First over-the-counter birth control pill hits store shelves
By: NBC News
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
March 22, 2024, 10:39 PM UTCBy Aria Bendix
Opill, the first birth control pill approved to be sold without a prescription, has landed on shelves at some Walgreens stores.
The pill is also available to order online from Amazon, CVS, Walgreens and the Opill website.
It's the first time that U.S. residents are able to buy birth control pills over the counter — the same way they would purchase Tylenol or Advil — though many states allow pharmacists to dispense birth control pills to patients without a prescription.
Sriha Srinivasan, 21, said she plans to start taking Opill as soon as she can find it at a store near her home in Fairfield, California — both for its convenience and because she wants to support a product that's expanding access to contraception.
Srinivasan, a contraceptives activist, said she tried to schedule appointments at local clinics to get a birth control prescription last year, only to find out that the earliest slots were months away, during her final exams.
"That's not access to me," she said. "This is fulfilling the gap that I experienced, that I know for a fact that other students have also experienced."
The Food and Drug Administration approved Opill for over-the-counter sales in July, but the drug's maker, Perrigo, didn't start shipping batches to retailers and pharmacies until March 4.
The Opill website shows a map of stores that carry or are expected to carry the pill.
Walgreens estimated that Opill would be at all of its stores within the next week or so. Several stores in Massachusetts and one in Connecticut confirmed to NBC News that the product had made it to shelves.
"Opill will be available at Walgreens nationwide in the family planning aisle and behind the pharmacy. Customers can also purchase the product online for 30-minute pickup, 1-hour delivery, or ship to home," Marty Maloney, a company spokesperson, said in a statement.
Matt Blanchette, a CVS spokesperson, said the pharmacy chain started selling Opill online on Thursday, but the product hasn't hit shelves yet.
"In early April, more than 7,500 CVS Pharmacy stores will offer Opill and for added privacy and convenience, customers will be able to choose same-day delivery or buy online and pick up in store," he said.
Walmart spokesperson Tricia Moriarty said Opill is expected to be available on the store's website at the end of this week, but as of Friday afternoon the pills were listed as "out of stock." Opill will also be available at all Walmart stores the first week of April, Moriarty said.
The medication costs $19.99 for a one-month supply and $49.99 for a three-month supply at most stores, though Walmart lists slightly lower prices online.
Opill contains one hormone, progestin, which makes it harder for sperm to reach an egg, thins the lining of the uterus and can sometimes prevent ovulation. This type of birth control, known as the "mini pill," is taken at the same time each day. The common prescription forms of birth control, known as "combination pills," contain synthetic versions of both estrogen and progestin.
When used as directed, Opill's effectiveness can be as high as 98%, meaning just 2 out of 100 women will become pregnant in a year of use. The effectiveness of combination pills can reach 99%.
A prescription version of Opill was approved more than 50 years ago under the brand name Ovrette, and was available in the U.S. from 1973 to 2005.
Over-the-counter birth control pills were already available in more than 100 countries before Opill was approved in the U.S. in July.
Srinivasan spoke about the need for over-the-counter birth control pills at an FDA advisory committee meeting last year.
"I really felt like I was the voice for a lot of young people in that moment. … I got a tattoo of a little birth control pack after I spoke to the FDA," she said.
Srinivasan added, though, that she worries that even $20 per month might feel expensive after she starts medical school this fall.
Under the Affordable Care Act, most insurance plans are required to cover certain types of contraceptives at no out-of-pocket cost. But over-the-counter medications generally aren't covered.
However, according to KFF, a nonprofit health think tank, seven states — California, Colorado, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York and Washington — require private health insurance plans that are subject to state law to cover some nonprescription contraceptives. Many of those policies should be broad enough to include Opill, according to KFF — but the majority of plans are only subject to federal, not state, law. Seven states also have funds set aside to cover nonprescription contraceptives for Medicaid beneficiaries.
Aria Bendix
Aria Bendix is the breaking health reporter for NBC News Digital.
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though many states allow pharmacists to dispense birth control pills to patients without a prescription.
They should all approve of that. There's too much government interference in peoples' lives!!!
I agree, but this is a good first step toward all oral contraceptives being available OTC.
Will still use condoms because there is more than one downside to having 'unprotected' casual sex with casual acquaintances.
Have actually impregnated 2 women who 'claimed' to be on the pill.
Rich and handsome has a downside. There is a lot to be said for celibacy
I think that's good advice for pretty much any sexually active person who is not in a committed, monogamous relationship. Pregnancy is not the only possible result of sex, and oral contraceptives do nothing to prevent STIs. Also, oral contraceptives, even taken as directed, do sometimes fail. A backup method is always a good choice.
I like how you said "oral" twice.
Knew a lady once who only liked it that way both giving and receiving.
Maybe abortion won't be such a political issue going forward.
Far right-wing control freak fascism will always be a political issue.
Good news.
Good! This simple action will prevent more abortions than all those Westboro Baptist protests combined ever could have...
I live in Shawnee County Ks. and nothing short of C4 will ever stop those insane Westboro Baptist religious-fanatical-fascists from trashing the 'other'.
I, personally, ignore them but now that they're picketing military funerals, trained military killers might not.
I hereby nominate Westboro Baptist for the next Darwin Awards winners.
So don't pay attention to them. Most don't.
Problem solved.
I'd prefer to limit the discussion here to OTC oral contraceptives, and give the WBC as little attention as they deserve, please, gentlemen.
Agreed. It's just that there are so many facets to this topic. I'm speaking as a 69 yr. old who lived through being a sexually active teen decades ago. Seems that the song remains the same over the years.
Have spent many years as a paramedic which does tend to help me bridge the age gap between generations. Have delivered babies for 3 generations of women/young girls now.
And cjcold, thank you for your cooperation.
Guys could always buy a rubber in a barroom bathroom stall in my day for 25 cents, but women never had that sort of option. The machines in the women's bathrooms sold tampons.
Some also sold condoms, but certainly not all.
Gas stations as well.
The walk through gate between my Army Camp and the local ville in Korea had a big bowl full of free condoms for men or woman.
Never spent time in the ladies room, so only went by what I was told way back in the day.
Even later when I became a bouncer in strip joints I left them to their domain unless I was called in to stop a knife fight.
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This is a very good thing
It should be mandatory for anyone on government assistance of any kind.
But your right, it is a good thing.