F.D.A. Approves First U.S. Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pill

wjs018@beehaw.org to Science@beehaw.org – 72 points – F.D.A. Approves First U.S. Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pill
nytimes.com

cross-posted from: https://mander.xyz/post/1133527

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Sounds potentially dangerous. Though in the current US climate maybe less dangerous than asking a doctor for prescription.

The type of pill that was approved is the progestin-only "mini pill" which has a much safer clinical profile than the more common-in-the-US combination pill that has both progestin and estrogen. This type of pill is already available OTC in over 100 other countries. The US is just really behind the curve on just about anything to do with reproductive rights and care.

Dangerous in what way? According to the article:

The panel cited the long history of safety and efficacy of Opill, which was approved for prescription use 50 years ago. The over-the-counter pill will be identical to the prescription version, which is 93 percent effective at preventing pregnancy with typical use.

Dangerous in the way that it's a hormonal treatment.

Melatonin is an oral hormone too, doesnt really mean its unsafe inherently, i think maybe its best to listen to the expert panel for now

Obviously. Though I'm not particularly fond of US "experts". If some respectable EU authority says it's (mostly) safe, I'm gonna believe it's (mostly) safe.

This shit is already over the counter in much of Europe.

Did you do any research whatsoever about this before making such a confident statement about the "danger"? Or are you just going based on your feelings?

Hundreds of other countries in the world sell these over the counter. That means millions of users across dozens of years across the globe. As long as you follow the directions on the packet, like any other medication you can buy OTC, it is safe. Validated by millions of people.

Not even just the doctors, I keep hearing tales of pharmacists at specifically Walgreens just refusing to fill prescriptions.

Hence why next time I talk with my doctor I'm switching to somewhere else.

If only we had an agency full of thousands of career experts in reproductive medicine and beaurocrats who are empowered to regulate medicines, and do extensive testing and review before allowing them to be sold to the public.

Oh well...