Opill (norgestrel) will be on store shelves in early 2024, but its price could be an issue
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved an over-the-counter birth control pill, marking the first time an oral contraceptive has ever been available without a prescription in the United States to prevent pregnancy. Known as Opill (norgestrel), the much-anticipated announcement is a historic moment for female health.
„When used as directed, daily oral contraception is safe and is expected to be more effective than currently available non-prescription contraceptive methods in preventing unintended pregnancy,“ said Patrizia Cavazzoni, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research in a statement. „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.“
Opill was first FDA-approved in 1973 as a progestin-only medication, which refers to the class of drugs it falls under. Opill works by thinning the lining of the uterus, which can prevent sperm from reaching an egg by thickening mucus in the cervix.
Dr. Alison Edelman, professor and OB/GYN at Oregon Health & Science University, told Salon that she thinks it’s important that the first pill to be available over the counter is progestin-only. Compared to combination oestrogen-progestin pills, progestin-only pills carry fewer risks like blood clots.
„Progestin-only pills really can be used by almost anybody, no matter the age range of a reproductive individual, and then also by a number of disease states,“ Edelman said. „So even if you have some chronic medical diseases, taking this pill can help prevent pregnancy and it doesn’t make your disease state worse.“
People who have a history of breast cancer are not advised to take Opill while folks with other forms of cancer should consult with their doctors before use, the FDA advises. In the statement, the FDA said it’s approving over-the-counter use for all people of reproductive age, including teenagers.
