The Food and Drug Administration has approved the first birth control pill available without a prescription – a major change that will broaden access and availability in turn.
Hormone-based pills have long been the most common form of birth control in the U.S., and medical societies and women’s health groups have pushed for wider access.
They note that young women and those from low-income and minority backgrounds face extra hurdles in getting a prescription; the manufacturer says they plan to start selling the pill early next year.
