Share this @internewscast.com

The first over-the-counter birth control pill will be available on pharmacy and store shelves nationwide and online later this month, and will cost about $20 for a 30-day supply, Perrigo, its manufacturer announced on Monday.

Now available for pre-order from some online retailers, the product, Opill, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for OTC use for all ages in July, making it the first daily birth control cleared for sale without a prescription in the U.S. 

The product will come in a variety of sizes, including one-month three-month and six-month packs, with suggested retail prices of $19.99, $49.99 and $89.99, respectively, according to Perrigo.

The company plans to offer a cost-assistance program in coming weeks to help qualified low-income, uninsured individuals obtain the product at low or no cost, it said. 

First approved by the FDA in 1973 to be used as a prescription drug, HRA Pharma, a subsidiary of Perrigo, acquired the rights to Opill from Pfizer in 2014.

“Progestin-only pills have been a trusted contraceptive option for decades, yet obtaining a prescription for birth control pills creates unnecessary barriers for many,” Dr. Melissa J. Kottke, stated in a news release. 


Opill will be first over-the-counter birth control pill sold in stores

02:05

“Creating additional opportunities for contraceptive access is critical in helping people reach their reproductive goals, added the Atlanta-based obstetrician-gynecologist, who served as a paid consultant to Perrigo during the FDA approval process.

The product is 98% effective when taken as directed, according to the consumer products company, headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, and Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

Almost half of the 6.1 million pregnancies in the U.S. each year are unintended, according to the FDA.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Unhealthy Behavior Among 18 Million Americans Tied to Increase in Psychotic Episodes

Doctors nationwide are warning of a sharp rise in psychotic episodes tied…

Revolutionary Immune Breakthrough Erases Tumors and Could Lead to a Universal Cancer Vaccine

Scientists may be one step closer to a universal cancer vaccine that…

A Simple Test May Predict Your Risk of Stroke or Heart Attack

A test that takes less than a minute may be able to…

A seven-year-old boy nearly loses his life after ingesting magnets the size of candies from a risky game that parents are calling to ban.

A seven-year-old boy needed emergency open surgery after swallowing two powerful magnets…

Doctors Warn: Trump’s Advocacy for Mexican Coke May Trigger Health Crisis

Americans are always talking about Mexican Coke because it doesn’t contain high…

Doctors Explain Why Trump’s Vein Condition Could Worsen More Quickly Than the White House Suggests

President Donald Trump has been diagnosed with a vein condition that explains…

Donald Trump’s Health Update: How Is the Former US President Doing?

Donald Trump has a condition common in older adults, which causes blood…

Advice Given to Hay Fever and Allergy Sufferers Regarding Common In-Flight Symptoms

When we’re on the plane and our ears pop, it’s something we’re…

As a longevity specialist, here’s my strategy for reaching the age of 100 — three key actions I’m taking.

After a tiring week at work, a weekend lie in and a…

I refused to let cancer ruin my cousin’s birthday celebration – what unfolded afterward was incredibly unusual

Standing in a kebab shop ordering a chicken doner meat and chips…

Triple Increase in Malaria Deaths Hits Zimbabwe Hard

Zimbabwe’s efforts to control malaria have been dealt a huge blow as…