Opill — a progestin-only birth control pill approved for over-the-counter (OTC) use for people of all ages — will hit retail stores later this month. You heard us right: You’ll soon be able to get the birth control pill at your local drugstore without a prescription from a nurse or doctor. Here’s everything you need to know.
Is Opill as safe and effective as other birth control pills?
Like all birth control pills, Opill is safe and effective at preventing pregnancy.
If you use it perfectly, the pill is 99% effective. But people aren’t perfect, and it’s easy to forget or miss pills — so in reality the pill is about 93% effective. That means about 7 out of 100 pill users get pregnant each year.
How does Opill work?
Like all birth control pills, Opill works by stopping sperm from joining with an egg a few different ways. If sperm and egg don’t meet, pregnancy can’t happen. The hormones in Opill safely stop ovulation. No ovulation means there’s no egg released from the ovaries for sperm to get to. Opill’s hormones also thicken the mucus on your cervix. This thicker cervical mucus blocks sperm so it can’t swim to an egg — kind of like a sticky security guard.
Opill is safe for most people to use — even if you have high blood pressure, migraine headaches, and if you’re over 35 and smoke or use other forms of tobacco. But if you have breast cancer or if you’ve had breast cancer in the past five years, don’t use Opill.
How do I use Opill?
Opill is a progestin-only pill (AKA POPs or mini pills). Progestin-only pills have one kind of hormone: You guessed it, progestin. Just like mini pills, you must take Opill at the same time every day — within three hours of when you took it the day before. This means you need to take Opill every 24-27 hours to be protected from pregnancy.
For example, if you take Opill at 12:00 p.m., and then take it the next day after 3:00 p.m., this will put you at risk for pregnancy. Alarms, reminders, or birth control apps can help you take your pill on time.
If you take Opill more than three hours past your usual time, use a backup method of birth control when you have sex — like condoms — for the next 48 hours (two days). Condoms are always a good idea, because they’re the only form of birth control that also protect you from STDs.
Does Opill have side effects?
Many people use the pill with no problems. But after starting the pill, some people may have:
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Sore breasts
- Changes in your periods (early, late, or stopping altogether while on the pill)
- Spotting (bleeding between periods or brown discharge)
The good news is that these side effects usually go away in 2-3 months. So if you just started the pill and you have side effects that bother you, try to stick it out and give your body a chance to adjust to the hormones.
How old do you have to be to get Opill and where can I get it?
You can buy Opill at any age, and no one will ask you for I.D. If you're wondering where to buy Opill, it'll be available online from the Opill website and in many pharmacies around the country and online
How much does Opill cost?
The “suggested retail price” for a month’s supply of Opill is $19.99, but it’s possible that some stores will charge you more. You’ll be able to buy it in bulk from the Opill website for less. If you’re worried about the cost of birth control, check with your nearest Planned Parenthood health center — they can help you find a birth control that best fits your budget.
Learn more about birth control pills.
Header Image Courtesy of Perrigo
Tags: Thanks-Birth-Control!, birth-control, Birth-Controll-Access, New-OTC-Birth-Controll-Pill, Opill