For the first time since its debut in 1960 – when some states still outlawed contraceptive use for married couples – a birth control pill has been approved for purchase without a prescription and should be available at neighborhood drugstore shelves any day now.
Already shipped to major drugstore chains across the country, the progestin-only pill was approved last July by the Food and Drug Administration for over-the-counter (OTC) purchase. The approval includes online sales and no age restrictions for buyers.
“Honestly, it is a big deal,” said Rebecca Cohen, MD, MPH, an associate professor of OB-GYN at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. “This is something that people have been working on for a long time – for almost 10 years now,” Cohen said.
“Although it is not necessarily the right option for every person, it is an option that is safe for most people and takes away a lot of the barriers for using birth control,” Cohen said. “People can use this pill when they have no other options, as a bridge to another form of birth control while they’re waiting for insurance or while they’re waiting to get in to see a healthcare provider.”
Below, Cohen shares more about the newly approved pill (called Opill) and the past barriers to oral contraceptive access. The Q&A has been edited and condensed.