Skip to main content
Statement

Good News for Moms that Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pill Advances

May 10, 2023
Reproductive Justice

Lisa Lederer, 202/371-1996

Statement of Monifa Bandele, Chief Strategy Officer of MomsRising, the online and on-the-ground organization of more than one million mothers and their families, on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Advisory Committee recommendation today that a progestin-only birth control pill, Opill, be available over the counter (OTC), without a prescription:

“The FDA Advisory Committee recommendation, issued today, to make Opill available OTC is an important, badly needed, and very welcome step forward for maternal health, equity, and justice. America’s moms encourage the FDA to immediately follow the Committee’s recommendation and make this safe, effective method of birth control more accessible to moms and everyone who needs contraception.

“Opill is well researched and long proven to be safe and effective, even for women over age 35 and people who are breastfeeding. Requiring people to see a doctor or pharmacist to get a birth control pill has put a cumbersome, unnecessary burden on those living in rural communities, people without health insurance, and those who struggle to pay for transportation, find child care, or lose pay if they miss work in order to get a prescription. OTC access to a birth control pill is long overdue. Today’s FDA Advisory Committee recommendation is good news for America’s moms.”

# # # #

MomsRising.org is an on-the-ground and online grassroots organization of more than a million people who are working to increase family economic security, decrease discrimination against women and moms, and to build a nation where businesses and families can thrive. Established in 2006, MomsRising and its members are organizing and speaking out to improve public policy and to change the national dialogue on issues that are critically important to America’s families, including criminal justice reform, immigration policy reform, and gun safety. MomsRising is working for paid family and medical leave, affordable, high quality childcare and early learning, and for an end to the wage and hiring discrimination which penalizes women — particularly moms and women of color — and so many others. MomsRising advocates for access to healthy food for all kids, health care for all, earned sick days, and breastfeeding rights so that all children can have a healthy start. MomsRising maintains a Spanish language website: MamásConPoder.org. Sign up online at www.MomsRising.org — and follow us on our blog, and on Twitter and Facebook.