Approval of Opill by the FDA

Welcome to our first ever The Scoop blog post! For our first post, we wanted to start it off with a womanist win.

On July 13, 2023, Opill, a birth control pill, was approved by the FDA, making it the first ever over-the-counter birth control pill available in the United States. It will be available to all ages and is expected to show up in stores by early 2024, according to the Perrigo Company which manufactures the pill.

Opill is meant to be taken daily and is progestin-only, meaning it doesn't have estrogen and only contains one hormone. The pill is said to be more effective than most other non-prescription birth control methods, such as condoms and spermicides. Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade over a year ago, Opill's approval marks an important win for women everywhere as it represents a step towards reclaiming control over our bodies that we are so deservedly seeking, and will remain to unwaveringly.

The accessibility of Opill as an over the counter contraceptive can be especially beneficial to so many women who don't have the time, money, or transportation to consult a doctor and be prescribed birth control pills or other contraceptive methods.

This victory hopefully foreshadows a shift in priority toward a safe and accessible reproductive healthcare for all women in the United States.

Sources: The New York Times, Feminist