Progestin-only pills, sometimes called mini-pills, have very few contraindications, meaning there are few medical circumstances when taking them would be ill-advised. Opill (norgestrel) contains only one hormone, progestin, while most of the 60 or so contraceptive pill formulations on the market contain both estrogen and progestin. Simple convenience might be a factor if you’re on vacation and there’s no in-network pharmacy nearby, for example, or if you can’t get an appointment to see your primary care doctor for a few weeks to discuss your options but don’t want to be unprotected. Similarly, people whose partners don’t want them to take birth control might choose to sidestep their coverage. “We were particularly thrilled that the FDA approval came with no age restriction,” Blanchard said. For example, young people who are insured under a parent’s plan might not want insurance notices sent to their parents’ home. ![]() In a survey conducted last year, more than three-quarters of women of reproductive age said they were in favor of making birth control available over the counter as long as research showed it to be safe and effective.įor people who are uninsured, the new pathway will allow them to save the cost of a visit to a health care provider for a prescription, and the expense of taking time off work or getting child care in some cases.īut even people with health coverage might be very interested, experts say. ![]() Who is most likely to be interested in an over-the-counter oral contraceptive like Opill?Īnyone might be interested, depending on their circumstances. Here are answers to common questions and concerns people may have about the new pill and how to use it with their insurance.ġ. “We hope that this is only the beginning for expanding access to a range of over-the-counter contraceptive options,” said Kelly Blanchard, president of Ibis Reproductive Health, part of a coalition of advocacy groups that have worked for decades to make contraception available over the counter.įor example, a company called Cadence is working on getting FDA approval for a birth control pill with a different formulation that would also be available over the counter without a prescription.īut many details related to cost and coverage of an OTC pill still need to be sorted out. They long have argued that eliminating the often-time-consuming step of requiring people to get a prescription before they can get birth control pills would expand access and give people more control over their contraceptive decisions.Īdvocates want the FDA approval to signal a trend. 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. ![]() 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.
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