3 ms·

The FDA regulates both risks and efficacy. The efficacy of hormonal birth control plummets if not taken consistently, which for progestin-only pills (like this)

by tyre 3y ago

The FDA regulates both risks and efficacy. The efficacy of hormonal birth control plummets if not taken consistently, which for progestin-only pills (like this) includes the same time of day[0]. Talking to a doctor ensures that people really understand this. The downside of forgetting to take more advil in time is short-term pain. The downside of not understanding that your birth control isn't working is a child. As we've seen with patients stopping antibiotics early, even though they're prescription!, people make uninformed choices with medication. Depending on what it's for, there are more or less risks of making it OTC. All of that said, I agree that this has mostly been politics. [0]: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/blog/is-the-birth-control-pill-still-effective-if-you-take-it-two-hours-after-the-time-you-are-supposed-to-take-it https://www.plannedparenthood.org/blog/is-the-birth-control-...

a_wild_dandan 3y ago
Conversely, the downside of forgetting when you can take Tylenol is maybe needing an organ transplant or dying. Which...is 100% efficacy on pain reduction, I suppose. So hey, the OTC medicine gods giveth and taketh.
kodah 3y ago
> Talking to a doctor ensures that people really understand this. This seems antiquated at best. They could've approved some kind of app or process to streamline this. I'm sure it's not the only kind of medication this situation applies to.
cogman10 3y ago
I'm not sure the point you're making here. The potential danger of forgetting to use a condom or misusing one (like a condom that's too old) is also a child. Condoms are currently sold in truck stop bathrooms. I really see no distinction between a condom and a birth control pill. Even with misuse, making the pill more widely available will almost certainly be a social good. It will prevent more unwanted children.
- helipod12 3y ago
  Well you should, hormonal pills and latex are entirely different.
  - cogman10 3y ago
    They are absolutely different, so we should discuss the actual risks of the pill and not the risks of misusing a contraceptive in general. Which is why I don't get the point I responded to. "You might get pregnant if you misuse this" isn't something to consider when talking about OTC contraceptives. It's practically a tautological statement "If you misuse a contraceptive, you might get pregnant"
kaitai 3y ago
In the United States, there are two quite distinct aspects. 1) Health. Agree that talking to a doctor -- or a nurse, or a midwife, or a well-trained community health advocate -- is quite useful when understanding the practicalities of taking hormonal birth control. Talking to someone helps people understand this; I think you may overestimate the efficacy of an MD per se here. 2) Insurance as gatekeeper. The narrow windows to get a limited supply, whether you can get it locally or must mail order it or can't mail order it or can or can't get a refill -- none of this is medical. It's all insurance bureaucracy. I find no benefit to this bureaucracy. Good education about the full range of options would be great (from pill to ring to IUD to condom). Universal health care availability would be a good mechanism by which to deliver that, it's hard to accomplish when it's all gatekept by insurance. I got laid off recently & had a routine physical that took place 2 days after my health insurance thru Company ended, went anyway, got a bill for $552. This is for conversation only, haha, but the type of conversation one would need to get an annual renewal for birth control controlled by prescription.

by tyre 3y ago

a_wild_dandan 3y ago

Conversely, the downside of forgetting when you can take Tylenol is maybe needing an organ transplant or dying. Which...is 100% efficacy on pain reduction, I suppose. So hey, the OTC medicine gods giveth and taketh.

kodah 3y ago

> Talking to a doctor ensures that people really understand this. This seems antiquated at best. They could've approved some kind of app or process to streamline this. I'm sure it's not the only kind of medication this situation applies to.

cogman10 3y ago

I'm not sure the point you're making here. The potential danger of forgetting to use a condom or misusing one (like a condom that's too old) is also a child. Condoms are currently sold in truck stop bathrooms. I really see no distinction between a condom and a birth control pill. Even with misuse, making the pill more widely available will almost certainly be a social good. It will prevent more unwanted children.

helipod12 3y ago
Well you should, hormonal pills and latex are entirely different.
- cogman10 3y ago
  They are absolutely different, so we should discuss the actual risks of the pill and not the risks of misusing a contraceptive in general. Which is why I don't get the point I responded to. "You might get pregnant if you misuse this" isn't something to consider when talking about OTC contraceptives. It's practically a tautological statement "If you misuse a contraceptive, you might get pregnant"

kaitai 3y ago

In the United States, there are two quite distinct aspects. 1) Health. Agree that talking to a doctor -- or a nurse, or a midwife, or a well-trained community health advocate -- is quite useful when understanding the practicalities of taking hormonal birth control. Talking to someone helps people understand this; I think you may overestimate the efficacy of an MD per se here. 2) Insurance as gatekeeper. The narrow windows to get a limited supply, whether you can get it locally or must mail order it or can't mail order it or can or can't get a refill -- none of this is medical. It's all insurance bureaucracy. I find no benefit to this bureaucracy. Good education about the full range of options would be great (from pill to ring to IUD to condom). Universal health care availability would be a good mechanism by which to deliver that, it's hard to accomplish when it's all gatekept by insurance. I got laid off recently & had a routine physical that took place 2 days after my health insurance thru Company ended, went anyway, got a bill for $552. This is for conversation only, haha, but the type of conversation one would need to get an annual renewal for birth control controlled by prescription.