Over-the-Counter Birth Control Will Be $20 Per Monthly Supply

On March 4, 2024, Perrigo Company, the manufacturer of Opill, announced that a monthly supply of the hormonal birth control pill costs $19.99 and is now available for pre-order. The product — and its pricing — has been highly anticipated since the United States FDA approved the drug for over-the-counter (OTC) use in July 2023.

Beyond the monthly costs, consumers and patients can get the drug as a three-month supply for $49.99 and a six-month supply for $89.99.

“The availability of an oral contraceptive without a prescription is a truly groundbreaking milestone in reproductive health,” said Melissa J. Kottke, MD, MPH, MBA, obstetrician–gynecologist in Atlanta, GA, in the Perrigo press release. “Progestin-only pills have been a trusted contraceptive option for decades, yet obtaining a prescription for birth control pills creates unnecessary barriers for many. Creating additional opportunities for contraceptive access is critical in helping people reach their reproductive goals.”

Opill was initially approved in 1973 as a progestin-only prescription hormonal birth control for women. The drug has proven safety and efficacy data, which has informed the FDA’s decision to make it available OTC. According to the company, Opill, when taken as directed by the label, is 98% effective at preventing pregnancy.

Oral hormonal birth control for women has been a critical pregnancy prevention tool for decades; however, the rate of unplanned pregnancy across the US remains high, with roughly 45% of all pregnancies being unintended.

Experts and researchers theorize that a high unplanned pregnancy rate, despite the existence of multiple birth control methods, is associated with access barriers. Making birth control available over-the-counter may help eliminate one barrier. Many medical organizations, including the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists, the American Medical Association, and the American Academy of Family Physicians, have supported and advocated for OTC birth control pill sales.

Beyond making Opill available without a prescription, Perrigo has partnered with multiple major retailers and developed cost-assistance programs to ensure wider access.

“We are pleased that so many retailers have embraced carrying Opill to help ensure nationwide access to the product and are happy that we are able to offer Opill on our website at a cost of less than $20 per month,” said Sara Young, Perrigo Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Consumer Self-Care Americas. “A cost-assistance program will also be available in the coming weeks to help qualified low-income, uninsured individuals obtain Opill at low or no cost.”