Washington, D.C. — Today, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first over-the-counter birth control pill, Opill, which will be available in early 2024 to people of all ages. In response, Maggie Jo Buchanan, senior director and senior legal fellow for the Women’s Initiative at the Center for American Progress, shared the following statement:
While conservatives continue to restrict women and girls’ ability to determine their own paths in life, the FDA took a long-overdue step forward in affirming that birth control is safe and should be available without unnecessary barriers. This will help advance the ability of all people to make decisions about their health and when to start a family. In the months ahead, it will be critical to work to ensure over-the-counter birth control pills are accessible and affordable so that everyone can access the contraceptive care of their choosing across the country.
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