Where To Find Over the Counter Birth Control in Oklahoma and Texas

The first over-the-counter birth control pill is starting to hit shelves in Oklahoma and Texas. Last year, the FDA approved the first over-the-counter birth control pill in the United States. It has been available online but now it can be found on the shelves of most major retailers.

Opill is the first nonprescription daily oral contraceptive in the United States. When it was approved last year, the press release from the FDA said the daily contraceptive is safe and, when used correctly, is "expected to be more effective than currently available nonprescription contraceptive methods in preventing unintended pregnancy."

Nonprescription availability of Opill may reduce barriers to access by allowing individuals to obtain an oral contraceptive without the need to first see a health care provider. Almost half of the 6.1 million pregnancies in the U.S. each year are unintended. Unintended pregnancies have been linked to negative maternal and perinatal outcomes, including reduced likelihood of receiving early prenatal care and increased risk of preterm delivery, with associated adverse neonatal, developmental and child health outcomes. Availability of nonprescription Opill may help reduce the number of unintended pregnancies and their potential negative impacts.

What is Opill?

According to the Opill website, the contraceptive is a daily birth control pill that's also known as "POP" or "mini pill" because it only contains one hormone, progestin. Opill is estrogen-free.

Is Opill safe and does it actually work?

According to an article from NPR, Opill is 98 percent effective, like most oral contraceptives. Before the FDA approved Opill, a panel of outside experts advised on the oral contraceptive and the panel voted unanimously in favor of Opill's approval, stating that the label alone was informative enough for people to use it correctly without a doctor's help.

Like most contraceptives, there are a few side effects, like headaches, boating and cramping. It should be taken correctly and should begin to work 48 hours after the first dose. In the article from NPR, gynecologist Dr. Sarah Prager stated that "the progestin-only pill has an extremely high safety profile, and virtually no one can have a health concern using a progestin-only pill."

Opill was first available online.

When approved last year, the FDA stated that it was up to the manufacture for when Opill would be available. In early March this year, Opill announced that the pill was available online for purchase. Those purchasing Opill could order three and six month supplies.

@cbsmornings Opill, the first over-the-counter birth control pill in the U.S., can now be accessed online — without a prescription. #overthecounter#opill#birthcontrol#womenshealth#womenoftiktok#birthcontrolpill♬ original sound - CBS Mornings

Opill now available at most large retailers.