Daily Skimm: The US is getting its first-ever over-the-counter birth … – theSkimm
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The US is getting its first-ever over-the-counter birth control pill.
Yesterday, the FDA approved the oral contraceptive Opill to be sold without a prescription. Opill is a progestin-only pill that's over 90% effective at preventing pregnancy when taken daily. It's been available with a prescription since 1973. Earlier this year, two FDA advisory panels recommended Opill be available for OTC sales. Since the ‘60s, hormone-based pills have become the most popular birth control method in the US. Now, the FDA’s landmark decision will make it easier for women and girls across the country to access the contraceptive at a time when reproductive healthcare is facing restrictions.
Opill should be available in stores and online early next year. There will be no age restrictions to access the medication, but the pill’s cost is still unclear. Perrigo, which makes the pill, said it hopes to make the medication “accessible and affordable to women and people of all ages.” Reproductive rights advocates and health experts applauded the FDA’s decision, and women's health groups said the move will reduce barriers for teens and women of color who may struggle to get a prescription. Meanwhile, anti-abortion organizations said the drug poses risks to women's health. Opill’s most common side effects are headaches, irregular bleeding, and dizziness.
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More than 100 countries already offer over-the-counter birth control pills. Now that the US is catching up, many hope the FDA’s decision can pave the way for other OTC birth control options.
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