Over-The-Counter Approval of Progestin-Only Pills

Donovan, Hannah Grace

Item

Over-The-Counter Approval of Progestin-Only Pills

Donovan, Hannah Grace

License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Abstract

Most women in the United States use contraception at some point in their life. While there are many types of short- and long-acting reversible birth control options available via prescription, the oral contraceptive pill (OCP) remains the most used reversible contraceptive agent. The proportion of those using an OCP is inversely proportional with age; more specifically, people who can get pregnant between the ages of 15 and 29 use OCPs most frequently. However, people in this age range may face increased barriers to obtaining contraception, such as cost, insurance, social and familial factors, policy, transportation, and access to healthcare. In June of 2023, the FDA approved a progestin-only pill called OPill for over-the-counter sale. However, due to the nature of being available without a prescription, it is hypothesized that there is a lack of targeted information available for young adults to decide whether this is the right option for them without the traditional formal counseling by a medical practitioner. This community health project sought to bridge this educational gap by creating a booklet, colloquially known as a zine, that will be distributed to students at the University of Vermont. A study design has been proposed to evaluate the effectiveness of this intervention and to evaluate areas for further study and improvement.