Contraception: US authorities approve over-the-counter birth control pills for the first time

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a birth control pill without a prescription for the first time. For example, the pill, called Opill, can be purchased in drugstores and supermarkets without first visiting a doctor, the FDA said on Thursday. According to the manufacturer, Irish company Perrigo Company, the hormonal contraceptive for women could hit stores in the United States by early 2024. It was not initially announced how much the pill should cost. In Germany, birth control pills are only available with a prescription.