History of the Birth Control Pill
Early Birth Control
Historically, contraception came in many forms, from condoms to spermicides to cervical caps to the withdrawal method. The use of condoms as contraception dates to approximately 3000 bce, when they were made from fish bladders, animal intestines, linen, or other materials. The Petrie Papyrus, the first guide to contraception written around 1850 bce, suggested vaginal suppositories made of crocodile dung and gum or a honey mixture. [81][82]
Around 1500 bce the first spermicides appeared, which required soaking linen condoms in a solution and drying them before use. In the 4th century bce Aristotle wrote about women using olive oil as a contraceptive. Women in preindustrial West Africa used plugs made of crushed roots, Japanese women used bamboo tissue, and women of Easter Island used algae and seaweed. [81][82]
By the 1870s mail-order catalogs like Sears and Roebuck, pharmacies, and rubber vendors sold cervical caps, condoms, diaphragms, douching syringes and solutions, and vaginal sponges. Journalist Lisa Fogarty notes, “Some of the most popular birth control methods and devices in the 1910s included spermicides, douches, an early diaphragm called the Dutch pessary, and ergot pills, which induced abortions.” Most medical professionals, well into the 1960s, were not trained about reproductive health, much less contraception. [82][83]
Margaret Sanger & Planned Parenthood
In 1914 nurse and social activist Margaret Sanger revolutionized the birth control debate by distributing a 16-page pamphlet, “Family Limitation,” that included technical information about preventing pregnancy and a political statement about a woman’s right to have and use birth control. Due to the existing “obscenity” laws that banned the distribution of material about contraception, printers refused to print the pamphlet; one said, “This is a Sing-Sing job,” meaning its printing would land him in Sing-Sing prison. She finally found a Socialist lithographer to print the publication, but only in secret, at night. The pamphlet became an international sensation, revised in 18 editions, in multiple languages. It is considered one of the most significant publications in women’s history. [151]
Fearing arrest and imprisonment, Sanger fled to Canada and then to England, returning to the United States in 1915. Charges against her were dropped, because the prosecutor did not want to make Sanger into a martyr and her trial a public forum for publicizing her beliefs. Sanger then opened the first birth control clinic in the United States on October 16, 1916, in the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. The clinic offered information from trained nurses on birth control, how to use it, and how the reproductive system works.[81][82][84][85][90]
Within days of its opening, the clinic was raided, and Sanger and her sister, who helped her at the clinic, were arrested, convicted of violating the 1873 Comstock Act that prohibited the distribution of “obscene” material such as contraception information and devices. They went on trail in January 1917, and her sister was pardoned. Sanger, however, refused a plea deal and served 30 days in a workhouse. Sanger’s conviction was upheld on appeal in 1918, but in his ruling, Judge Frederick Crane also declared that physicians could legally provide contraception to married couples. Sanger’s arrest and trial and Crane’s seminal court ruling gave new life to the birth control movement.[81][86][87][88][89]
In 1921, Sanger founded the American Birth Control League, a lobbying group, and opened in 1923 in Manhattan, New York, the first legal birth control clinic in the United States, the Clinical Research Bureau (later renamed the Birth Control Clinical Research Bureau); the clinic studied birth control and dispensed contraceptives under the supervision of licensed doctors, and by the 1930s, it was serving over 10,000 patients a year and training thousands of doctors and nurses. By 1929 New York had nine other clinics, and nearly 30 such clinics had opened across the country. In 1930, Sanger opened a clinic in Harlem, New York, staffed by a Black doctor, that had the support of African American leader W.E.B. Du Bois. [82][89][90][91]
By April 1938, there were over 350 birth control clinics in the United States. The birth control industry reported annual sales of over $250 million, and Fortunemagazine declared the industry one of the most prosperous of the decade. Birth control laws varied from state to state: 21 states had legal birth control, but all other states had laws limiting or outright outlawing contraception.[82][92]
Planned Parenthood was founded in 1942 when the American Birth Control League and the Birth Control Clinical Research Bureau joined forces. [93]
Invention and Rise of the Pill
In 1950, Margaret Sanger began funding the development of a birth control pill. Reliable birth control could be hard to get at the time. Diaphragms required a doctor’s prescription, and doctors normally required that the woman be married to obtain one. Abortion was illegal and dangerous, and quacks with questionable herbs and contraptions were plentiful. With Gregory Goodwin Pincus and staff doing the research, Roman Catholic doctor John Rock helping with medical trials, and additional funding from Katharine McCormick and drug manufacturer G.D. Searle, the birth control pill was developed. [90]
The development of the Pill was controversial. Sanger courted and obtained the financial and advocacy support of racist eugenicists for her project. The drug was also tested in Puerto Rico and Haiti using methods that were questionable at the time and would not meet modern ethical standards. The Pill was tested on poor women without their knowledge and without knowing about the risks and possible side effects of the drug; some died during the drug trials.[84][90][94]
On June 10, 1957, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Enovid, known thereafter as “the Pill,” for infertility and menstrual irregularities. The FDA required that Enovid include a warning that contraception could be a side effect of the medication. As a G.D. Searle employee, I.C. Winters, said, “It was like a free ad,” because the Pill was being used for contraception anyway.[90]
The FDA approved Enovid again on May 9, 1960, this time for contraceptive use, making it the first FDA-approved contraceptive drug and the first FDA-approved drug that does not treat an illness. Within a year of its approval, 400,000 women (0.4 percent of the U.S. female population) were taking the Pill for birth control, a number that increased to 1.2 million (1.3 percent) the next year, and to almost 6.5 million (6.6 percent) by 1965. [81][85][90][95]
In the early 1960s, David P. Wagner of Geneva, Illinois, distrusted that his wife Doris was taking the Pill correctly. To solve this problem, he drew a calendar on paper and laid each pill out by day, which worked for the Wagners until the paper fell off the dresser. In 1962, Wagner applied for a patent for the circular pill dispenser still common today. [90]
Birth Control Boom and Key Supreme Court Cases
In Griswold v. Connecticut (1965), the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the right of married couples to use birth control was protected under the Constitution’s right to privacy. This ruling did not affect the millions of unmarried women in 26 states who were still prohibited from receiving birth control.[81][85][96]
The FDA’s approval of the Pill for contraceptive use in 1960 opened the door for the approval of other birth control methods including intrauterine devices (IUDs) such as Lippes Loop and Copper 7. In 1968, Dalkon shields were introduced, but after 200,000 lawsuits filed on behalf of women who were injured or died as a result of their use, it was taken off the market in 1974. Uncertainty about the safety of birth control methods was fairly common, and the 1970 Nelson Hearings were held in Congress to address the concerns. Although no women were allowed to testify during the hearings, the formulation of the Pill was changed, and the first package insert was required to inform women of the drug’s possible side effects and health risks.[81][85][97]
In 1972, with the Baird v. Eisenstadt ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court legalized birth control for everyone, regardless of marital status.[81]
As a result, the birth control market exploded. Low-dose hormone pills were introduced in the 1980s, as were copper IUDs. The 1990s brought the first contraceptive implant, Norplant; the injectable Depo-Provera; a female condom, FC1/Reality; and Plan B, an emergency contraception.[81][85]
By 1995, only 27 percent of women who used contraceptives used the Pill thanks to increased condom use amid fears of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).[98]
21st Century
The 2000s saw even more birth control options, including the IUD Mirena, hormonal patch Ortho Evra, vaginal ring Nuvaring, female sterilization Essure, rod implant Implanon, and female condom FC2. [81]
On March 23, 2010, President Barack Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which stated contraception is a form of preventative care and would be available without a copay, making most forms of birth control free to women with insurance. On June 30, 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, Stores, Inc. that corporations run by religious families cannot be required to provide contraception coverage. Additionally, the May 16, 2016, U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Zubik v. Burwell (also known as the Little Sisters case) stated that religious institutions could be exempt from providing birth control coverage to employees. [85][99][100]
In February 2025, the FDA approved a new copper, hormone-free IUD, Miudella. Another popular copper IUD is Paragard (approved in 1984); the two differ in copper content and duration of effectiveness. There are also several hormonal IUDs available. [135]
Drugs Switched from Prescription to Over-the-Counter Status
Between September 9, 1976, and July 16, 2024 (the most recent update to the FDA site), 107 drug ingredients were switched from prescription (Rx) to over-the-counter (OTC) status by the FDA.
| Ingredient [Adult Dosage] | Brand Name Examples | Drug Category | Date of Rx to OTC Switch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sources: Consumer Healthcare Products Association, “FAQs about Rx-to-OTC Switch,” chpa.org (accessed March 10, 2022) Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA), “Switch List,” chpa.org, August 23, 2023 FDA, “Prescription to Over-the-Counter (OTC) Switch List,” fda.gov, July 16, 2024 | |||
| brompheniramine maleate [4 mg/4-6 hours (oral)] | Dimetapp | antihistamine | September 9, 1976 |
| chlorpheniramine maleate [4 mg/4–6 hours (oral)] | Chlor-Trimeton, Coricidin HBP, Triaminic Cold & Allergy | antihistamine | September 9, 1976 |
| oxymetazoline hydrochloride [0.05 percent aqueous solution (topical)] | Afrin, Neo-Synephrine-12 Hour | nasal decongestant | September 9, 1976 |
| pseudoephedrine hydrochloride [60 mg/4 or 4–6 hours (oral) 240 mg max./24 hours] | Sudafed | nasal decongestant | September 9, 1976 |
| pseudoephedrine sulfate [60 mg/4 or 4–6 hours (oral)] | Drixoral | nasal decongestant | September 9, 1976 |
| xylometazoline hydrochloride [0.01 percent aqueous solution (topical)] | Natru-Vent | nasal decongestant | September 9, 1976 |
| doxylamine succinate [25 mg single dose only (oral)] | Unisom | sleep aid | October 18, 1978 |
| hydrocortisone [0.25 to 0.50 percent (topical)] | Cortaid, Lanacort | anti-itch | December 4, 1979 |
| hydrocortisone acetate [0.25 to 0.50 percent (topical)] | Bactine | anti-itch | December 4, 1979 |
| acidulated phosphate fluoride rinse [0.02 percent fluoride in aqueous solution] | n/a | dental rinse | March 28, 1980 |
| sodium fluoride rinse [0.05 percent aqueous solution (topical)] | Fluorigard | dental rinse | March 28, 1980 |
| stannous fluoride gel [0.4 percent gel (topical)] | GelKam Gel | anti-tooth decay gel | March 28, 1980 |
| stannous fluoride rinse [0.1 percent aqueous solution (topical)] | n/a | dental rinse | March 28, 1980 |
| ephedrine sulfate [0.1–-1.25 percent (topical)] | Pazo Ointment | anorectal vasoconstrictor | May 27, 1980 |
| epinephrine hydrochloride [0.005–0.01 percent (topical)] | n/a | anorectal vasoconstrictor | May 27, 1980 |
| phenylephrine hydrochloride [0.25 percent (topical)] | n/a | anorectal vasoconstrictor | May 27, 1980 |
| chlorpheniramine maleate [12 mg/12 hours (oral timed-release)] | Triaminic 12 | antihistamine | July 23, 1981 |
| phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride [75 mg/12 hours (oral timed-release)] | n/a | nasal decongestant | July 23, 1981 |
| diphenhydramine hydrochloride [25 mg/4 hours (oral)] | Benylin | cough relief and prevention | August 7, 1981 |
| haloprogin [1.0 percent (topical)] | n/a | antifungal | March 23, 1982 |
| miconazole nitrate [2.0 percent (topical)] | Micatin | antifungal | March 23, 1982 |
| diphenhydramine hydrochloride [50 mg single dose only (oral)] | Sominex 2 | sleep aid | April 23, 1982 |
| diphenhydramine monocitrate [76 mg single dose only (oral)] | Excedrin PM | sleep aid | April 23, 1982 |
| dyclonine hydrochloride [0.05–0.1 percent solution or suspension, 1–3 mg as lozenge] | Sucrets Maximum Relief | oral anesthetic | May 25, 1982 |
| dexbrompheniramine maleate [6 mg/12 hours (oral timed-release)] | Drixoral | antihistamine | September 3, 1982 |
| pseudoephedrine sulfate [120 mg/12 hours (oral timed-release)] | Afrinol Repetabs | nasal decongestant | September 3, 1982 |
| triprolidine hydrochloride [2.5 mg/4-6 hours] | Actifed Capsules | antihistamine | November 26, 1982 |
| ibuprofen [200 mg/4–6 hours (oral)] | Advil, Nuprin | internal pain relief/fever reducer | May 18, 1984 |
| dexbrompheniramine maleate [2 mg/4–6 hours (oral)] | n/a | antihistamine | Jan. 15, 1985 |
| diphenhydramine hydrochloride [25-50 mg/4–6 hours (oral)] | Benadryl | antihistamine | Jan. 15, 1985 |
| pseudoephedrine hydrochloride [120 mg/12 hours (oral timed-release)] | Actifed | nasal decongestant | June 17, 1985 |
| triprolidine hydrochloride [5 mg/12 hours] | Actifed 12-hour capsules | antihistamine | June 17, 1985 |
| oxymetazoline hydrochloride [0.025 percent solution/drops (topical)] | Ocuclear | ocular vasoconstrictor | May 30, 1986 |
| pyrantel pamoate [11 mg/kg of body weight, maximum dose 1 g (oral)] | Pin-X | antiparasitic worms | August 1, 1986 |
| povidone iodine sponge [10 percent (new dosage form)] | E-Z Scrub 241 | antimicrobial | Jan. 7, 1987 |
| diphenhydramine hydrochloride [25-50 mg/4–6 hours (oral)] | n/a | anti-vomiting and nausea | April 30, 1987 |
| dexbrompheniramine maleate [3 mg/6–8 hours (oral)] | Drixoral Plus | antihistamine | May 22, 1987 |
| chlophedianol hydrochloride [25 mg/6-8 hours (oral)] | n/a | prevention or relief of cough | August 12, 1987 |
| doxylamine succinate [7.5-12.5 mg/4–6 hours (oral)] | Nyquil | antihistamine | August 24, 1987 |
| loperamide [4 mg, then 2 mg, 8 mg/day (oral)] | Imodium A-D | antidiarrheal | March 3, 1988 |
| hydrogenated soybean oil and lecithin [12.4 g powder in 2–3 oz water; 20 minutes before gall bladder X-rays] | Liposperse | gallbladder emptying drug | February 28, 1989 |
| clotrimazole [1 percent lotion and cream/2 times daily] | Lotrimin AF | antifungal | October 23, 1989 |
| permethrin [1 percent cream rinse] | Nix | lice killer | May 5, 1990 |
| clotrimazole [1 percent cream and 100 mg inserts] | Gyne-Lotrimin | anticandidal | November 30, 1990 |
| miconazole nitrate [2.0 percent cream and 100 mg inserts] | Monistat 7 | anticandidal | March 13, 1991 |
| hydrocortisone+ [above 0.50 percent to 1.0 percent] | n/a | anti-itch | August 30, 1991 |
| hydrocortisone acetate+ [above 0.50 percent to 1.0 percent] | n/a | anti-itch | August 30, 1991 |
| clemastine fumarate [1.34 mg/12 hours] | Tavist-1 | antihistamine | August 21, 1992 |
| clemastine fumarate (in combination with phenylpropanolamine HCl) [1.34 mg/12 hours] | Tavist-D | antihistamine/ decongestant | August 21, 1992 |
| dexchlorpheniramine maleate [2 mg/4–6 hours (oral)] | n/a | antihistamine | December 9, 1992 |
| naproxen sodium [220 mg/4–6 hours (oral)] | Aleve | internal pain relief/fever reducer | Jan. 11, 1994 |
| pheniramine maleatewith naphazoline HCl [0.3 percent; 0.025 percent in solution] | Naphcon A, Opcon A, Ocuhist | ophthalmic antihistamine/ decongestant | June 8, 1994 |
| antazoline phosphatewith naphazoline HCl [0.5 percent; 0.05 percent in solution] | Vasacon A | ophthalmic antihistamine /decongestant | July 11, 1994 |
| famotidine [10 mg, up to 20 mg/day] | Pepcid AC | acid reducer | April 28, 1995 |
| ibuprofen suspension [100mg/5ml for pediatric use, 7.5 mg/kg up to 4 times a day] | Children’s Motrin | internal pain relief/fever reducer | June 16, 1995 |
| cimetidine [200 mg up to twice per day] | Tagamet HB | acid reducer | June 16, 1995 |
| ketoprofen [12.5 mg every 4–6 hours] | Orudis KT | internal pain relief | October 6, 1995 |
| ranitidine [75 mg up to twice per day] | Zantac 75 | acid reducer | December 19, 1995 |
| butoconazole nitrate [2.0 percent cream and applicators (3 days)] | Femstat 3 | anticandidal | December 19, 1995 |
| minoxidil [2.0 percent topical solution] | Rogaine | hair grower | February 9, 1996 |
| nicotine polacrilex [2 mg and 4 mg gum] | Nicorette | smoking cessation | February 9, 1996 |
| nizatidine [75 mg up to twice daily] | AXID AR | acid reducer | May 9, 1996 |
| miconazole nitrate [2.0 percent cream and 200 mg inserts] | Monistat 3 | anticandidal | April 16, 1996 |
| nicotine transdermal system [15 mg patch] | Nicotrol | smoking cessation | July 3, 1996 |
| nicotine transdermal system [21, 14, and 7 mg patch] | Nicoderm CQ, Habitrol | smoking cessation | August 2, 1996 |
| cromolyn sodium [4 percent nasal solution] | Nasalcrom | allergy prevention and treatment | August 2, 1996 |
| tioconazole [6.5 percent vaginal ointment] | Vagistat-1, Monistat 1 | anticandidal | February 11, 1997 |
| ketoconazole [1 percent shampoo] | Nizoral | dandruff shampoo | October 10, 1997 |
| terbinafine hydrochloride [1.0 percent cream] | Lamisil AT | antifungal | March 9, 1999 |
| butenafine hydrochloride [1.0 percent cream] | Lotrimin Ultra | athlete’s foot, jock itch, ringworm | December 7, 2001 |
| guaifenesin extended-release tablet [600 or 1200 mg once or twice a day] | Mucinex | expectorant | July 12, 2002 |
| loratadine [10 mg/day] | Claritin tablets, Claritin RediTabs, Claritin syrup | antihistamine | November 27, 2002 |
| loratadine, pseudoephedrine sulfate [10 mg loratadine, 240 mg pseudoephedrine sulfate daily] | Claritin-D 12-hour extended release tablets, Claritin-D 24-hour extended release tablets | antihistamine /decongestant | November 27, 2002 |
| omeprazole magnesium [20 mg/day] | Prilosec OTC | acid reducer to treat frequent heartburn | June 20, 2003 |
| levonorgestrel [Two 0.75-mg tablets, with the second one taken 12 hours after the first] | Plan B | contraceptive | August 24, 2006 |
| polyethylene glycol 3350 [17 g (scoopful) of powder per day in 8 oz of water] | MiraLAX | laxative | October 6, 2006 |
| ketotifen [0.025 percent ophthalmic solution] | Zaditor | antihistamine eye drops | October 19, 2006 |
| orlistat [60 mg; 180 mg daily max] | Alli | weight loss aid | February 7, 2007 |
| cetirizine HCl & pseudoephedrine HCl [5 mg cetirizine and 120 mg pseudoephedrine] | Zyrtec-D | antihistamine /decongestant | November 9, 2007 |
| cetirizine HCl [1 mg/ml (children’s syrup), 5 mg and 10 mg (tablets and chewable tablets)] | Zyrtec | antihistamine, hives relief | November 16, 2007 |
| lansoprazole [15 mg/day] | Prevacid 24 HR | acid reducer to treat frequent heartburn | May 18, 2009 |
| levonorgestrel [1.5 mg] | Plan B One-Step | contraceptive | July 10, 2009 |
| omeprazole and sodiumbicarbonate [20 mg omeprazole and 1100 mg sodium bicarbonate] | Zegerid OTC | acid reducer to treat frequent heartburn | December 1, 2009 |
| ibuprofen and phenylephrine HCl [200 mg ibuprofen and 10 mg phenylephrine HCl] | Advil Congestion Relief | pain reducer /decongestant | May 27, 2010 |
| fexofenadine hydrochloride [30 mg; 60 mg; 180 mg; 30 mg/5 mL] | Allegra | antihistamine | Jan. 24, 2011 |
| fexofenadine hydrochloride and pseudoephedrine HCl [60 mg; 120 mg] | Allegra-D 12 Hour | antihistamine /decongestant | Jan. 24, 2011 |
| fexofenadine hydrochloride and pseudoephedrine HCl [180 mg; 240 mg] | Allegra-D 24 Hour | antihistamine /decongestant | Jan. 24, 2011 |
| oxybutynin [3.9 mg] | Oxytrol for Women | overactive bladder | Jan. 25, 2011 |
| triamcinolone acetonide [55 mcg/spray, aqueous suspension] | Nasacort Allergy 24HR | intranasal steroid for allergic stuffy nose | October 11, 2013 |
| esomeprazole magnesium [20 mg/day] | Nexium 24HR | acid reducer to treat frequent heartburn | March 28, 2014 |
| fluticasone propionate [50 mcg/spray] | Flonase Allergy Relief | intranasal steroid for upper respiratory allergies | July 23, 2014 |
| budesonide [32 mcg/spray] | Rhinocort Allergy Spray | intranasal steroid for allergic stuffy nose | March 23, 2015 |
| adapalene (sNDA) [0.1 percent gel, once daily] | Differin Gel | acne | July 8, 2016 |
| fluticasone furoate (sNDA) [27.5 mcg/spray] | Flonase Sensimist Allergy Relief | intranasal steroid for upper respiratory allergies | August 2, 2016 |
| levocetirizine dihydrochloride [5 mg] | Xyzal Allergy 24HR | antihistamine | Jan. 31, 2017 |
| brimonidine tartrate [0.025 percent ophthalmic solution] | Lumify | relief of redness of the eye due to minor eye irritations | December 22, 2017 |
| diclofenac sodium [1 percent topical gel, four times per day] | Voltaren Arthritis Pain | topical pain | February 14, 2020 |
| olopatadine hydrochloride [0.1 percent ophthalmic spray, twice daily] | Pataday Twice Daily Relief | antihistamine and redness reliever | February 14, 2020 |
| olopatadine hydrochloride [0.2 percent ophthalmic spray, once daily] | Pataday Once Daily Relief | antihistamine | February 14, 2020 |
| olopatadine hydrochloride [0.7 percent ophthalmic solution, once daily] | Pataday Once Daily Relief Extra Strength | antihistamine | July 13, 2020 |
| ivermectin [0.5 percent lotion, single use tube] | Sklice | lice treatment | October 27, 2020 |
| azelastine hydrochloride [0.15 percent nasal spray, 205.5 mcg/spray] | Astepro | antihistamine | June 17, 2021 |
| alcaftadine [0.25 percent ophthalmic solution, once daily] | Lastacaft | antihistamine | December 10, 2021 |
| mometasone furoate [0.05 mcg/spray] | Nasonex 24HR Allergy | antihistamine | March 17, 2022 |
| naloxone hydrochloride [4 mg nasal spray] | Narcan | treatment for opioid overdose | March 29, 2023 |
| norgestrel [0.075 mg] | Opill | birth control | July 13, 2023 |
| naloxone hydrochloride [3 mg nasal spray] | RiVive | treatment for opioid overdose | July 28, 2023 |
Prescription Status of Birth Control Pills around the World
Of the 141 countries listed below, 42 countries (29.7 percent) require a prescription for birth control pills, 47 countries (33.3 percent) officially require no prescription (though 10 require a health screening), and 52 countries (36.9 percent) informally allow (meaning there is no official policy) birth control pills to be distributed without a prescription.
According to the 2020 World Bank population estimates that correlate most closely with the available birth control pill status information, 80.29 percent of the world’s population lived in a country that did not require a prescription for birth control pills: 55.56 percent of the population in a country that officially required no prescription and 24.73 percent that unofficially required no prescription. That leaves about 15.30 percent of the population in countries where the birth control pill required a prescription. (The percentages won’t add up to 100 percent because not all countries have available data.)
Although the vast majority of birth control pills in the United States require a prescription, one pill does not: Opill. The U.S. population stood at 338,016,259 in 2025, which represented 4.22 percent of the world’s population. The prescription status of birth control pills in other countries is listed in the following table. [150]
| Country | Rx Required | Available without Rx (health screening required) | Available without Rx (no health screening required) | Informally available without Rx | 2025 Population (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sources: OCs OTC Working Group, “Global Oral Contraception Availability,” ocsotc.org (accessed May 14, 2025) World Bank, “Population, Total,” data.worldbank.org (accessed March 17, 2022) | |||||
| Afghanistan | x | 49,474,805 | |||
| Albania | x | 2,551,837 | |||
| Algeria | x | 47,735,685 | |||
| Angola | x | 38,984,796 | |||
| Argentina | x | 45,418,098 | |||
| Armenia | x | 2,963,837 | |||
| Aruba | x | 126,402 | |||
| Australia | x | 27,062,848 | |||
| Austria | x | 9,174,390 | |||
| Azerbaijan | x | 10,694,370 | |||
| Bahamas | x | 415,306 | |||
| Bahrain | x | 1,579,544 | |||
| Bangladesh | x | 170,183,916 | |||
| Belarus | x | 9,460,972 | |||
| Belgium | x | 11,960,170 | |||
| Belize | x | 421,960 | |||
| Bhutan | x | 892,877 | |||
| Bolivia | x | 12,436,103 | |||
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | x | 3,653,499 | |||
| Botswana | x | 2,483,419 | |||
| Brazil | x | 221,359,387 | |||
| Bulgaria | x | 6,737,997 | |||
| Burkina Faso | x | 23,490,300 | |||
| Cambodia | x | 17,230,333 | |||
| Cameroon | x | 31,812,493 | |||
| Canada | x | 39,187,155 | |||
| Cape Verde | x | 618,014 | |||
| Chad | x | 19,674,004 | |||
| Chile | x | 19,091,343 | |||
| China | x | 1,407,181,209 | |||
| Colombia | x | 49,842,298 | |||
| Costa Rica | x | 5,304,932 | |||
| Croatia | x | 4,071,208 | |||
| Cuba | x | 10,059,519 | |||
| Czech Republic | x | 10,838,703 | |||
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | x | 119,038,825 | |||
| Denmark | x | 6,051,491 | |||
| Djibouti | x | 1,013,703 | |||
| Dominican Republic | x | 10,899,292 | |||
| Ecuador | x | 18,479,841 | |||
| Egypt | x | 112,870,457 | |||
| El Salvador | x | 6,839,027 | |||
| Equatorial Guinea | x | 1,853,559 | |||
| Estonia | x | 1,340,478 | |||
| Eswatini | x | 1,145,871 | |||
| Ethiopia | x | 121,372,632 | |||
| Finland | x | 5,550,449 | |||
| France | x | 68,512,806 | |||
| Gabon | x | 2,513,738 | |||
| Georgia | x | 4,877,662 | |||
| Germany | x | 84,012,284 | |||
| Ghana | x | 35,336,133 | |||
| Greece | x | 10,424,536 | |||
| Grenada | x | 114,915 | |||
| Guatemala | x | 18,525,963 | |||
| Guinea | x | 14,374,590 | |||
| Haiti | x | 11,898,812 | |||
| Honduras | x | 9,652,170 | |||
| Hong Kong | x | 7,305,556 | |||
| Hungary | x | 9,827,455 | |||
| Iceland | x | 367,086 | |||
| India | x | 1,419,316,933 | |||
| Indonesia | x | 283,587,097 | |||
| Iran | x | 89,145,704 | |||
| Ireland | x | 5,279,007 | |||
| Israel | x | 9,552,637 | |||
| Italy | x | 60,924,851 | |||
| Ivory Coast | x | 26,378.28 | |||
| Jamaica | x | 2,826,742 | |||
| Japan | x | 122,664,433 | |||
| Jordan | x | 11,312,507 | |||
| Kazakhstan | x | 20,432,662 | |||
| Kenya | x | 55,751,717 | |||
| Kuwait | x | 3,172,511 | |||
| Laos | x | 8,052,913 | |||
| Lebanon | x | 5,707,137 | |||
| Lesotho | x | 2,244,643 | |||
| Liberia | x | 5,563,541 | |||
| Lithuania | x | 2,815,687 | |||
| North Macedonia | x | 2,137,556 | |||
| Madagascar | x | 30,093,073 | |||
| Malawi | x | 22,244,356 | |||
| Malaysia | x | 34,905,275 | |||
| Mali | x | 22,634,423 | |||
| Malta | x | 521,828 | |||
| Marshall Islands | x | 83,037 | |||
| Mexico | x | 131,741,347 | |||
| Moldova | x | 3,578,930 | |||
| Mongolia | x | 3,543,677 | |||
| Morocco | x | 37,698,780 | |||
| Mozambique | x | 34,206,144 | |||
| Namibia | x | 2,852,777 | |||
| Nepal | x | 31,334,402 | |||
| Netherlands | x | 17,833,885 | |||
| New Zealand | x | 5,207,259 | |||
| Nigeria | x | 242,794,751 | |||
| Norway | x | 5,541,823 | |||
| Pakistan | x | 257,047,044 | |||
| Palestine | x | 4,803.27 | |||
| Panama | x | 4,536,008 | |||
| Paraguay | x | 7,604,044 | |||
| Peru | x | 32,768,614 | |||
| Philippines | x | 120,117,029 | |||
| Poland | x | 38,364,679 | |||
| Portugal | x | 10,194,277 | |||
| Romania | x | 17,985,252 | |||
| Russia | x | 140,134,279 | |||
| Rwanda | x | 13,848,766 | |||
| Saudi Arabia | x | 37,172,774 | |||
| Senegal | x | 19,311,233 | |||
| Serbia | x | 6,612,318 | |||
| Singapore | x | 6,080,545 | |||
| Slovakia | x | 5,559,451 | |||
| Slovenia | x | 2,157,163 | |||
| South Africa | x | 61,089,926 | |||
| South Korea | x | 51,486,343 | |||
| Spain | x | 47,336,448 | |||
| Sri Lanka | x | 22,050,561 | |||
| Sudan | x | 51,767,437 | |||
| Sweden | x | 10,643,745 | |||
| Switzerland | x | 8,925,741 | |||
| Syria | x | 24,261,882 | |||
| Tajikistan | x | 10,593,876 | |||
| Tanzania | x | 69,145,464 | |||
| Thailand | x | 70,025,248 | |||
| Togo | x | 9,134,446 | |||
| Trinidad and Tobago | x | 1,410,170 | |||
| Tunisia | x | 12,115,018 | |||
| Turkey | x | 84,625,585 | |||
| Turkmenistan | x | 5,795,896 | |||
| Uganda | x | 50,863,850 | |||
| Ukraine | x | 36,529,111 | |||
| United Arab Emirates | x | 10,093,593 | |||
| United Kingdom | x | 68,751,311 | |||
| Uruguay | x | 3,449,444 | |||
| Venezuela | x | 31,755,435 | |||
| Vietnam | x | 106,688,169 | |||
| Yemen | x | 34,505,496 | |||
| Zambia | x | 21,390,969 | |||
| Zimbabwe | x | 17,472,752 | |||
States That Allow Pharmacist-Dispensed Birth Control
As of 2025, the District of Columbia and 30 U.S. states allowed pharmacists to dispense birth control without a prescription. In these states, birth control options are kept behind the counter, rather than in drug store aisles, though Opill remains OTC in all 50 states and DC. In 13 of those states, the patient must be 18 years old or older (with some exceptions by state), and in 13 states and DC, the pharmacist must provide additional information, such as educational materials, to the user of the birth control.
| Jurisdiction | Contraceptive methods specified | Patient must be 18 or older | Pharmacist must provide additional information such as educational materials |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source: Guttmacher Institute, “Pharmacist-Prescribed Contraceptives” (April 2, 2025), guttmacher.org | |||
| Arizona | self-administered hormonal (pill, patch, ring) | yes | yes |
| Arkansas | oral contraceptives | yes | yes |
| California | self-administered hormonal (pill, patch, ring, depot injection, EC) | no | yes |
| Colorado | self-administered hormonal (pill, patch, ring, injection) | yes | yes |
| Connecticut | hormonal (pill, patch, ring, EC) | no | yes |
| DC | self-administered hormonal | no | yes |
| Delaware | medications and injectable hormonal contraceptives | yes, unless the minor is married | yes |
| Hawaii | self-administered hormonal | no | yes |
| Idaho | none specified | no | no |
| Illinois | hormonal contraceptives | no | yes |
| Indiana | self-administered hormonal and hormonal patches | yes | yes |
| Maine | self-administered hormonal (pill, patch, ring, injectable) | no | yes |
| Maryland | self-administered devices and medications | no | yes |
| Massachusetts | self-administered oral hormonal and hormonal patches | no | yes |
| Michigan | self-administered hormonal (pill, patch, ring, EC) | no | yes |
| Minnesota | self-administered hormonal | yes, but pharmacists can prescribe to people younger than 18 with proof of previous prescription. | yes |
| Montana | none specified | no | no |
| Nevada | self-administered hormonal (pill, patch, ring) | no | yes |
| New Hampshire | hormonal (pill, patch, ring; does not include injections or intradermal implants) | yes, but pharmacists can prescribe to people younger than 18 with proof of previous prescription. | yes |
| New Jersey | self-administered hormonal and nonhormonal (pill, patch, ring, self-injectables, diaphragms) | no | yes |
| New Mexico | hormonal (pill, patch, ring, depot injection, EC) and non-hormonal | no | yes |
| New York | self-administered hormonal (pill, patch, ring) | no | yes |
| North Carolina | self-administered pill or patch | yes, but pharmacists can prescribe to people younger than 18 with parental consent. | yes |
| Oregon | self-administered hormonal (pill, patch, ring, injectable) | no | yes |
| Rhode Island | short-term hormonal | no | yes |
| South Carolina | self-administered hormonal (pill, patch, ring, injectable) | yes, but pharmacists can prescribe to people younger than 18 with proof of previous prescription. | yes |
| Tennessee | self-administered hormonal (drug, patch) | yes, but pharmacists can prescribe to people younger than 18 if they are emancipated. | yes |
| Utah | self-administered hormonal (pill, patch, ring) | yes | yes |
| Vermont | self-administered hormonal (pill, patch, ring, injection, EC) | no | yes |
| Virginia | self-administered hormonal (pill, patch, ring, injectable) | yes | yes |
| West Virginia | self-administered hormonal (pill, patch, ring) | yes | yes |
1-minute Survey
After reading this debate, take our quick survey to see how this information affected your opinion of this topic. We appreciate your feedback.
Discussion Questions
- Should birth control pills be available over the counter? Why or why not?
- One type of birth control pill, Opill (a progestin-only daily birth control pill), has been made available over the counter in the United States. Do you agree with this status? Why or why not?
- Consider other drugs that you think should be available over the counter. Research the drugs’ safety record and other facts in making your case.
Take Action
- Analyze the pro position of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
- Explore the FDA’s breakdown of available birth control methods.
- Consider Sarah Watts’s position that over-the-counter pills aren’t safe.
- Consider how you felt about the issue before reading this article. After reading the pros and cons on this topic, has your thinking changed? If so, how? List two to three ways. If your thoughts have not changed, list two to three ways your better understanding of the “other side of the issue” now helps you better argue your position.
- Push for the position and policies you support by writing U.S. senators and representatives.
Sources
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