“The pill is one of the most popular forms of contraception and has been used by millions of people for over 60 years. Its record of safety is unassailable. Achieving over-the-counter status for the pill is a breakthrough advancement for reproductive health.”
— Dr. Raegan McDonald-Mosley, MD, MPH, FACOG
Your voice matters!
Follow CAI on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn for updates on the process and how you can help.
Help keep the public conversation accurate and bias-free by submitting letters to the editor and posting on social media.
Check out CAI’s media kit.
Reach out if you are a medical expert and want to get involved.
CAI is a member of the Free the Pill coalition — sign up for their alerts here.
Endorsements
Hundreds of medical experts signed a letter to the FDA commissioner urging the agency to “prioritize the completion of the review process to make already common and safe formulations of oral contraceptives available over-the-counter (OTC),” adding: “The evidence of the benefits of OTC availability is strong, and the public health and medical community urges the FDA to follow the science and approve an OTC oral contraceptive.”
In 2022, the American Medical Association endorsed over-the-counter status for the contraceptive pill without an age restriction. ACOG, AAP and others have also supported an FDA review of the application to allow the pill to be sold without a prescription.
The Washington Post editorial board has urged the FDA to consider making the pill available over the counter, writing: “About half of all pregnancies in the United States are unintended, according to the Guttmacher Institute. The requirement for a prescription can create barriers for women who don’t have easy access to a health care provider because of cost, lack of transportation or child care, and privacy and confidentiality concerns. Making the pill available without a prescription could be particularly helpful to women in rural, poor and marginalized communities.”