The FDA’s 2023 approval of over-the-counter (OTC) pill as a daily oral contraceptive represents a transformative opportunity to expand contraceptive access. Emerging evidence confirms that OTC pills are reaching groups who face persistent barriers to prescription-based care, including adolescents, uninsured individuals, rural residents, and people of color (Rodriguez et al., 2025; Schaefer et al., 2025). ...Read more >

The approval of Opill as the first over-the-counter daily oral contraceptive represents a major opportunity to expand contraceptive access, particularly for people who face barriers to clinic-based care. However, early evidence suggests that policy changes alone may not translate into meaningful access. In North Carolina, Medicaid now covers Opill when purchased over the counter, yet ...Read more >

Illinois is among the first states to enact policies intended to improve affordable access to over-the-counter (OTC) daily oral contraception. People with Medicaid insurance and commercial insurance governed by state law should be able to use their insurance to obtain OTC contraception without cost-sharing or co-pays. How well these polies are being implemented and successfully ...Read more >

The FDA approved Opill® as the first over-the-counter (OTC) progestin-only pill (POP) in July 2023, offering potential to expand contraceptive access. However, approval alone does not ensure equitable access, particularly for young adults, who may face structural, financial, informational, and psychosocial barriers. Without addressing these barriers, OTC POP may primarily benefit those with existing access ...Read more >

In March 2024, the first over-the-counter (OTC) oral contraceptive in the United States – Opill – became available, which has the potential to increase contraceptive access. However, the $20 retail cost of Opill and challenges using insurance may be preventing many individuals from accessing it in retail settings. Instead, some may be accessing Opill from ...Read more >

Opill is the first daily oral contraceptive to be available over-the-counter (OTC) without a prescription in the United States and has the potential to significantly expand access to oral contraception for millions of Americans by reducing common barriers to access. However, despite research suggesting widespread interest in OTC contraception and Opill product availability since March ...Read more >

This proposal uses adolescent-generated “journey maps” to examine how young people in Baton Rouge, Louisiana navigate real-world access to over-the-counter oral contraception, highlighting the gap between availability and lived access in both retail and online settings. In restrictive sexual and reproductive health environments like Louisiana, adolescents face intersecting structural, informational, social, and financial barriers, and ...Read more >

Access to contraceptive services for low-income and other marginalized identities is central to reducing inequities in access to care. Telemedicine (TM) has the potential to expand access to care, but widespread use of TM for contraceptive care was limited prior to the COVID19 pandemic. The publicly funded family planning “safety net” system of Community Health ...Read more >

While procedural abortions are common outpatient procedures, achieving optimal pain and anxiety relief remains challenging, especially when pharmacologic options such as moderate sedation or general anesthesia are limited. Many patients also wish to avoid the potential risks and inconvenience associated with these options. Exploring alternative or adjunct methods for outpatient pain and anxiety control may ...Read more >

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disproportionately affects individuals of reproductive age and is associated with significant maternal and fetal morbidity during pregnancy, particularly in the setting of active disease or exposure to teratogenic medications. Clinical guidelines recommend proactive contraceptive counseling and pregnancy planning for individuals with SLE; however, real-world contraceptive use remains inconsistent, and unintended pregnancy ...Read more >