In a highly anticipated move, the Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved the first over-the-counter birth control pill, a decision that could transform the way contraception is delivered in the United States.
For the first time, people will now be able to readily purchase birth control online and at pharmacies, convenience stores, and grocery stores without a prescription, a requirement that has been seen as a hurdle to greater access to contraception. Called the Opill, it is expected to become available in the first quarter of 2024, but the pricing has not yet been disclosed by Perrigo, the company that manufactures the pill.
The FDA endorsement comes amid growing support for an over-the-counter birth control pill to lower the high rate of unintended pregnancies, which have been linked to a reduced likelihood of receiving early prenatal care and an increased risk of preterm delivery. In announcing its decision, the agency noted that almost half of the 6.1 million pregnancies in the U.S. each year are unintended. Many patients are unable to get timely appointments for birth-control prescriptions, according to physicians. One-third of women who used oral contraceptives missed a dose because they could not obtain it in time, according to survey conducted last year by KFF.
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