Do you need a Pap smear or pelvic exam to get prescription birth control?

You don’t need a Pap smear or a pelvic exam to get most prescription birth control methods, including the pill, [patch](/birth-control/the_patch, ring, the shot, or the implant. For methods that require a prescription, you just need to answer some basic health questions about your blood pressure and your health history. You will need a pelvic exam (but not a Pap smear) if you are getting an IUD.