In July 2023, the birth control pill Opill made headlines upon receiving FDA approval for over-the-counter access. Before this stamp of approval, women seeking Opill (or other medical contraception) required prescriptions from their doctor, a process that can be quite timely depending on individual circumstances.

Opill markets itself as "daily birth control" available to women free of hassle, prescriptions, or appointments. With a 98% effectiveness rate, the progestin-only pills have been used by women for over five decades.

After the FDA's approval, many people questioned exactly when these pills would become publicly available for purchase. That time has come as of today.

What to know about purchasing Opill birth control pills

Women now have the option of buying this contraception on Amazon, the Opill.com website, CVS, Walmart, and Walgreens. The latter stores will fill orders within one to two days; Walmart and Walgreens will also begin selling Opill birth control online after they acquire the necessary inventory.

At select locations, women can purchase these pills in person, over the counter. CVS, for instance, announced that starting next month, 7,500 of its pharmacy locations are going to sell the contraception.

Individuals who opt to have Opill shipped to their homes will get their birth control pills in unidentified, plain packages for privacy purposes. A 30-day supply will cost about $20, whereas pill packs lasting for three or six months will come out to about $50 or $90.

The progestin-only contraception has just one hormone, that being norgestrel. Women using Opill should take each pill at about the same time every day. This form of birth control will become effective within 48 hours after consuming the first pill.

How does Opill prevent pregnancy?

Opill birth control pills thicken cervical mucus, thus preventing any sperm that enters a woman's body from attaching to her egg. They likewise stop ovaries from discharging eggs during certain cycles.

This form of contraception is safe for the overwhelming majority of women, including those who face high blood pressure, migraines, or perimenopause. Breastfeeding women, female smokers, and women who are over 35 can also safely take Opill birth control.

While there are no age restrictions on Opill, women who've had breast cancer shouldn't consume this medication under any circumstances.