this post was submitted on 13 Jul 2023
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cross-posted from: https://mander.xyz/post/1133527

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago (5 children)

Sounds potentially dangerous. Though in the current US climate maybe less dangerous than asking a doctor for prescription.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 1 year ago

The type of pill that was approved is the progestin-only "mini pill" which has a much safer clinical profile than the more common-in-the-US combination pill that has both progestin and estrogen. This type of pill is already available OTC in over 100 other countries. The US is just really behind the curve on just about anything to do with reproductive rights and care.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Dangerous in what way? According to the article:

The panel cited the long history of safety and efficacy of Opill, which was approved for prescription use 50 years ago. The over-the-counter pill will be identical to the prescription version, which is 93 percent effective at preventing pregnancy with typical use.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Dangerous in the way that it's a hormonal treatment.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Melatonin is an oral hormone too, doesnt really mean its unsafe inherently, i think maybe its best to listen to the expert panel for now

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Obviously. Though I'm not particularly fond of US "experts". If some respectable EU authority says it's (mostly) safe, I'm gonna believe it's (mostly) safe.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

[https://www.theguardian.com/society/2021/jul/08/contraceptive-pill-will-be-available-over-the-counter-for-the-first-time]

Here you go, approval in the UK from 2021.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

This shit is already over the counter in much of Europe.

Did you do any research whatsoever about this before making such a confident statement about the "danger"? Or are you just going based on your feelings?

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

Hundreds of other countries in the world sell these over the counter. That means millions of users across dozens of years across the globe. As long as you follow the directions on the packet, like any other medication you can buy OTC, it is safe. Validated by millions of people.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

If only we had an agency full of thousands of career experts in reproductive medicine and beaurocrats who are empowered to regulate medicines, and do extensive testing and review before allowing them to be sold to the public.

Oh well...

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

Not even just the doctors, I keep hearing tales of pharmacists at specifically Walgreens just refusing to fill prescriptions.

Hence why next time I talk with my doctor I'm switching to somewhere else.