Washington, D.C. — Following the overturn of Roe v. Wade, advocates are pushing now more than ever to expand and improve access to all types of contraception. One strategy is making oral contraceptive pills available over the counter (OTC), according to a new column released today by the Center for American Progress.
Allowing OTC sale for oral contraceptive pills—such as Opill, the progestin-only pill that recently applied for U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval—would not only help reduce unintended pregnancies but also increase women’s bodily and reproductive autonomy.
Some key findings of the column include:
- OTC contraceptive pills are already available in more than 100 countries.
- Sixty-two percent of women of reproductive age are in favor of oral contraceptives being made available OTC.
- Nineteen million women of reproductive age currently live in contraceptive deserts.
- Up to one-third of adult women experience barriers when seeking contraceptive care.
- The oral contraceptive pill is the most common form of reversible contraception in the United States.
“The data are clear: OTC oral contraceptive pills are safe and effective,” said Kierra B. Jones, a policy analyst for the Women’s Initiative at CAP and author of the column. “With women’s bodily autonomy under threat, it is critical that all women have access to contraceptive care.”
Read the column: “5 Important Facts About Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pills” by Kierra B. Jones
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Julia Cusick at [email protected].