In case you missed it, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) just received its first application from a company, HRA Pharma, to sell its birth control pill (Opill) over the counter without a prescription. In some other countries, it’s actually common to find birth control pills available for purchase without having to see a physician first. In fact, about 100 countries don’t require a prescription for oral contraceptives, according to a global review published in the journal Contraception. So why has it taken so long for the U.S. to consider this option?
Overall, this application is an important step forward in the fight for accessible reproductive health care. More access to birth control provides better prevention of unintended pregnancies and may help many avoid the need for abortion care in parts of the country where access to it is scarce.
Dr. Heather Irobunda is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist currently practicing at NYC Health and Hospitals. After receiving her bachelor’s degree, and completing a post-baccalaureate program, she earned her doctorate of medicine in 2011. She went on to serve as an active-duty Army ob-gyn while completing her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Now, with more than a decade of experience in the medical field, her work is dedicated to empowering women to make informed decisions about their health. Follow her on Instagram @drheatherirobundamd.
