If you have trouble staying on schedule with your BC, try linking it to another habit: Take it after you brush your teeth in the morning, or keep your pill pack by your charger as a reminder to take one when you plug in your phone before bed, Dr. Amies Oelschlager suggests. You could also set an alarm on your phone (consider a code name like “call mom” if you don’t want someone to accidentally see it), or keep your meds in your purse in the same pocket as the lip balm you apply every morning.
That being said: If you have a tough time sticking to a set schedule, you might want to consider other contraceptive methods. You could try a long-lasting option like an IUD or an implant—talk to a doctor you already trust or visit a clinic like Planned Parenthood if one of those sounds like a potentially better fit. You can also search for low- or no-cost providers by zip code through The National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics.
Does Opill have any potential side effects or safety concerns?
Opill is safe, though it can potentially come with mild side effects. Heather Bartos, MD, a gynecologist in Frisco, Texas, tells SELF that breakthrough bleeding is one of the more common ones, and it’s more likely to happen if you miss a dose. Otherwise, some people have breast tenderness, nausea, and headaches, per the FDA.
You shouldn’t take this med if you have or have had breast cancer, are pregnant (or think you could be), or if you’re using another method of birth control already.
Where do I get Opill, and how expensive is it?
Opill doesn’t require a prescription and can be purchased over the counter, meaning you shouldn’t have to talk to a pharmacist to get it. It should be on shelves at major retailers in the coming weeks, per a press release from Perrigo, the drug’s manufacturer. You’ll likely find it in the “family planning” aisles of pharmacies and other retailers, a Perrigo spokesperson tells SELF via email.
Per Perrigo’s press release, you can buy Opill in one-month and three-month packs, which have suggested retail prices of $19.99 and $49.99, respectively (and will be available at these prices on Opill.com). The company also says that some people might be able to use their Flexible Spending or Health Savings Accounts (FSAs and HSAs) to pay for it.
With that said, certain retailers may end up increasing the cost, and it’ll likely vary based on location, Dr. Bartos says. Manufacturers only have so much control once something is out there, and there’s still a lot we don’t know about how red states, conservative retailers, and lawmakers will react to this medication being on shelves. If you have any trouble finding it in person, you can get it at the drug’s website.
Can people under 18 get Opill, too?
That’s the idea. For the time being, there’s no age restriction on who can legally buy this med OTC, according to Perrigo’s spokesperson.