Free the Pill, and Make It Free
It is past time to implement measures to make birth control more obtainable, convenient, and affordable — or even free — for all.
In this episode, I share my thoughts from a recent STAT op-ed I wrote about making birth control over-the-counter:
More than 100 other countries allow OTC birth control
Over 50 years, birth control has proven to be safe and effective
Unintended pregnancies in the U.S. are at an all-time low, yet they still represent nearly half of all pregnancies
Brookings estimated that every unintended pregnancy costs taxpayers $9,653 (that was in 2011, the number is likely higher today)
19 million women of reproductive age live in “contraceptive deserts” with limited access to a publicly-funded provider who offers contraception
One-third of women at risk for unintended pregnancy who try to obtain a prescription for birth control report having had trouble doing so
Not only would an OTC birth control option increase access and save time spent on travel and doctor's appointments, but researchers also anticipate it would reduce unintended pregnancies by 7% to 25%
Preventing unintended pregnancies has become even more important than ever following the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision repealing Roe v. Wade. Increasing access to birth control reduces unplanned pregnancies, so why haven't we already invested in public health policies to support widespread availability?
It is past time to implement reasonable measures to make birth control more obtainable, convenient, and affordable — or even free — for all.
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