Birth control can be instrumental in family planning. Unfortunately, obtaining it isn’t always simple. Typically, you need a visit to your doctor or OBGYN, and a prescription. This will soon change, thanks to the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of our first OTC birth control pill.
The daily contraceptive, called Opill, will be offered over-the-counter, without the need for a prescription. It was originally approved 50 years ago as a prescription pill. It has the standard side effects, including headaches, cramps, and bloating. It comes at a critical time, given the recent bans and issues with abortion laws.
“This pill is aimed at reducing barriers to hormonal birth control for people who can’t get to a doctor, are between medical appointments, are teens and may be unable to get access to reproductive health care. It’s also more effective than other things available over the counter, like condoms,” said NPR pharmaceutical correspondent, Sydney Lupkin. “That’s why medical societies like the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics are applauding the FDA. However, they say it doesn’t replace the need for abortion as medical care.”
Dr. Sarah Prager, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Washington Medical School says, because it’s a progestin-only pill, it’s also safer than a lot of other birth control pills.
“The progestin-only pill has an extremely high safety profile, and virtually no one can have a health concern using a progestin-only pill,” Prager said.
It is expected to be on shelves early next year.
“The drug-maker has not yet announced its price and says it will closer to when the drug actually launches,” Lupkin stated. “The company has mentioned that it plans to launch a patient assistance program to help people who can’t afford Opill, but those programs are notorious for being full of hoops for patients to jump through. Ultimately, the company is running a business and needs to make money, so we’ll have to wait and see.”
