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The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the United State’s first over-the-counter birth control pill. According to CNN, the approval was granted Thursday.
According to the outlet, Opill will be the country’s first non-prescription birth control pill as it will be available for over-the-counter purchase. An FDA statement explains that Opill will be available at “drug stores, convenience stores and grocery stores.”
Additionally, the birth control pill will also be sold “online.”
Patrizia Cavazzoni, M.D., the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research Director, also shared a statement regarding Thursday’s decision.
“Today’s approval marks the first time a nonprescription daily oral contraceptive will be an available option for millions of people in the United States…”
Additionally, Cavazzoni explained that “daily oral contraception is safe” and “expected to be more effective” than “currently available nonprescription contraceptive methods.”
According to CNN, Opill uses the hormone “progestin.” The FDA further explains that the pill should be taken daily at the same time each day.
Additionally, the FDA explains that common side effects of the pill may include “irregular bleeding, headaches, dizziness, nausea, increased appetite, abdominal pain, cramps or bloating.”
The FDA explicitly states that Opill should not be used by anyone who has or has had breast cancer. Furthermore, a doctor should be consulted for those who have battled “any other form of cancer.”
Lastly, the FDA explains that Opill can not be used to “prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex” or the transmission of sexual diseases, and its use should be discontinued after “pregnancy is confirmed.”
CNN reports that Opill’s manufacturer, Perigo, called the FDA’s decision a “milestone” for “addressing a key unmet need for contraceptive access.”
“Today’s approval is a groundbreaking expansion for women’s health in the U.S., and a significant milestone towards addressing a key unmet need for contraceptive access…”
Additionally, the outlet reports that Perigo pledges to make Opill “accessible and affordable to women and people of all ages.”
At this time, it remains unclear when Opill will begin being sold over the counter. Additionally, NBC News reports that its price point has not been disclosed.
The FDA’s decision marks a step forward for reclaiming individual reproductive agency since the overturning of Roe v. Wade. As The Shade Room. previously reported, the decision gave states final authority toward abortion access.
