Citations

Oral contraception usage in the US

82% of sexually active women [in the U.S.] have ever used the pill.

Daniels, Kimberly, and William D Mosher. “Contraceptive methods women have ever used: United States, 1982-2010.” National health statistics reports, 62, 2013: 1-15.

Over 10 million people take the pill.

United Nations. “Contraceptive Use by Method 2019: Data Booklet.” UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, 2019.

Guttmacher Institute. “Contraceptive Use in the United States by Method.” Fact Sheet, May 2021.

In an average month, approximately 14% of American women of reproductive age use the contraceptive pill.

Daniels, Kimberly and Joyce C. Amba. “Current Contraceptive Status Among Women Aged 15–49: United States, 2017–2019,” NCHS Data Brief No. 388, October 2020. 

The contraceptive pill is the most common form of reversible contraception in the United States.

Daniels, Kimberly and Joyce Abma. “Current contraceptive status among women aged 15–49: United States, 2015–2017.” National Center for Health Statistics, NCHS Data Brief, no 327. 2018.

Barriers to accessing oral contraception

Making the pill over the counter would make it easier for people to physically and logistically access birth control in their communities.

Dennis, Amanda, and Daniel Grossman. “Barriers to contraception and interest in over-the-counter access among low-income women: a qualitative study.” Perspectives on sexual and reproductive health vol. 44,2 (2012): 84-91. doi:10.1363/4408412.

One-third of adult U.S. women who have ever tried to obtain prescription contraception reported access barriers.

Grindlay, Kate, and Daniel Grossman. “Prescription Birth Control Access Among U.S. Women at Risk of Unintended Pregnancy.” Journal of women's health (2002) vol. 25,3 (2016): 249-54. doi:10.1089/jwh.2015.5312.

Preventive health care

Nine in 10 women with OTC access still obtained Pap tests, pelvic exams and breast exams.

Hopkins, Kristine et al. “Reproductive health preventive screening among clinic vs. over-the-counter oral contraceptive users.” Contraception vol. 86,4 (2012): 376-82. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2012.03.003.

Unintended pregnancy

About half (45%) of all pregnancies in the US are unintended.

Finer, Lawrence B, and Mia R Zolna. “Declines in Unintended Pregnancy in the United States, 2008-2011.” The New England journal of medicine vol. 374,9 (2016): 843-52. doi:10.1056/NEJMsa1506575.

Modeling suggests that removing prescription and financial barriers to the pill could reduce unintended pregnancy by up to 25%.

Foster, Diana G et al. “Potential public sector cost-savings from over-the-counter access to oral contraceptives.” Contraception vol. 91,5 (2015): 373-9. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2015.01.010.

Over the counter safety

Several studies have already successfully demonstrated that women can utilize self-screening tools to determine whether the pill is right for them. 

Grossman, Daniel et al. “Accuracy of self-screening for contraindications to combined oral contraceptive use.” Obstetrics and gynecology vol. 112,3 (2008): 572-8. doi:10.1097/AOG.0b013e31818345f0

Leading family planning and OB-GYN medical authorities have determined that a prescription is not clinically necessary for access to the pill, yet this artificial requirement creates barriers for millions of people every year.

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Committee on Gynecologic Practice. “Over-the-Counter Access to Hormonal Contraception.” Committee Opinion, Number 788, October 2019. 

Nearly three dozen medical associations, including the most prominent associations addressing contraception, have endorsed FDA review of oral contraception over-the-counter.

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Eighty percent of the global population already has access to the pill over the counter.

Grindlay, Kate et al. “Prescription requirements and over-the-counter access to oral contraceptives: a global review.” Contraception vol. 88,1 (2013): 91-6. doi:10.1016/j.contraception.2012.11.021

Oral contraceptive safety

The pill has a 50+ year safety record and the FDA first approved the pill over 60 years ago.

Planned Parenthood. “How safe is the birth control pill?” plannedparenthood.org.

Opinion

A large majority — 70% — of reproductive-aged women support making birth control pills available over the counter without a prescription.

Fredericksen, Brittni, Ranji, Usha, Salganicoff, Alina, and Michelle Long. “Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health Services: Key Findings from the 2020 KFF Women's Health Survey.” Women’s Health Policy, Kaiser Family Foundation 21 April 2021.

In a 2014 poll, three out of four women in America said that the birth control pill is one of the most important medical advances of the last century and has had a positive impact on women’s day-to-day lives.

Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “On 50th Anniversary of the Pill, Poll Shows Eight in 10 Women Say Birth Control Should Be Covered by Insurers,” Planned Parenthood Federation of America, 30 Jan 2014.

Insurance coverage

The Affordability Is Access Act would require insurance coverage for OTC forms of contraception.

United States, Congress, Senate. “Affordability is Access Act.” Senate.gov, 116th Congress, H.R. 3296, Introduced 14 June 2019.