News and resources

Medical journals and reports

The following publications and resources provide insight and information about over-the-counter (OTC) oral contraception.

Statements of support

Major medical professional organizations and patient advocates have called for oral contraception to be available without a prescription. View their statements below.

Resources for you and your patients

Use these guides to prepare for discussions about Opill with your patients and customers.

Group of Women

As seen in

Perrigo Press Release

FDA Joint Advisory Committee votes in vavor of Perrigo's Opill daily oral contraceptive for OTC use

The New York Times

A birth control pill will soon be available without a prescription. Here’s what to know

Forbes

What to know about Opill — The birth control pill FDA advisors support making available over-the-counter

Time

FDA panel recommends the first over-the-counter birth control pill

Health

What Is Opill? FDA panel approves first over-the-counter birth control

Good Morning America

FDA advisers vote in favor of allowing first over-the-counter birth control pill

The Today Show

FDA votes unanimously for over-the-counter sale of birth control pill

USA Today

FDA panel recommends allowing birth control pill to be sold over the counter

NPR

Advisers to the FDA back first over-the-counter birth control pill

References

1. Trussell J, Aiken ARA, Micks E, Guthrie KA. Efficacy, safety, and personal considerations. In: Hatcher RA, Nelson AL, Trussell J, Cwiak C, Cason P, Policar MS, Edelman A, Aiken ARA, Marrazzo J, Kowal D, eds. Contraceptive technology. 21st ed. New York, NY: Ayer Company Publishers, Inc., 2018.
2. US Food and Drug Administration. FDA approves first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-nonprescription-daily-oral-contraceptive. Accessed October 13, 2023.
3. US Food and Drug Administration. Opill® label. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2023/017031s041lbl.pdf. Accessed October 13, 2023.
4. Curtis KM, et al. U.S. Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use, 2016. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2016;65(4):1-66.
5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Survey of Family Growth 2017-2019. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nsfg/nsfg_2017_2019_puf.htm. Accessed July 26, 2023.
6. Data on file. HRA Pharma. Unpublished analysis of the NSFG data by Pinney Associates 2023.
7. Finer LB, Zolna MR. Declines in unintended pregnancy in the United States, 2008–2011. N Engl J Med. 2016;374(9):843-852.
8. Biggs MA, et al. Unprotected intercourse among women wanting to avoid pregnancy: attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs. Womens Health Issues. 2012;22(3):e311-e318.
9. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. ACOG Committee Opinion Number 788: over-the-counter access to hormonal contraception. Obstet Gynecol. 2019;134(4):e96-e105.
10. Han L, et al. Mechanism of action of a 0.075 mg norgestrel progestogen-only pill 2. Effect on cervical mucus and theoretical risk of conception. Contraception. 2022;112:43-47.
11. Glasier A, et al. Mechanism of action of norgestrel 0.075 mg a progestogen-only pill. I. Effect on ovarian activity. Contraception. 2022;112:37-42.
12. Curtis KM, et al. U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use, 2016. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2016;65(3):1-104.
13. US Food and Drug Administration. Opill (0.075mg oral norgestrel tablet) information. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/opill-0075mg-oral-norgestrel-tablet-information. Accessed October 13, 2023.
14. Raine-Bennett T, et al. Ectopic pregnancy prevention: further evidence of benefits of prescription contraceptives. Contraception. 2022;105:19-25.
15. Frederiksen B, et al. Women’s sexual and reproductive health services: key findings from the 2020 KFF Women’s Health Survey. Available at: https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/issue-brief/womens-sexual-and-reproductive-health-services-key-findings-from-the-2020-kff-womens-health-survey. Accessed May 25, 2023.
16. Key K, et al. Challenges accessing contraceptive care and interest in over-the-counter oral contraceptive pill use among Black, Indigenous, and people of color: an online cross-sectional survey. Contraception. 2023;120:109950.
17. Grindlay K, Grossman D. Prescription birth control access among U.S. women at risk of unintended pregnancy. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2016;25(3):249-254.
18. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Committee Opinion Number 615: access to contraception. Obstet Gynecol. 2015;125(1):250-255.
19. Power to Decide. Tip sheet: understanding contraceptive deserts. Available at: https://powertodecide.org/what-we-do/information/resource-library/understanding-contraceptive-deserts. Accessed April 26, 2023.
20. Grindlay K, et al. Interest in continued use after participation in a study of over-the-counter progestin-only pills in the United States. Womens Health Rep (New Rochelle). 2022;3(1):904-914.
21. Long M, et al. Interest in using over-the-counter oral contraceptive pills: findings from the 2022 KFF Women’s Health Survey. Available at: https://www.kff.org/womens-health-policy/issue-brief/interest-using-over-the-counter-oral-contraceptive-pills-findings-2022-kff-womens-health-survey. Accessed November 16, 2023..
22. Cheng D, et al. Unintended pregnancy and associated maternal preconception, prenatal and postpartum behavior. Contraception. 2009;79(3):194-198.
23. Dibaba Y, et al. The effects of pregnancy intention on the use of antenatal care services: systemic review and meta-analysis. Reprod Health. 2013;10:50.
24. Lindberg L, et al. Pregnancy intentions and maternal and child health: an analysis of longitudinal data in Oklahoma. Matern Child Health J. 2015;19(5):1087-1096.
25. Mohllajee AP, et al. Pregnancy intention and its relationship to birth and maternal outcomes. Obstet Gynecol. 2007;109(3):678-686.
26. Kost K, Lindberg L. Pregnancy intentions, maternal behaviors, and infant health: investigating relationships with new measures and propensity score analysis. Demography. 2015;52(1):83-111.
27. Maxson P, Miranda ML. Pregnancy intention, demographic differences, and psychosocial health. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2011;20(8):1215-1223.
28. Fellenzer JL, Cibula DA. Intendedness of pregnancy and other predictive factors for symptoms of prenatal depression in a population-based study. Matern Child Health J. 2014;18(10):2426-2436.
29. Abajobir AA, et al. A systemic review and meta-analysis of the association between unintended pregnancy and perinatal depression. J Affect Disord. 2016;192:56-63.
30. Grindlay K, et al. Prescription requirements and over-the-counter access to oral contraceptives: a global review. Contraception. 2013;88(1):91-96.
31. Joint Meeting of the Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee and the Obstetrics, Reproductive, and Urologic Drugs Advisory Committee. Laboratoire HRA presentations. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/media/167980/download. Accessed June 5, 2023.
32. American Medical Association. AMA urges FDA to make oral contraceptive available over-the-counter. Available at: https://www.ama-assn.org/press-center/press-releases/ama-urges-fda-make-oral-contraceptive-available-over-counter. Accessed November 2, 2023.
33. Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. SAHM statement: over-the-counter status for oral contraceptives. Available at: https://www.regulations.gov/comment/FDA-2022-N-1959-0557. Accessed November 2, 2023.
34. North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. NASPAG statement to FDA on over the counter OCPs 2022. Available at: https://naspag.memberclicks.net/assets/docs/NASPAG%20Statement%20to%20FDA%20Over%20the%20Counter%20OCPs.pdf. Accessed October 20, 2023.
35. US Food and Drug Administration. Opill tablets. Prescribing information. Laboratoire HRA Pharma; 2017. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/017031s035s036lbl.pdf. Accessed October 13, 2023.