SW News: Bishop Robert Barron of Winona-Rochester, who chairs the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee for Laity, Marriage, Family Life, and Youth, has expressed concern over the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorizing the oral contraceptive Opill to be sold over-the-counter without a prescription.

The prelate said that allowing this hormonal contraception to be sold 'over the counter' in defiance of evidence of numerous negative side effects and without the guidance of a physician breaches the Hippocratic Oath by putting the health of women at grave risk.

He said that claims that this approach has more advantages than disadvantages are unfounded, especially in light of the overwhelming evidence of the numerous negative effects hormonal contraception has on women's health. The bishop commented that this action by a government entity flies in the face of responsible medical practice and concerns for women’s health.

Medical groups such as the American Medical Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have been pushing for years for an OTC birth control pill. This also comes against the backdrop of legal battles over women’s reproductive rights.

The hormone, progestin, is present in Opill. It is also referred to as the "mini-pill," which is taken every day. In 1973, the FDA granted it its initial prescription approval. To remove access obstacles and lower the risk of unwanted pregnancies, the FDA said that it is approving the over-the-counter version for all users of reproductive age, including teenagers. According to the FDA, nearly half of the 6.1 million pregnancies that occur in the United States annually are unplanned. According to the FDA, the drug should be accessible through pharmacies, gas stations, grocery shops, and online. However, it will take a little longer for people who choose to purchase the medication off store shelves. The Opill's manufacturer, Perrigo's HRA Pharma, stated that it won't be accessible until early 2024.

The cost of the OTC medication has not yet been published by HRA Pharma. Since OTC treatments are sometimes not covered by insurance, experts suggest the cost will need to be reasonable.

About two months after a third-party advisory council unanimously recommended making Opill available without a prescription, the FDA took action. Free the Pill, a group that advocates for birth control education, claims that OTC birth control tablets are currently available in more than 100 other nations.

In a survey conducted in 2022 by KFF, it was discovered that more than 75% of women of reproductive age supported making birth control pills available over the counter. According to the survey, convenience was the main factor encouraging people to switch from prescription to OTC medications.