Statement of Purpose

Updated: May 9, 2022

The Free the Pill coalition (formerly the Oral Contraceptives Over-the-Counter Working Group) is a group of reproductive health, rights, and justice organizations, research and advocacy groups, youth activists, health care providers, prominent medical and health profession associations, and others who share a commitment to ensuring more equitable access to safe, effective, and affordable birth control to people of all ages, backgrounds, and identities in the United States. Our coalition is specifically focused on the potential of over-the-counter (OTC) birth control pills to help bridge gaps in access and give people greater control over their reproductive health and lives. Coalition members support OTC birth control pills that are fully covered by insurance, affordable, available to people of all ages, and accessible to everyone who needs it in the United States.

We recognize systemic racism and other forms of oppression as a root cause of contraceptive inequities, and that an intersectional and reproductive justice lens must be applied to our work to bring birth control pills OTC. As such, the coalition is committed to reproductive justice values, applies a formal youth-adult partnership approach, and centers the leadership of those who face the greatest barriers to contraceptive care, and who could benefit the most from easier access to birth control pills.

Since 2004, the coalition has worked to build the evidence in support of OTC birth control pills, demonstrating that they would be safe, effective, and appropriate for people of all ages, and meet the Food and Drug Administration’s criteria for OTC status. Research shows that requiring a prescription makes it harder to obtain and consistently use birth control pills and there is no medical reason to obtain a prescription before starting, refilling, or switching birth control pills. Major medical associations including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Medical Association support OTC birth control pills for people of all ages. Making birth control pills available over the counter, and ensuring that they are priced affordably, covered by insurance, and accessible to people of all ages is an important step toward advancing health equity and reproductive justice.

Coalition commitments

To advance toward our shared goal of moving birth control pills over the counter in the United States, coalition members engage in a range of core activities that drive the Free the Pill campaign and movement. These activities include but are not limited to:

  • Informing, conducting, and amplifying research to inform efforts to switch birth control pills from prescription status to OTC status for people of all ages, including the research that influences the drug development and regulatory processes  

  • Supporting policies that ensure young people have equal access to OTC contraceptives  

  • Advocating at the federal and state levels to expand both public and private insurance coverage of OTC contraception without a prescription and working to ensure that OTC birth control pills are affordable  

  • Ensuring measures are in place to guarantee OTC contraceptives are available on the shelf, and that an individual’s religious or moral beliefs do not interfere with other people’s access to contraception 

  • Engaging in regular convenings and meetings to build consensus on key issues in partnership with those who face the most barriers to access and will benefit the most from OTC birth control pills 

  • Engaging in public-facing education, discussions and actions to raise awareness and increase support for OTC birth control pills through our public opportunities and annual celebratory days including: Free the Pill Day (May 9) and World Contraception Day (September 26) 

While the focus of our work is in the United States, we recognize that regulatory changes in the United States could have ramifications in other countries and for people outside of the United States who could benefit from easier access to birth control pills. Additionally, we can learn from the experiences of other countries where contraception is more demedicalized than in the United States, and will look to international experience to inform our efforts.

The coalition is open to health care providers, researchers, and advocates with direct work or interest in the issue. Employees of the pharmaceutical industry and FDA are welcome to join the group informally as individuals, although we will involve them in our activities at our discretion. The coalition’s activities are guided by a steering committee composed of individuals from the research, health, and advocacy communities, as well as youth leaders. The work of the coalition has been funded by private foundations, government research grants, and in-kind contributions of coalition members. The coalition does not accept any contributions from pharmaceutical companies or manufacturers of birth control methods to support its meetings or advocacy and education efforts.

This statement was updated based on a previous version from 2016 and has been approved by the coalition’s steering committee on May 9, 2022. This statement may be revised and updated as data and real-world experience on this topic accumulates.

Coalition members

  • Katie Adamek, MPH
    Researcher, Mathematica

    Eli Y. Adashi, MD, MS, CPE, FACOG
    Brown University

    Elisabeth Aubeny
    Medical gynaecologist, President of French Association for Contraception

    Sandra Azancot, BS

    Samantha Baer, MD, ScM, OB/GYN

    Myra Batchelder, MPA
    Myra Batchelder Consulting, LLC

    Brenna Bernadino
    Consultant

    Lynn Borgatta, MD, MPH Department of OB/GYN, Boston Medical Center

    Amanda Bressler
    PsyD student,The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

    Ashlyn Brown, MD
    Physician, University of Wisconsin

    Anne Burke, MD, MPH, FACOG
    Johns Hopkins University

    Nicole Chaisson, MD, MPH
    Family Physician, University of Minnesota

    Susanna Cohen, DNP, CNM, CHSE, FAAN, FACNM
    Midwife, University of Utah-ASCENT Center

    Deborah Coffey, Program and Community Coordinator, Black Girls Smile

    Megan Collins, RN, PHN, CWCN
    Doctor of Nurse Practice Student, Women's and Gender-Related Health, University of Minnesota School of Nursing

    Claire Conklin
    Medical student, University of California San Diego School of Medicine

    Cindy Cruz
    Director, National Center for Youth Law

    Carolyn Curry, MD
    Adolescent Fellow Physician, Indiana University School of Medicine

    Reia Chapman, MSW, LISW-CP, LCSW
    Center for Family & Maternal Wellness

    Nurse Barb Dehn, NP

    Don Downing
    Professor Emeritus, University of Washington School of Pharmacy

    Hayley Dunlop
    Medical student, The Ohio State University College of Medicine

    Carrie Eisert, PhD
    Policy Adviser, Amnesty International

    Andrea Estes, MBA
    Washington State Health Care Authority

    Jennifer Evans
    Assistant Teaching Professor, Northeastern University

    Marian Evans, MD, MPH, CRA
    Assistant Professor, Southern CT State University

    Miyana Evans
    Community Health Specialist

    Michaela Fallon, MD
    Family Medicine Resident, Swedish Cherry Hill Rural Training Program in Port Angeles, WA

    Gabrielle Field
    Sexual & Reproductive Health Program Coordinator, Community Health Center of Franklin County

    Anna Fishburn
    Student, Syracuse University

    Beth Fredrick
    Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

    Jenn French
    Attorney

    Sophie Goemans
    Medical student, University of California San Diego School of Medicine

    Abigail Greenleaf, Assistant Professor, Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University

    Richard A. Grossman, MD, MPH

    Edith Guilbert, MD, MSc
    Clinical Professor, Department of OB/GYN, Laval University, Quebec, Canada

    Cynthia C. Harper, PhD
    Bixby Center for Global Reproductive Health, UCSF

    Michele Haugh
    Workplace Prevention and Equity Lead, TCHD

    Kathleen Hill-Besinque, PharmD, FASHP
    University of Southern California School of Pharmacy

    David Howard, MD, PhD Department of OB/GYN, University of Missouri-Kansas City

    Amanda Jacobs, MD
    Physician, Westchester Medical Center

    Rebecca Jameson, MD, MPH
    Wayne State University

    Liz Kessler
    Sex educator, Sex Ed with Liz

    Pam Kingfisher
    Principal, Shining Waters Consulting

    Julie Komarow, MD
    Sound Family Medicine, Washington State Medical Association

    Arin Kramer, FNP
    La Clinica de La Raza

    Ali Kubba, FRCOG, FFSRH

    Emma Lewis, PhD
    University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine

    Lindsey MSN, WHNP-BC
    Lead Clinician for CRH, Maine Family Planning

    Rachel Logan
    Public Health Research Consultant, Independent/Equity Experience, LLC

    Sarah Lynch
    Clinical Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice, Binghamton University School of Pharmacy

    Marjorie Macieira, MA
    Macieira Consulting, LLC

    Shawn Malarcher

    Megan Masten
    OB/GYN resident, Michigan State University

    Marieme Mbaye, MD, OBGYN
    Booked with Dr. Mare

    Ryan McGregor
    Medical student, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

    Jennifer McIntosh, PharmD, MHS

    Kaitlin McKernan
    Medical/graduate student, VUMC/VU

    Megan McQuinn
    Research Associate, Children's Hospital Colorado (Retired); Reproductive Rights Task Force, First Universalist Church of Denver

    Katy Meinbresse, FNP
    Partnership Health Center, Missoula, MT

    Nat Metz, FNP
    Metz Healthcare

    Susan Milstein, PhD, MCHES
    Milstein Health Consulting

    Shannon Nash, DNP, FNP-C
    Nurse Practitioner, Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida

    Blair Nasstrom
    OBGYN Physician, Sharp Healthcare

    Tony Ogburn, MD
    Department of OB/GYN, University of New Mexico

    Sedef Onder
    Founder, CLEAR Inc.

    Heather Paladine, MD, MEd, FAAFP
    Assistant Professor of Medicine, Center for Family and Community Medicine Columbia University Medical Center

    Kelly Palm, FNP-C
    Director of Westfield State University Health Services

    Jaansi Patel, Host of LearnOn Podcast and student at Harvard University

    Rachel Perry, MD, MPH
    Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, Irvine

    Kelly Pfeifer
    Abortion provider, Care Access Strategies and various clinics

    Kathryn Phillips, PhD
    University of California, San Francisco

    Julia Pirro
    Founder, The Matriarchy

    Joseph E. Potter, PhD
    Population Research Center, University of Texas at Austin

    Heather Prescott, PhD
    Department of History at Central Connecticut State University

    Ryan Pryor, CNM-NFP
    Mass General Brigham

    Caitlin Quade, MPH, Technical Director, ASCENT Center for Reproductive Health

    Sally Rafie, PharmD

    Lisa Rankin, MD
    Coastal Integrative Medicine

    Francisco T. Rivas, Esq.

    Susan Rubin, MD
    Family Physician, Institute for Family Health

    Arlene Schneir, MPH

    Eleanor Bimla Schwarz, MD, MS
    Associate Professor of Medicine, Epidemiology, Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh

    Randi Scoggins
    Empowerment Coach, YWCA

    Kunal Sindhu

    Stephanie Spitz
    Sr. Project Manager, National Clinical Training Center for Family Planning

    Summer Starling, DrPH, MPH
    Founder & Principal, Starling Consulting Group, Inc.

    Lisa M. Stone
    Executive Director, Legal Voice

    Lori Suvajian, LICSW, MSW

    Zoe Taylor, MD MBA

    John Townsend
    Chair, Rotary Action Group on Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health

    Renee Tristano
    Medical student, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine

    James Trussell, PhD
    Office of Population Research, Princeton University

    Becky Twamley, RPh

    Krishna Upadhya MD, MPH
    Adolescent medicine specialist

    Julia Wang, MD
    Society for Family Planning

    Stephanie Sunmi Wentzel, MD, MPH

    Ellen Wiebe, MD
    Medical Director, Willow Women’s Clinic; Clinical Professor, University of BC

    Shannon Williams, MSc, Oregon Health & Science University

    Nakia Woods
    Director, The California Coalition for Reproductive Freedom

    Lisa Wynn, PhD
    School of Social Sciences, Macquarie University

    Marina Yamada
    Medical Student

    Cindy Yang
    Data Director, Forward Together

    Matthew Young
    Harvard Medical School

Join the coalition

If our statement of purpose resonates with you, and you or your organization have direct work or professional interest in this issue, become a coalition member today. Please note, employees of the pharmaceutical industry and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are welcome to join the coalition informally as individuals, but we will involve them at our discretion.

Join the Coalition