The Support of Opill: Preventing Child Abortion and Preferential Birth Control Through an Over-The-Clock Access Program
The medication, called Opill, which was approved for over-the-counter sale by the Food and Drug Administration last year, will be the most effective birth control method available without a prescription, research shows — more effective than condoms, spermicides and other nonprescription methods.
The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the national right to an abortion in 2022, has made contraception more accessible. But long before that, the move to make a nonprescription pill available for all ages had received widespread support from specialists in reproductive and adolescent health and groups.
Rodriguez said that over-the-counter access to birth control will greatly reduce the barriers of transportation, cost, language, and documentation.
The approval of O pill received little opposition from the conservative groups that are often critical of measures that increase access to abortion and contraceptives. Opposition appeared to come primarily from some Catholic organizations and Students for Life Action.
In a survey in 2022 by the health care research organization KFF, more than three-quarters of women of reproductive age said they favored an over-the-counter pill, primarily because of convenience.
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The FDA’s Opill Campaign: First Over-The-Counter Birth Control Pill Heads to Stores (Forthcoming Order, I’ll Ship Today)
The FDA gave us the go-ahead to move forward in July of 2023 after nine years of working on it. And it’s been kind of full-steam ahead since that day,” says Triona Schmelter, an executive at Perrigo, which manufactures Opill.
This isn’t a new kind of birth control pill. The substance was first approved for prescription use in 1973. This is the first pill approved for use without a prescription from a health care provider.
Yes, it is true. If taken correctly, it’s 98% effective at preventing pregnancies. It should start working 48 hours after the first dose is taken. Potential side effects include headaches, bloating and cramping.
“This morning, we begin shipping O Pill to our retailers for their brick-and-mortar stores,” says Schmelter. She says it will be available in-store and on online marketplaces in the coming weeks.
Opill has a recommended retail price of $19.99. A three-month supply costs $49.99, so it will be a little more economical to buy in bulk. A six-month supply will be available for $89.99.
Source: First over-the-counter birth control pill heads to stores
Having a birth control pill without a visit to your local doctor’s office is cheaper than having a babysitter or paying out of pocket
Although birth control pills are available to people with insurance without a copay due to the Affordable Care Act, not everyone wants their birth control pill to show up on their insurance, so they may choose to pay out of pocket.
“It doesn’t require a doctor’s visit, which means it doesn’t require time off work or potentially a babysitter or finding a doctor,” Schmelter says. “You can walk into any local retailer and, in the family planning section, pick it up at your convenience.”
