US approves first over-the-counter birth control pill

The US government has approved the first-ever over-the-counter birth control pill.

The Food and Drug Administration announced on Thursday birth control pill Opill will be available without a prescription for women of all ages.

In a statement, the agency said the move would help reduce women's barriers to accessing contraception.

The manufacturer of the progestin-only pill has said Opill will most likely be available over the counter in 2024.

Doctors say that the progestin-only pill - often known as the "minipill" - is a particularly safe form of contraception because it does not contain oestrogen, meaning it has fewer side effects and health risks.

The most common side effects of Opill include irregular bleeding, headaches, dizziness and nausea. The contraception is also not recommended for women who have had breast cancer.

The US joins more than 100 countries around the world that have made the birth control pill available over the counter, including most countries in Latin America, as well as India, China and the United Kingdom.

The approval comes after an FDA expert advisory panel in May unanimously voted to recommend the pill be available over the counter.

Doctors and activists have argued making birth control available without a prescription will have a host of health benefits, including reducing unintended pregnancies.

In the US, some studies have found as many as nearly half of all pregnancies are unintended.