As Told To

‘It’s very empowering’: Northeastern student on first FDA-approved OTC birth control

Brooke is a Northeastern student taking Opill, the first FDA-approved over-the-counter birth control pill. She shared her experience with Boston.com.

Opill (norgestrel) is a tablet for nonprescription use to prevent pregnancy— the first daily oral contraceptive approved for use in the U.S. without a prescription. It was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in July of 2023. (Photo courtesy Perrigo Company plc)

By Annie Jonas

October 15, 2024

3 minutes to read

This story was told by Brooke, a 22-year-old Massachusetts local and senior at Northeastern University. She has been taking Opill, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved non-prescription pill to prevent pregnancy, for six months.

Opill is the first over-the-counter daily oral contraceptive approved for use in the U.S., and comes at a pivotal time for the country. After the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, ending the federal constitutional right to an abortion, debates around making birth control more accessible ensued. Access to reproductive healthcare is one of the major concerns for voters ahead of the 2024 election. For women under age 30, abortion is the most important issue, according to a recent KFF survey.

Brooke’s story has been edited from a conversation with Annie Jonas.

*(Photo courtesy of Perrigo Company plc)*

I had first heard about Opill, the first FDA sponsored over-the-counter birth control pill, through the Northeastern University Sexual Health Advocacy Resources and Education club, also called NU SHARE. They posted about it on their Instagram story because they wanted to educate and bring awareness to the fact that these resources existed.

First over-the-counter birth control pill gets FDA approval

I was in the process of finishing up a theater production at Northeastern, and my schedule was very hectic and busy. I said to myself, ‘I should try the pill some time before I go home for the summer,’ but then I never really got started on the pill before going home.

When I got home, I decided I actually wanted to start it. So I ended up buying a three month pack of Opill to just give it a try and see if I would like the experience. And it ended up being really beneficial for me. When I was home for the summer, the closest retail stores to us were a 20 minute drive away, and scheduling wise, for doctor’s appointments, it was so much more convenient to be able to order Opill online. It was very nice to have that easy access.

In comparison to a lot of the other resources that are available for people who might not have insurance or time in their schedule to get a prescription, I think it really is a good alternative. You are able to just go and buy it at your local store, or if you don’t have time to buy it that day, you can just put in an online order and make sure you get it within the next few days.

In our current political climate, I personally think that it’s very empowering for people. Not only does this empower their bodily autonomy – especially in political climates where they’re not really sure what exact decisions are going to be made – but I think it also helps that it has been FDA approved, and is OTC. If they are also not in an environment that is necessarily the best location for them, but they don’t want to go without reproductive health resources, they are able to find and procure it themselves – without the need for a doctor or family resource.

For those that are skeptical of OTC birth control, or unsure if it’s right for them, obviously a lot of it is about their comfort level and where they’re at with their understanding of themselves, their body, and how they want to go through the process. But in my experience, this has been really helpful for me because my schedule is very busy. I’m working two part-time jobs and I’m taking classes, and so it’s been really nice to be able to just go and buy it online and have the comfort and understanding that I will be able to have this resource without having to go to the doctor and make sure my prescription gets refilled.

From my personal experience taking it, actually being on the pill, I have not experienced any negative side effects so far. The only negative side effect has been timing wise, where there was a week where I got a little wonky about taking it at the same time. So I’ve used alarms and an app as a reminder. But that’s the only time I’ve ever really had a negative experience.