Hey John,

We're starting off this Monday with some good news: Today, HRA Pharma announced that it has submitted the first ever application to the FDA to switch a progestin-only, daily birth control pill from prescription to over-the-counter status — AKA #FreeThePill may soon become a reality! 🎉

Birth control pills prevent countless unplanned pregnancies a year, but only if you have the means, insurance, and time to get a prescription at the doctor first. For young people, especially low-income, BIPOC youth, and other marginalized youth, the obstacles to gaining and filling a prescription for birth control can be insurmountable. Now more than ever, young people need birth control that’s accessible, affordable, and over-the-counter!

📣 Just hear from our young people on what this latest #FreeThePill news means to them:

• “As a young person, I’ve experienced first-hand the stress and pain caused by poor access to birth control. Often, as a young person, your healthcare is up to your provider *and* your guardian. By making birth control over the counter, there will be no more undue stress or prejudice involved in getting basic healthcare.” – Bex Heimbrock, age 19
  
  
• “In the midst of everything else going on it is so exciting and hopeful to see that the first application for an over-the-counter birth control pill has been submitted to the FDA. It is now more important than ever to have safe and affordable access to birth control for people of all ages, and making it over-the-counter will eliminate so many barriers to access. We will not stop until birth control is over-the-counter and accessible for all people regardless of age, race, gender, class, or sexuality!” – Lauren Schenck, age 20

When we say that there is power in organizing, this is what we mean: this latest news wouldn't be without the collective work of the Free The Pill coalition, which consists of advocates, providers, researchers, and reproductive justice organizers (like our #FreeThePill youth council!) who are working to bring a birth control pill over the counter in the U.S.

Young people are excited at this first step and ready to keep up the pressure on the FDA and the Biden Administration to follow the science and grant OTC status to birth control pills — and as always, you can help us #FreeThePill by checking out our #FreeThePill resource hub for ways to take action! 💥

In solidarity,
Angela Maske
#FreeThePill Youth Council Manager
Advocates for Youth