FDA to pass first over-the-counter birth control pill

Washington, Jul 13 (Prensa Latina) The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday passed the oral contraceptive Opill for the over-the-counter sales, making it the first hormonal contraceptive pill available in the United States without prescription. It will be an option for the reproductive health of millions of American women.

July 13, 2023
16:12

A recent study found that in recent years, American women have found it more difficult to access broader reproductive health services, such as routine checkups and contraceptive methods.

Surveys suggested that about 45% of American women experienced at least one barrier to reproductive health care services in 2021, up 10% from 2017.

According to the pharmaceutical company, the over-the-counter sale of Opill, a daily oral contraceptive, will be available on the market by the end of March 2024.

The medication is expected to be available at drug stores, convenience stores, grocery stores and online, according to the FDA. People who want to grab the medication off store shelves will have to wait a little longer, however.

FDA has faced pressure from lawmakers as well as healthcare professionals in the country to get the drug released.

Nearly half of the 6.1 million pregnancies in the United States each year are unintended, according to the FDA.

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