First Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pill Now Available — Should You Use It? Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola (07/22/24)
Note: This is an article warning against the product, not a sales pitch for it.
STORY AT-A-GLANCE
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Opill (norgestrel), an over-the-counter (OTC) daily oral contraceptive, in July 2023.
Opill is the first oral contraceptive available without a prescription in the U.S. and reached retail pharmacies and online stores in March 2024.
Opill contains the hormone norgestrel, which is a type of progestin, the synthetic version of progesterone.
Progestin carries significant health risks, including an increased risk of breast cancer.
While synthetic progestin in oral contraceptives like Opill should be avoided, natural progesterone is quite beneficial for health.
Opill website: opill.com/products/opill
FDA Fact Sheet on norgestrel: fda.gov/drugs/postmarke…