(CMR) The United States Food and Drug Administration approved a daily oral contraceptive pill for use without a prescription, a decision welcomed by many as several states have restricted abortion.
Opill (norgestrel), which comes in tablet form, will be sold over the counter in a wide range of venues, from online markets to drug stores, convenience stores, and grocery stores.
“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,” Patrizia Cavazzoni, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said.
“When used as directed, daily oral contraception is safe and is expected to be more effective than currently available nonprescription contraceptive methods in preventing unintended pregnancy,” she added.
The FDA said the nonprescription availability of Opill may reduce barriers to access by allowing individuals to obtain an oral contraceptive without the need to first see a healthcare provider. Almost half of the 6.1 million pregnancies in the U.S. each year are unintended.
“This is a monumental decision. OTC birth control is available in over 100 countries, so we've been behind in availing safe, effective methods such as this oral contraceptive pill to individuals who are trying to avoid pregnancy,” Dr. Melissa Simon, a professor of clinical gynecology at Northwestern University, told NBC News.
Opill, also known as the “mini-pill,” contains one hormone, progestin, and is taken daily. It was first approved by the FDA as a prescription in 1973.
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