It was announced on March 28 that the FDA will discuss in May whether to approve the First over-the-counter birth control pill in the US
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is preparing to determine whether to approve the over-the-counter contraceptive pill Opill.
Opill It belongs to the French pharmaceutical company HRA Pharma and although its use is approved to prevent unwanted pregnancies, its sale requires a prescription within the United States.
FDA could approve the first over-the-counter birth control pill in the US / Photo: iStock
How does the Opill contraceptive pill work?
What could be the first over-the-counter birth control pill contains 0.75mg of norgestrel, a synthetic form of the hormone progesterone.
To prevent unwanted pregnancies, Opill suppresses ovulation in almost half of users, and this contraceptive pill thickens cervical mucus to inhibit sperm movement.
Another of its functions is to slow down the movement of the ovules through the fallopian tubes to prevent fertilization in the uterus.
FDA could approve the first over-the-counter birth control pill in the US / Photo: iStock
Who should not take Opill?
Despite being able to become the First over-the-counter birth control pill in the USOpill has some contraindications for certain sectors of the user population, among which are:
- People who suspect or know that they are pregnant
- Users who know or suspect that they have any type of breast cancer or any type of progestin-sensitive cancer
- Women with undiagnosed abnormal bleeding
- Users with malignant or benign liver tumors
FDA could approve the first over-the-counter birth control pill in the US / Photo: iStock
What are the side effects of the Opill contraceptive pill?
According to the FDA, Opill can present side effects such as:
The FDA recommends that, in addition to the use of this contraceptive pill, protection be complemented with a non-hormonal contraceptive method such as spermicides or female or male condoms.
It also mentions the importance of understanding that Opill is a contraceptive pill and not an emergency pill against unwanted pregnancies, so it is recommended to correctly understand its use and take it daily at the same times, without missing a day or taking another pill. late, as this increases the chances of getting pregnant.
On the other hand, Opill also does not work to prevent or avoid sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV, it only prevents unwanted pregnancies with an effectiveness of more than 80%