First Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pill in the United States Now Available Online

The first over-the-counter birth control pill in the United States is now available online for those wishing to purchase it in this manner.

Opill was distributed since the beginning of March in major pharmacies and drugstores in the United States, but the addition of online sales, a preferred mode for those who like to make orders remotely, was pending.

Opill.com and Amazon are the sites that so far accept online purchases, as informed to customers who decide to prevent pregnancies using this pill.

The supply of the pill for one month is priced at $19.99 and $49.99 for three months, and if you decide to buy it for six months, Opill.com offers it at a value of $89.99.

It is anticipated that by the end of this month, it will also be available through CVS.com and the CVS Pharmacy app, and that by early April, more than 7,500 CVS Pharmacy stores will sell it with same-day delivery of the purchase or also with online purchases or pick up in-store, as the customer chooses.

Online sales will primarily benefit the younger sector with skills in handling electronic devices, but it will also help find safe contraceptive methods for women living in remote rural areas with limited access to medical assistance.

What should you know about Opill?

The birth control pill Opill was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in July 2023, a decision aimed at favoring the protection of millions of people who do not want a pregnancy and its negative consequences, as well as reducing the barriers to access to this type of medication.

The FDA indicates that it is safe and 99 percent effective as long as it is taken at the same time every day and that it should not be used at the same time with other hormonal contraceptive products.

Also, women who have or have had breast cancer should not consume it.

It can cause menstrual disorders, given the nature of its component Norgestrel, and in case of having taken the medication incorrectly and confirming a pregnancy, it must be immediately discontinued.

Some side effects such as irregular bleeding, headaches, dizziness, nausea, increased appetite, abdominal pain, cramps, or swelling, were indicated by the FDA.

Something that stands out is that there is no age restriction for its consumption; therefore, it could be used by teenagers to women over 35 years old, even if they are hypertensive or smokers.

Could states veto the sale of Opill?

This is a possibility among many and would depend on the states themselves and their laws, although there is no precedent for any territory to veto a medication approved by the FDA.

National statistics indicate that about 3 million pregnancies annually in the country are unwanted, and these are associated with negative outcomes both in care during pregnancy and preterm births, as well as other newborn health risks.

Therefore, Opill could be viable for those who have an active sex life but do not wish to carry a pregnancy to term, especially with the economic crisis the nation is experiencing and the laws promoted to prevent abortion in various states.