Posted on Jul 20, 2023
Over-the-counter birth control is coming. Here's what to know about cost and coverage
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https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/07/19/ [login to see] /over-the-counter-birth-control-is-coming-heres-what-to-know-about-cost-and-cover
Last week, the FDA approved Opill, the first daily oral contraceptive that will be available for sale over the counter in stores as well as online. Reproductive health advocates hailed the groundbreaking approval as a step that can help millions of people avoid pregnancy, which is unintended nearly half the time in the United States.
They long have argued that eliminating the often-time-consuming step of requiring women to get a prescription before they can get birth control pills would expand access and give women more control over their contraceptive decisions.
Advocates want the FDA approval to signal a trend.
Last week, the FDA approved Opill, the first daily oral contraceptive that will be available for sale over the counter in stores as well as online. Reproductive health advocates hailed the groundbreaking approval as a step that can help millions of people avoid pregnancy, which is unintended nearly half the time in the United States.
They long have argued that eliminating the often-time-consuming step of requiring women to get a prescription before they can get birth control pills would expand access and give women more control over their contraceptive decisions.
Advocates want the FDA approval to signal a trend.
Over-the-counter birth control is coming. Here's what to know about cost and coverage
Posted from npr.org
Medical
Drugs
Health
Pharmaceuticals
Posted 11 mo ago
Responses: 1
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel long overdue...
..."“I think the outcome of the mifepristone case could certainly have implications for Opill’s approval or any drug approval,” Robinson said. “[Could] this open up all drugs that are approved by the FDA to somehow be challenged by somebody who disagrees with the use of the medication?”
But some experts are hopeful that the over-the-counter approval of Opill will shift how contraception is viewed over time.
“My hope is that the more we normalize the fact that lots of people have sex, and they don’t always want to get pregnant. … That is an acknowledged and normal part of human behavior,” Robinson said. “My hope is that this will just become normal and not extraordinary in any way.”
..."“I think the outcome of the mifepristone case could certainly have implications for Opill’s approval or any drug approval,” Robinson said. “[Could] this open up all drugs that are approved by the FDA to somehow be challenged by somebody who disagrees with the use of the medication?”
But some experts are hopeful that the over-the-counter approval of Opill will shift how contraception is viewed over time.
“My hope is that the more we normalize the fact that lots of people have sex, and they don’t always want to get pregnant. … That is an acknowledged and normal part of human behavior,” Robinson said. “My hope is that this will just become normal and not extraordinary in any way.”
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