Over-the-counter birth control pills could be a real thing soon

Plus more health news | Email not displaying correctly? [View it in your browser.]( [Health Matters]( [Imagine a world where you can get the pill without seeing a doctor. It could be here soon]( By Alice Park Senior Health Correspondent In a unanimous vote, an expert panel for the Food and Drug Administration recommended that Opill, an oral contraceptive pill, be available to women over-the-counter. The FDA doesn’t have to follow the committee’s recommendation, but often does, so this is a pretty good signal for what's to come. The decision comes at a perilous time for women’s reproductive rights, following the[overturning of Roe v. Wade]( the [legal battle over the abortion pill mifepristone](. With the vote, the 17 members of the committee acknowledged that women need an accessible, safe way to prevent pregnancy, without medical supervision. Here are some of the factors that the panel members considered: - In the U.S., the most effective contraceptive methods include birth control pills, like Opill, and intrauterine devices—both of which require a prescription. - Non-prescription methods including condoms are at best 90% effective in preventing pregnancy—compared to an efficacy rate as high as 99% for the pill (when used as directed). - The highest rates of unintended pregnancy among U.S. women occurs among those who face barriers to getting prescription contraceptives, including difficulty in making appointments, arranging transportation, taking time off from work and child care, and the costs. [READ MORE]( Share This Story What Else to Read [Heat Waves Can Be Deadly for Those With Mental Health Issues]( By Aryn Baker The 2021 Western Heat Dome was particularly deadly for patients suffering from mental health conditions. Better community care can help. [Read More »]( [Court Rules EPA Must Regulate Drinking Water Contaminant]( By DOUG GLASS / AP The drinking water contaminant has been linked to infant brain damage. [Read More »]( [Drugs Like Adderall and Xanax Can Be Prescribed Online Into 2024]( By Ike Swetlitz and Ganny Belloni/Bloomberg U.S. health and drug officials reversed their earlier position that restrictions on the drugs would be reinstated as the pandemic eased. [Read More »]( [What to Know About Orienteering, the ‘Thinking Sport’]( By Angela Haupt Orienteering combines exercise with navigating through unfamiliar terrain, which benefits brain health. [Read More »]( [Should You Take an Antiviral to Prevent Long COVID?]( By Jamie Ducharme Promising research suggests that certain drugs may reduce the risk of long-term COVID-19 complications. [Read More »]( AN EXPERT VOICE "It used to be thought that the only role of the ovary was to produce eggs that could make a baby. But now we realize the ovary has so many other functions that are important for overall health"—like protecting against heart disease, dementia, and stroke. —Dr. Zev Williams, Columbia University Irving Medical Center --------------------------------------------------------------- If you were forwarded this and want to sign up to receive it daily, [click here](. Today's newsletter was written by Alice Park and Jamie Ducharme, and edited by Elijah Wolfson. [Want more from TIME? Sign up for our other newsletters.]( [Subscribe to TIME]( TIME may receive compensation for some links to products and services in this email. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Connect with TIME via [Facebook]( | [Twitter]( | [Newsletters]( [UNSUBSCRIBE]( [PRIVACY POLICY]( [YOUR CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS]( TIME Customer Service, P.O. Box 37508, Boone, IA 50037-0508 Questions? Contact health@time.com Copyright © 2023 TIME USA, LLC. All rights reserved.