Transcript
The FDA just approved the first ever over-the-counter birth control pill, called Opal. Here's what you need to know. Opal. I didn't know those worked like that. Sounds expensive. No, Opil. But this isn't some new drug. It's been on the market for prescription use since 1973. This past May, a panel of 17 independent scientific advisors to the FDA met to weigh all the potential safety concerns, and they voted unanimously that the benefits outweigh the potential risks, basically saying, to take it at the same time every day and not take it if you have or at high risk for breast cancer. And there's no potential for abuse. No matter how hard you try, O-Pill won't get you high. It's known as a mini-pill because it only contains a single hormone, progestin, as opposed to the combination of pills which also contain estrogen and have somewhat more safety concerns. The over-the-counter pill will be identical to the prescription version, which is 93% effective at preventing pregnancy with typical use. Put another way, when 883 women used it for 50% percent, four years, only six got pregnant. That's better than any current over-the-counter contraceptive, including condoms. But it's not available yet. The Dublin-based manufacturer has said that it'll be available in stores and online in early 2024. But still no word on price.
Additional notes
The scary part is always when you focus on the other 7% 😳 #news #birthcontrol #fda #science #comtraception