Planned Parenthood Celebrates Retail Launch of Opill for Over-The-Counter Purchase
For Immediate Release: March 4, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Perrigo announced that Opill — a progestin-only birth control pill approved for over-the-counter (OTC) use for people of all ages — will hit retail stores later this month.
Statement from Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Federation of America:
“This is historic: Patients across the country will soon be able to find one more safe, effective birth control option on pharmacy shelves. Over-the-counter availability of birth control is an important step toward more access for more people, but we can’t stop there. To truly be within patients’ reach, OTC birth control methods like Opill must be covered by insurance, without a prescription requirement, and be made widely available at safety-net providers like Planned Parenthood health centers.”
Advocates have been working for 20 years to make a birth control pill available OTC. Last year’s first-of-its-kind approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) demonstrates that OTC progestin-only birth control pills are safe for people of all ages and its availability will go a long way toward empowering patients to take control of their own health, bodies, and futures.
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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable sexual and reproductive health care for all people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With nearly 600 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect, and without judgment, striving to create equitable access to health care. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable education and information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives. Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that supports the independently incorporated Planned Parenthood affiliates operating health centers across the U.S.