Free the Pill Campaign
Each of us should have the freedom to make decisions about our own bodies and lives with dignity and respect
Free the Pill is a campaign to educate and engage in support of over-the-counter (OTC) birth control pills in the United States. We want OTC birth control pills that are affordable, fully covered by insurance, and available to people of all ages.
Why this matters
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People can get birth control pills over the counter in 100+ countries, including Mexico and the United Kingdom, but not yet in the United States—this needs to change!
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1 in 3 adult women in the United States who have ever tried to get a prescription for birth control experienced barriers.
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Barriers to birth control–and health care in general–fall harder on people of color and Indigenous peoples, young people, immigrants, LGBTQ+ folks, those working to make ends meet, and people with disabilities.
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Decades of research and experience show that birth control pills are safe and effective for over-the-counter use, and making them available OTC would help bridge gaps in access and give people greater control over their health and lives.
How birth control pills would be made available OTC in the United States
A pharmaceutical company must submit an Rx-to-OTC switch application to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requesting to change a prescription-only medication like birth control pills to be available over the counter. Through the FDA process, an application would need to be submitted for each birth control pill formulation for it to be considered for OTC use.
On July 13, 2023, the FDA approved Opill, a progestin-only birth control pill (POP) from HRA Pharma, for over-the-counter (OTC) use! The United States will now join over 100 countries where birth control pills are available without a prescription.
How you can get involved
We are at such an exciting and pivotal moment in our work following FDA approval of the first over-the-counter birth control pill and we need YOU to help us elevate the movement and vocalize your support for ensuring this—and all future OTC birth control pills—are affordably priced, fully covered by insurance, and accessible to everyone who wants or needs them!
If you have a personal interest in the issue, find out how you can get involved in campaign activities below. If you or your organization has direct work or professional interest in the issue, learn about becoming a coalition member and help drive campaign activities.
Join the Free the Pill campaign
Help spread the word about the first OTC birth control pill and ensure it’s accessible to all who want and need it by staying informed and participating in campaign activities.
Learn about the #FreeThePill Youth Council
Youth activists across the country are organizing in their communities to bring birth control pills over the counter for people of all ages and ensure they’re covered by insurance. The #FreeThePill Youth Council is a collaboration with Advocates for Youth.