The U.S. Food and Drug Administration unanimously voted Wednesday in favor of recommending the first-ever over-the-counter birth control pill, saying benefits outweigh risks. The vote is a major step in a long push to make oral contraception obtainable over the counter in the United States.
“I think this represents a landmark in our history of women’s health. Unwanted pregnancies can really derail a woman’s life, and especially an adolescent’s life,” said Dr. Margery Gass of the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, another committee member. “So I’m very pleased that the FDA is seriously considering this. And I look forward to it being on the market.”
If approved, the pill would be sold by Perrigo under the brand name Opill.
“Perrigo is proud to lead the way in making contraception more accessible to women in the U.S.,” said Murray Kessler, Perrigo’s president and CEO.
FDA advisers said the benefits of the pill outweigh the risks in the vote, and that women could safely and effectively take the pill without the guidance of a health professional.