The first over-the-counter birth control pill will be available in stores across the United States later this month.
Manufacturer Perrigo announced this week that it has begun shipping the medication, Opill, to major retailers and pharmacies.
Opill, sometimes called minipills, is an older contraceptive that contains a single synthetic hormone, progestin, and generally has fewer side effects than more popular combination estrogen and progestin pills.
A one-month supply of the drug will cost about $20 and a three-month supply will cost around $50, according to the company’s suggested retail price.
“People have a new choice, a new option to access the oral contraceptive pill without a prescription,” said Dana Singiser, co-founder of Contraceptive Access Initiative, an nonprofit advocacy group.
