Doctors Seek to Make Birth Control Pills Over the Counter

Oral contraceptives have been under fire for some time, often the center of the discussion on women’s health care and whether birth control should be covered by insurance. But this time, birth control pills are lighting a different fire—though the concern arising is the same: women’s health.

The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOD) is the leading women’s health care professional organization, and it wants birth control pills to be more widely available in the United States. Currently, the pills are only available after a doctor’s appointment and consultation and require a written prescription. But this can be costly and time consuming, which ACOD believes contributes to unwanted pregnancies.

By making birth control pills available over the counter, it will become more easily accessible. And they hope it will help to prevent a large amount of unplanned pregnancies, which ACOG says costs taxpayers over $11 billion annually. Making contraceptives more available, fewer unwanted babies will be born and our country can cut back a huge expense to a more manageable one.

But ACOG is taking heavy criticism for its recommendation. Some worry that not requiring a prescription may put women’s health at risk. “I’m not sure a 16-year-old is responsible enough to read a label about contraindications and get themselves to a doctor to follow up,” said Shuli Kon, pediatrician, to the New York Daily News.

Besides not understanding how to properly use birth control, there is also concern over birth control pills’ possible links to deep vein thrombosis (DVT), heart attack, stroke, and some forms of cancer affected by hormones. These risks can be further compounded if individuals smoke or have other health conditions.

But, as things stand, many young women are already taking birth control pills with or without permission from their parents. And though some may understand the risks associated, others still may not. It is possible that a doctor’s consultation could simply be traded for a pharmacist’s, making the pills available without a prescription but requiring consumers to go to the pharmacy to obtain them.