

You can google and search for "Blood Pressure Kiosk map" in your area to find out Blood Pressure Health Station Locator. Retail pharmacies like CVS, Walgreens or Walmart have such free-standing blood pressure Kiosk stations. You can choose your chosen pharmacy of your choice and measure your blood pressure at the chosen station when you are available.

After you check your updated blood pressure, you can resume your treatment request at V.ARIA and provide the information to continue the questionnaire.