How my queer identity led me to launch a birth control app

Going to the doctor's office for a birth control prescription can be quite an uncomfortable experience. 

For many, questions about past sexual partners or sexual orientation are routine, but as a queer person, they can be anxiety-inducing. Personally, I’ve encountered responses like, “You don’t need birth control — you’re not looking for a heterosexual relationship.”

These dismissive assumptions are not only inaccurate, they're harmful. 

I know I’m not the only one who doesn’t assign gender preference to my sexual partners, who is also seeking contraceptives.

Birth control is not a one-size-fits-all solution, and people use it for reasons beyond pregnancy-prevention. Stereotyping someone’s choice based on their sexual orientation undermines their autonomy and right to take control of their sexual health.

My own birth control journey has been arduous, with a frustrating trial-and-error process that at times landed me in the hospital. The unwanted side effects and symptoms were so debilitating that I had to take a medical leave of absence from university — making it even more hurtful when I was met with judgment or apathy. 

These experiences made me feel uncomfortable for wanting to manage my sexual health responsibly, in a way that felt right for me. 

After sharing my story with others, I discovered I wasn’t alone. Far from it. 

Half of Gen Z-ers stop using birth control because of side effects, pointing to a systemic lack of adequate support and education. 

This is why I started Reya Health; to educate and empower people with ovaries to take charge of their sexual health. 

Reya matches users with the right birth control options and helps monitor any side effects, providing ongoing support through personalized insights about any symptoms that do come up. 

The platform was inspired by my own journey: to help people learn and explore their options, acting as a trusted companion before and after a doctor’s appointment. It facilitates productive conversations with providers, educates users on available options, and builds confidence in making informed decisions. 

Once birth control is prescribed, Reya tracks any side effects to make sure the chosen option is the right fit, and that users feel adequately supported and cared for outside of the doctor's office.

There is a clear need for solutions like Reya. 

In Canada, half of pregnancies are unplanned, and people typically try five or more birth control methods before finding one that works for them. 

Marginalized groups such as international students and rural communities face limited access to sexual health clinics.

As an insurance and health benefits solution, Reya increases adherence to birth control options and improves sexual health outcomes, while addressing broader issues such as mental health, unplanned pregnancies and various workplace leaves. 

We aim to provide value across multiple wellness categories and offer a benefits solution that helps both our individual users and organizational partners.

My goal is simply to build a tool people can use to share their sexual health experiences, without fear or judgment, and get the information they need to have the best health outcomes. 

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Dallas Barnes is the founder and CEO of Reya Health.