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. 2022 Nov 9;3(1):904-914.
doi: 10.1089/whr.2022.0056. eCollection 2022.

Interest in Continued Use After Participation in a Study of Over-the-Counter Progestin-Only Pills in the United States

Kate Grindlay  1 , Katherine Key  1 , Carmela Zuniga  1 , Alexandra Wollum  2 , Kelly Blanchard  1 , Daniel Grossman  3
Affiliations

Interest in Continued Use After Participation in a Study of Over-the-Counter Progestin-Only Pills in the United States

Kate Grindlay et al. Womens Health Rep (New Rochelle). .

Abstract

Objective: To assess interest in continued use of over-the-counter progestin-only pills among individuals who used them in a trial.

Methods: From January 2020 to September 2021, we conducted a cross-sectional online survey with individuals who completed participation in a trial evaluating over-the-counter use of norgestrel 0.075 mg tablets in the United States. We calculated descriptive statistics, Pearson's chi-square and Fisher's exact tests, and logistic regression models to assess likelihood of future over-the-counter progestin-only pill use, reasons for interest/noninterest, situations for over-the-counter progestin-only pill use, willingness to pay for an over-the-counter progestin-only pill, likelihood of future preventive health screenings, prior difficulties getting prescription contraception, and background characteristics.

Results: Among 550 adult and 115 adolescent participants (75% response rate), 83% reported likelihood of future over-the-counter progestin-only pill use. Hispanic/Latinx and Black participants and adults with public insurance, prior pregnancies, and some college reported higher likelihood of future use compared with their counterparts. Among likely users, 90% were interested in long-term use and 79 % ≥ 25 years of age reported they would get future preventive screenings; participants would pay up to $20/month on average. Primary reasons for interest included convenience (81%), ease of access (80%), and saving time (77%) and money (64%). The primary reason for noninterest was bleeding associated with progestin-only pill use (52%).

Conclusion: There was high interest in continuing to use over-the-counter progestin-only pills among individuals who had used them in a study. These findings highlight the real-world acceptability of taking a progestin-only pill without a prescription, and contribute to evidence supporting over-the-counter access.

Keywords: adolescent and pediatric gynecology; contraception; contraceptives; family planning; health policy; nonprescription drugs; oral.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ibis Reproductive Health, where all study authors have an affiliation, has a partnership with HRA Pharma in which Ibis provided financial support for some of the research that will be part of the over-the-counter switch application to the U.S. FDA for a progestin-only pill. Ibis receives no monetary compensation nor ownership of any rights to the product. Ibis raised the funding for this partnership from a private foundation and selected HRA Pharma as its partner through an open process overseen by the Oral Contraceptives Over-the-Counter Working Group steering committee in an effort to incentivize a pharmaceutical company to complete the work to make a birth control pill available over the counter.

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