Adolescents’ awareness, knowledge, and perceptions of an over-the-counter oral contraceptive pill

Alana K. Otto, Lotte Brewer, Victoria Tsao, Bianca A. Allison, Julie Maslowsky

Contraception

Abstract

Objectives

To examine US adolescents’ awareness, knowledge, and perceptions of a newly-available over-the-counter oral contraceptive pill (OCP).

Study Design

We fielded a five-question open-ended text message survey about over-the-counter OCPs to a national sample of US adolescents and young adults ages 14-24 years in September 2024, six months after an OCP become available over the counter in the US. We coded responses using inductive and deductive consensus coding and calculated summary statistics for demographic variables and code frequencies.

Results

559 adolescents and young adults answered at least one question; 52% were female, and 20% were minors under the age of 18. Most respondents (72%) had not heard of the over-the-counter OCP. Many adolescents indicated they wanted more information about the over-the-counter pill, including information about proper use, efficacy, potential side effect and risks, cost, and where and how to purchase. Affordability and privacy were common themes in their remarks about barriers to access. Adolescents overwhelmingly indicated anti-theft measures, such as locked security boxes, in brick-and-mortar stores would affect whether young people purchase the over-the-counter OCP, citing concerns about stigma and privacy.

Conclusions

Clinicians, pharmacists, and educators can play an important role in informing adolescents and young adults about the over-the-counter OCP. In addition to standard clinical information, counseling should include information about cost and where to purchase. Health professionals are uniquely positioned to address some of the perceived barriers to access highlighted by our adolescent and young adult respondents.