Opill, the First Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pill Approved in the US, Now Available for Online Sales
The much-anticipated rollout for Opill, the first over-the-counter (OTC) birth control pill approved in the United States, has commenced. Consumers can now order Opill contact starting from Monday, March 20, 2023, with orders being fulfilled within a day or two. The product will initially be available at Opill.com and Amazon.
Sara Young, senior vice president and chief consumer officer at Perrigo, the drugmaker behind Opill, shared in an email that “because privacy is important to Perrigo,” Opill orders will be shipped in plain, unbranded boxes.
Opill has a suggested retail price of $19.99 for a one-month supply, $49.99 for a three-month supply, and at Opill.com, a six-month supply will be available for $89.99.
The first shipments of Opill were sent to distributors, major drug stores, and pharmacies earlier this month. However, the timeline for customers accessing the product involves shipments arriving at distribution sites and being delivered to retailers. Retailers then either package the product for contact orders or place it on store shelves.
Some major pharmacy chains, such as CVS and Walgreens, have announced their plans to offer Opill once they receive their shipments. Customers can expect it to be available at CVS.com and through the CVS Pharmacy app in late March, with more than 7,500 CVS Pharmacy stores offering it starting in early April.
Online access to Opill is expected to significantly benefit women living in remote rural areas or those who may not have easy transportation to stores that carry it. This added convenience and privacy will particularly benefit adolescents, individuals with limited access to contraception, and those facing domestic violence situations where their partners may sabotage their birth control.
Dr. Anne-Marie Amies Oelschlager, professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Washington School of Medicine who specializes in adolescent care, stated that “the biggest population that will benefit from this are those who have limited access to contraception in the first place.”
As more avenues for accessing contraception become available, people can take greater control over their reproductive health and choices. Megan Kavanaugh, a principal research scientist at the Guttmacher Institute, emphasized that “the more options we have for people, the better.”
Last year, when the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Opill for use without a prescription and with no age limit, public health experts praised this move as a significant step forward in expanding access to contraception in the United States. However, there is concern that states may attempt to restrict this access due to ongoing political debates surrounding sexual and reproductive health care.
Dr. Vineeta Gupta, executive director for the nonprofit Network for Public Health Law, mentioned that certain medications have age restrictions on a state-by-state basis. In 2012, California became the first state to prohibit the sale of cough medicines containing dextromethorphan to minors. However, these examples do not establish a clear precedent for state restrictions on an FDA-approved medication like Opill.
Gupta noted that legal approval and actual access are two distinct issues, with the latter influenced by a broader set of factors including state policies, healthcare practices, and socio-economic determinants of health. Furthermore, many states allow pharmacists to refuse to participate in providing OTC medications that they find morally objectionable.
In summary, the rollout of Opill marks a major milestone for expanding access to contraception in the United States. While some states may attempt to restrict this access, it is essential to celebrate and support increased access for all people seeking reproductive freedoms.
