Planned Parenthood of Greater New York applauds FDA approval of over-the-counter birth control

Wendy Stark, President and CEO, of Planned Parenthood of Greater New York issued the following statement following the announcement that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the United States’ first birth control, Opill, to be sold without a prescription:

“Today’s decision by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is a historic victory for sexual and reproductive health care and health equity. Birth control is widely used, effective and safe to use over-the- counter. Historically, prescription requirements for birth control have posed barriers to health care and perpetuate health inequities.

“While increasing access to birth control is not a solution to the ongoing attacks on abortion access and other forms of sexual and reproductive health care, it is a critical part of protecting our reproductive freedom. This is especially true as states across the country continue to double down on their unpopular abortion bans and restrictions.

“We have a long way to go on the road to fully realizing reproductive freedom, but today we take a moment to celebrate this critical win and recommit to the ongoing fight for bodily autonomy together with our partners.”