Online sales begin for the first over-the-counter birth control pill in the U.S.
CBSN
The rollout is underway for the first over-the-counter birth control pill approved in the United States, with online sales kicking off Monday. It will also soon be available in major retailers like CVS and Walgreens.
The pill, known by the brand name Opill, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for OTC use in July, making it the first daily birth control cleared for sale without a prescription in the U.S.
The FDA says the drug is about 93% effective and generally safe for most people who could get pregnant, including those as young as 15. Currently, there are no age restrictions on the drug's sale.
DENVER — Pediatrician Patricia Braun and her team saw roughly 100 children at a community health clinic on a recent Monday. They gave flu shots and treatments for illnesses like ear infections. But Braun also did something most primary care doctors don't. She peered inside mouths searching for cavities or she brushed fluoride varnish on their teeth.