Majority of Women in Favor of Over-the-Counter Birth Control Sales, Study Finds

May 6, 2013 —Nearly two-thirds of women support making birth control pills available over the counter, according to a study published in Contraception, Reuters reports.

For the study, researchers surveyed a nationally representative sample of more than 2,000 women ages 18 through 44 about their attitudes toward OTC access to birth control pills. Women were eligible for the survey if they had been sexually active with a man in the past year but were not pregnant or trying to become pregnant.

The survey found that about 31% of respondents said they are "strongly" or "somewhat" in favor of allowing women to purchase birth control without a prescription. Among respondents who were not using birth control pills or were using a less-effective method -- such as condoms -- about 30% said they likely would use oral contraceptives if they were available without a prescription.

Respondents said OTC access to birth control pills would be more convenient, reduce unintended pregnancy, and save time and money. However, they noted some potential downsides, such as women choosing a pill that is not right for them.

Comments

Kavita Nanda -- a contraception and family planning researcher at FHI 360 who was not involved in the study -- said concerns that women need a doctor to choose the right pill are not supported by scientific evidence.

Lead study author Daniel Grossman of the University of California-San Francisco and Ibis Reproductive Health, said, "There's mounting evidence that this is safe, this is effective and women really want it." Grossman added, "I see this issue, of moving the regular birth control pill over the counter, as the next big advance in improving access to effective contraception" (Pittman, Reuters, 5/2).