Today, the FDA advisory committee unanimously voted to recommend that the FDA approve Opill, a progestin-only birth control pill as the first over the counter birth control pill in the United States.
President & CEO of Physicians for Reproductive Health and ob/gyn in Washington DC Dr. Jamila Perritt responds:
“After testifying before the FDA advisory committee yesterday alongside fellow health care providers, young people, advocates, and experts, I am elated to see that the United States is poised to make strides for access to birth control for communities across the country.
Opill is a safe and effective birth control pill that people of all ages should be able to access without the unnecessary barrier and delay of needing a prescription and mandated visits to a provider.
“Opill is a safe and effective birth control pill that people of all ages should be able to access without the unnecessary barrier and delay of needing a prescription and mandated visits to a provider. The people we care for are smart, savvy, and resilient. They are aware of their needs and their goals regarding decisions about if, when, and how they build their families, plan, or prevent pregnancy. Moreover, the basic human right to make decisions regarding their bodily autonomy, individual agency and family building includes the human right to make decisions about their contraceptive method without undue pressure or the interference of medically unnecessary and harmful barriers to care.
“While we know that this action will not be a magic bullet or a panacea for fixing access challenges for many communities, it is an important initial action to creating equitable conditions for accessing contraceptive care. I encourage the FDA to take swift action and follow the advisory committee’s recommendation and make Opill available over the counter as soon as possible.”