July 14th 2023.
For the first time in 60 years, women and girls can buy birth control pills over the counter. Perrigo, the drug company, recently announced that its pill, OPILL, has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is now available for purchase without a prescription. This change in the availability of contraceptives has been supported by various medical societies and women's health groups.
According to News Nation, approximately 45% of the six million pregnancies in the United States are unintended. This new development is seen as a significant transformation in access to contraceptive care, as it will help people overcome the barriers that may exist in accessing birth control pills. Low-income individuals, women, and teens of color are among those who may benefit from this change, as these groups typically face a disproportionate number of barriers in accessing contraception.
OPILL has been around since 1973 and has been associated with fewer safety concerns than newer birth control pills. Kelly Blanchard, president of Ibis Reproductive Health, said, “It’s been around a long time, and we have a large amount of data supporting that this pill is safe and effective for over-the-counter use.” She also added that the FDA had some hesitation in approving the drug, due to concerns that women with particular underlying medical conditions may not be aware that they should not use this medication.
The cost of the drug has yet to be released, though non-prescription medications are typically less expensive than prescription medications and are not covered by insurance. This new development has been met with applause from medical professionals, health advocates, and Democratic politicians as it is seen as an important step towards increasing accessibility to birth control.
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