By Carly Johnson for Dailymail.com

Published: 10:40 PM EDT, March 22, 2024 | Updated: 11:06 PM EDT, March 22, 2024

The context

New York is not the first state to allow pharmacists to distribute birth control more than two dozen others, including New Jersey, California and Oregon, already allow some version of the practice.

But few states have done as much to establish themselves as safe havens for reproductive care.

Just before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, Ms. Hochul allocated $35 million to support health care workers, anticipating an influx of abortion seekers from out of state.

Shortly thereafter, lawmakers passed a bill to protect abortion providers from out-of-state lawsuits and took the first steps toward enshrining the right to abortion in the state constitution.

This year, Ms. Hochul in her proposed budget called for spending $100 million to support reproductive health care providers.

At a press event at an Albany pharmacy on Tuesday, she presented the birth control news as part of a larger commitment to women’s autonomy and reproductive rights.

“Here in New York, you have the power to walk into a pharmacy – just like we are here today – and make the decision, ‘I want this. I want to be able to control the process. “I want to be in control of my life,” she said.

Why it matters

In the nearly two years since Roe was overturned, more than two dozen states have banned or severely restricted abortion. Women’s health care advocates say the restrictions only underscore the importance of making contraception widely available and accessible.

While many Democrats and some Republicans have expressed support for protecting reproductive freedoms at the federal level, Republican leadership in the House of Representatives has stymied all efforts to date. Many national Republicans — and former President Donald J. Trump, who is again the presumptive Republican nominee — have indicated they would support some kind of nationwide abortion ban.

Democrats hope the issue will play a key role in the November election, which will pit President Biden against Mr. Trump.

What’s next

New York’s rule will officially be on the books as of Tuesday, although it could take a few weeks for pharmacies to get everything up and running.

State officials said they expected about 85 percent of pharmacies to participate.

In November, New Yorkers will be asked to vote on the Equal Rights Amendment, which would formally enshrine protections against gender-based discrimination, including restrictions on reproductive care, in the state constitution.

The measure, which would also ban discrimination based on race, disability, gender identity and sexual orientation, would be the first of its kind.

Dame Laura Kelly has hinted that a miscarriage and desire for a second child could be the reason behind her shock retirement.

Britain’s five-time Olympic gold medalist today announced that she has retired from cycling after ending her dream of qualifying for this summer’s Olympic Games.

The mother-of-two, 31, from Harlow, appeared on BBC’s Woman’s Hour, where she discussed how motherhood had affected her distinguished career and how juggling both had meant constant ‘sacrifice’.

During the candid interview, she also revealed that a miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy she suffered in 2021 played more of a role in the decision than I ever realized.

Speaking to hosts, Laura opened up about raising her two children Albie, six, and Monty, eight months, with husband and seven-time champion Jason Kenny, 35.

She said: ‘I was very open about having a miscarriage and the ectopic condition [pregnancy].

“I think that might have meant more than I ever realized or expected.

“All I ever wanted for Albie was a brother or sister. I always thought of Albie as a big brother – and that might not happen and I might not have another baby…

“Once it was here and I had another one, I just didn’t want to waste that time.”

Before Monty turns eight months old tomorrow, Laura said she feels a growing need to spend more time with her children.

She also shared that parenthood wasn’t as “easy” this time around compared to when she had her first son Albie, admitting that she may have “taken that time in her life for granted.”

She explained, “He is [Monty] is eight months tomorrow. I mean, I don’t know where that went, and I’ve been with him every step of the way, you know.

“Maybe I can sit here now and say that I took Albie for granted a little bit – how easy it was to have Albie. How easy everything seemed at the time. I would just ask my parents to come and take care of him.

‘While this time I just didn’t want to. I wish I was. I didn’t want to miss anything.”

Last year the Harlow-born athlete revealed the heartbreaking news that she had suffered a miscarriage, leaving her ‘so lost’ and ‘sad’.

Britain’s most successful female Olympian revealed in an Instagram post that the miscarriage occurred in November 2021 and that one of her fallopian tubes was removed in January 2022 due to an ectopic pregnancy.

She has since spoken openly about the personal difficulties she faced in competing, namely pursuing a fourth Games in Paris, despite only giving birth to her second son, Monty, last July.

With her chances of selection judged to be ‘slim’ by British Cycling bosses earlier this month, Laura decided to end her illustrious career altogether at the age of 31.

Speaking on Woman’s Hour, she spoke in detail about the physical challenges of mothering two children.

She said: “It just seemed right at the time [after birthing Albie] I was really into it, I went for it completely. While the recovery took longer this time, it took 12 weeks before I could cycle again.

‘And it’s just a lot. It’s just a lot to leave someone so young who was still eating. I mean, I’m still breastfeeding. It’s a lot to sacrifice’.

In response to a question about the pressure of having to qualify for the Olympics ‘so quickly’ and before next month, Laura noted that the ‘pressure’ was ‘really daunting’.

“It meant leaving them quick and sharp,” she added.

‘I just couldn’t do it. I just didn’t want to do it.”

She added that comments from her eldest child about being “sad” that she would be leaving for the Olympics were not something she could “live with”, and also revealed that she struggled being separated from Albie at the time athletes had to lock up two weeks before the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Olympics.

Last week, pop star Lily Allen sent shockwaves across the country over comments that having her two daughters “completely ruined” her career.

In response, Laura disagreed and instead said that women “can have it all,” but questioned whether it was “worth it” in the long run.

She said, “I mean, I think you have to be prepared. I was recently asked this; someone said to me: was it worth it? Can you do both? Can you have it all?

“And I would say, yes, and I could have gotten back on the bike and I could have possibly qualified for the next Olympics, but you have to think about whether it’s worth it.

“Because in the long run it’s your luck that you’re playing with, you know – and it was chaos.

“Albie traveling the world and traveling the world with him and qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics was an absolute bloodbath.”

She admitted that she and her husband Jason made it look “easy,” “but it was far from it” and “there were some seriously heartbreaking sacrifices along the way.”

Laura won gold in the omnium and team pursuit at both London 2012 and Rio 2016. After giving birth to her first son Albie in 2017, she won the team race at Tokyo 2020 alongside Katie Archibald, as well as silver in the team. pursue. She also claimed seven world titles.

Kenny wrote on social media: ‘Thank you cycling for everything you’ve given me – including a husband and our growing family!

‘For people to say that I have inspired women and girls to get active and get on their bikes means a lot to me.

‘Thank you to Team GB, British Cycling and all the partners who supported my journey. A special thank you to every teammate I have had over the years and of course to my family for being the best support unit I could ever ask for.

“Now it’s time to move on, but stay tuned for the next chapter.”

Kenny says she hopes to be in Paris in ‘some capacity’ but has ruled out becoming a coach like her husband Jason, who will work with the British men’s sprint team after his retirement in 2022.

“Nothing is set in stone, but there are things I’m so interested in,” she told the BBC. ‘Something to help the younger generation, whether that could be some kind of academy.

‘I could never become a coach because that’s just too much pressure for me, but maybe something in the background that gives the young people the opportunities that I had.’

Paying tribute to Kenny, British Cycling performance director Stephen Park said: ‘Laura hangs up her wheels not only as one of the sport’s greatest riders, but as one of the greatest sporting talents our country has ever produced.

‘Anyone who has had the pleasure of watching Laura compete will testify to her peerless combination of craft and determination, which led her to become Britain’s most successful female Olympian and the first British woman to win gold medals in three consecutive Olympic Games.

‘Equally impressive, however, is the impact Laura has had on her fellow Great Britain Cycling Team riders and the next generation of Olympic hopefuls.

‘She has been a beacon of inspiration to so many, young and old, and I am sure the entire British cycling community will wish her all the best in the next chapter of her life.

“From Welwyn Wheelers and our talent pathway to the very top of the sport, we are so proud of everything she has achieved, and I am sure she will remain one of our team’s biggest supporters for many years to come. ‘

Bachelor education alum Kant Morris has welcomed her first child Ryan John Nelson.

“Holy, I’m a mom,” Morris, 34, wrote via Instagram Story on Saturday, March 16. “That was one of the most special/craziest experiences ever.”

Morris and Nelson named their son Liam Lee.

Bachelor Nation first met Morris in 2016 when she competed on Ben Higgins‘ season of The Bachelor. Later that year, she appeared in season 3 of the series Bachelor in paradisewhich she got engaged to Grant Kemp, although they called it quits two months after the finale aired. After a hiatus from the franchise, Morris returned for season 8 of the series Bachelor in paradise in 2022, but she left the show single.

Morris announced her pregnancy in August 2023. “Baby came into chat What a beautiful surprise ,” she captioned a Instagram placed at the time. “Baby Nelson is due in March.”

The accompanying photo showed Morris’ dog, Lola, wearing a “Baby Security” bandana as he posed for an ultrasound and a onesie that read “Protected by Lola.”

In September 2023, Morris revealed she was expecting a baby boy. “BOY MOM CLUB ,” she gushed via Instagram. “Not your extravagant gender reveal post…but I couldn’t be happier! My mother sent flowers to my work with the color of [the] gender, so sweet I knew it was you bb boy .”

In the months that followed, Morris shared pregnancy updates via social media. “Half baked ,” she captioned one baby bump photo in October 2023, when she had reached the 20-week mark. ‘Patiently waiting until it pops and the little guy feels kicking. I have an anterior placenta so it takes a little longer for me to feel .” (Anterior placenta is a common condition in which the placenta grows in front of the uterine wall, making it difficult to feel the baby’s kicks or find a heartbeat, but this is unlikely to cause complications.)

Morris showed off her progress again in December 2023 while wearing a “boy mom” hat, sports bra and leggings. “All the feelings ,” she wrote at the time. “I’m really impressed every day my belly is growing… like a little person is growing inside of it I was so insecure about how I would feel about my body [while] pregnant, and now I can confidently say that I love it so much .”

While Morris kept her relationship with Nelson private before confirming her pregnancy, she gave a glimpse into their romance in October 2023. series of photos of the couple cuddling in bed, kissing and rocking her belly. “Head squeeze??”

When your parent works for an airline, traveling around the world is easy, as a self-confessed ‘airline nepo baby’ has revealed.

Joshua Crawford, 23, from New Jersey, has built a growing social media following thanks to his globetrotting content – ​​which he admits is due to the fact that his father works as an Aircraft Tools, Calibration and Support Equipment Supervisor for United, which means that his son can board flights for free.

In a TikTok post, Joshua – whose father worked for the airline for 24 years – showed how he has amassed 260,212 miles over the past five years, after flying 123 flights to more than 30 cities around the world.

In another upload, he outlines the other benefits of being an airline ‘fake baby’ – besides being able to fly for virtually nothing.

The first plus he mentions is that international travel is ‘easy’. This is because it has Global Entry, which includes TSA pre-check.

Although he didn’t get Global Entry for free, he said Business insider Thanks to his father’s job, he got a discount.

Then Joshua says he can score free upgrades – including to first class – on all flights if there are seats available.

In one photo, he shows how he landed a $7,000 fully flat seat in United’s Polaris business class cabin at no extra cost.

And in dozens of other clips, he can be seen enjoying dinner in luxurious cabins, with glassware and silver cutlery in view.

The third benefit of being an airline nepo baby, Joshua says, is that he gets access to airport lounges so he never has to spend money on food in the terminals.

In 2023, the influencer visited four continents, traveling through the US, Europe, Australia and Japan.

At United Airlines, employees’ children have their flight privileges revoked when they turn 26.

However, since Joshua is listed as his father’s “main companion,” he has managed to maintain the VIP treatment.

While Joshua can fly across America for free by standing by, he has to pay taxes on international flights, but he says this is a fraction of what a full-price ticket would cost.

For example, he only had to pay $70 for a last-minute flight from Japan to the US

He told his TikTok followers that he feels “blessed.”

In addition to his posts, other airline nepo babies have weighed in.

One of Joshua’s fans wrote, “My mom works at Delta and my dad works at Southwest. I have had so many wonderful experiences because of it.’

Another revealed: ‘It really is a blessing to be able to hop on a flight when you need to. I used Delta like I used Uber in college.”

Like Joshua, a TikToker said her mother, who works for JetBlue, made her a “flying partner” so she wouldn’t lose the benefits when she turned 24.

“Truly the most amazing privilege,” she added.

Joshua currently lives in California.

After earning a degree in marketing, he is looking for work while working part-time at Trader Joes.

In his TikTok outlining the pros of being an airline nepo baby, United Airlines commented, exclaiming, “We love this for you!”

Joshua hinted that he might be interested in following in his father’s footsteps by pursuing a career in the aviation industry, replying, “I love you guys to my core. I’m also looking for a job.’

Ashley Benson and her husband, Hollywood bad boy Brandon Davis, enjoyed a couple’s getaway in Los Angeles this week as they adjusted to life as new parents.

Nearly three weeks earlier, the Pretty Little Liars actress ecstatically announced on Instagram that she had welcomed a baby girl.

The 34-year-old draped her petite frame in a flattering flowy navy sweater, teaming it with a floral skirt that shimmered in the sunlight.

She swept her hair into a ponytail and sharpened her marble-chapped features with naturalistic makeup and adorned them with crescent shades.

She clutched a glittering gold chain and amped up the glitz factor with drop earrings, teaming the look with black leather shoes and a matching bag.

Meanwhile, her steamy husband wrapped a black knit vest over his muscular torso, complementing his form-fitting charcoal jeans.

The heartthrob’s grandfather was the late oil magnate Marvin Davis, a billionaire who owned such dazzling assets as 20th Century Fox and the Beverly Hills Hotel.

His romance with Ashley became public in February 2023, when a source broke it People: ‘They have a lot of mutual friends and are super fun and very social people.’

After getting engaged in July, Ashley confirmed her pregnancy in early November, and that month it emerged that she and Brandon had gotten married.

The baby’s gender became public in January when Instagram photos from the baby shower surfaced, showing a sign that read: “It’s a girl.”

That month, Ashley covered Ladygunn magazine topless, proudly revealing her blossoming baby bump to accompany an interview about motherhood.

“Being a parent will change everything,” she said in the magazine, where she also reflected on her romance with Brandon.

She said she was transforming into the “person I always wanted to be” when she met her husband.

“And I just wanted to let that happen and see where life takes me.” And that’s ironically when I got in touch with Brandon.”

Late last month, Ashley joyfully announced the birth by posting an Insta Stories photo of her baby holding one of her — Ashley’s — fingers.

While she didn’t reveal any details about the baby’s name or exact date of birth, she did indicate the gender with a pink heart.

An insider said so We weekly: ‘Ashley and Brandon couldn’t be more ecstatic to welcome their baby girl. Even though this is their first, Ashley has taken to motherhood like a true professional, and Brandon is already becoming a great dad.”

Before settling down and starting a family with Ashley, Brandon was followed by a bad reputation as a Hollywood enfant terrible.

Over the years, he has been arrested for assault, cocaine possession and driving under the influence and has been in treatment twice for substance abuse.

He briefly dated Paris Hilton in the 2000s, and at other times was just a good friend who was often seen with her on the nightclub circuit.

In 2006, Paris was caught cackling on camera as Brandon delivered a scathing rant about “fire cross” Lindsay Lohan, whom he said had “freckles out.”

“I think she’s worth about $7 million, which means she’s very poor. It’s disgusting,” Brandon sneered, wondering, “And who would want to fuck her?”

The viral TMZ The video marked the start of Paris’ infamous feud with Lindsay, which only came to an end in late 2021.

He was also linked to Brittny Gastineau in 2007, the year after he became a media sensation for his jokes against Lindsay.

Meanwhile, Ashley, who rarely discusses her love life in public, was linked to a photographer named Sofia Malamute in the months before she was with Brandon.

She was previously involved with English model Cara Delevingne for two years and also had a flirtation with Halsey’s hunky ex G-Eazy.

In an interview with Cosmopolitan Britain A few years ago, Ashley confessed that she has difficulty dealing with public criticism of her relationships.

‘If gossip comes out and the stories are completely false, what can you do? “I’m not going to sit there and say, ‘This isn’t true, this is what’s really happening,’” she said.

‘The most annoying part is having to sit back and be quiet while everyone talks about you and you have to deal with it. People can say whatever they want about me, but unless you know me, you don’t really know anything,” Ashley added.

‘I normally keep my relationships private. Of course you can’t help it if you have your picture taken together. [But] it’s holier that way,” she explained.

“Those private moments are for you and your partner, and I think it’s best not to be overexposed, and you can really protect your relationship if you don’t take advantage of them.”

Britain’s former Strongest Woman has revealed how lifting weights during her pregnancy helped her maintain high levels of fitness – despite a barrage of hate.

Shannon Smith, 30, from Royton, Oldham, has been lifting weights throughout her pregnancy, from the day she found out she was expecting until two days before her due date.

The professional weightlifter even competed during her pregnancy, lifting a remarkable 200kg two days before her daughter Nancy was due to give birth.

Shannon said: ‘It doesn’t make sense for me to stop during pregnancy. This is something I’ve been doing for the last 10 or 11 years of my life – it’s pretty much my life. I felt safe doing it.

‘When I was 36 weeks pregnant, a lot of people said to me, I could barely put on my shoes at this point, or I could barely walk. While I was just living my normal life.’

When Shannon found out she was pregnant, she had no intention of pausing her weightlifting journey and tried to maintain her fitness by continuing in the gym.

Throughout the pregnancy, the ever-competitive Shannon continued with her deadlifts and powerlifting and even competed in local competitions – training for hours about five times a week.

As she neared the end of her pregnancy, Shannon lifted about 400 pounds, but two days before her due date she said she felt “strong” and pushed for a 400-pound deadlift — and she succeeded.

The weightlifter then posted her feat on social media, causing a firestorm online with millions of views, but she also received hate for the post.

She said many people were concerned about the safety aspect of her weightlifting and criticized her for lifting so late in her pregnancy.

However, she claimed that it was completely safe for her to continue lifting weights during her pregnancy as she had been doing so all her life.

Shannon gave birth to her daughter Nancy less than a week after lifting 200kg. She is completely healthy and has already been to the gym for the very first time.

Newborn Nancy was taken to the gym at four days old to get used to the environment, as Shannon and her husband Paul are both professional weightlifters.

Looking back on her pregnancy, Shannon said weightlifting helped her body cope with the stress of carrying a baby.

Now Shannon hopes Nancy grows up and follows in her footsteps as a weightlifter, and she said her genetics would be suited to the gym.

She said: ‘She will grow up in the gyms and because my partner and I are both strong, she will have good genetics for it.

‘Four days after giving birth I went back to the gym, but it was light because I had to get my pelvic floor and my abs back to where they were. So it will take a few months to get back to that strength level.

‘I also took part in a powerlifting competition when I was eight months pregnant. So that gave me a bit of a goal to continue to increase my strength, but within a level that I was capable of.”

Shannon continued, “I still had some kind of purpose and some kind of competitiveness with myself and to push everything forward, but as the months went by, there were certain exercises that I had to phase out and I kept doing the exercises that felt the safest. for me.

‘The heaviest weight I lifted while pregnant was a deadlift of 200 kilos. I did 155 kilos on a squat and then some overhead presses of about 85 kilos. Most of them were about 90 percent of my previous records before I was pregnant.

‘I think it also helped with the post-birth recovery because now, five days after giving birth, a lot of people wouldn’t really leave the house or do much at this stage, and I’m already back in the gym.

‘It felt comfortable with deadlifts and squats. It just took some time to get used to the change in center of mass.

‘For women who have always taken it, it’s fine to continue with it, especially if you have an uncomplicated pregnancy. If you have problems with high blood pressure, preeclampsia, or if you have a placenta that is under a baby, this can cause problems.

‘Most women will know when they’re going too far and I know when to dial it back a little. The gym was the safest [place] I felt that my entire pregnancy!’

Speaking on the subject, Doctor Lawrence Cunningham from the UK Care Guide said: ‘In my experience, pregnancy does not necessarily stop women from carrying out their regular fitness routines, even at an advanced level such as lifting 200kg.

‘However, lifting more than 200kg just a few days before your due date is not something common or advised without very specific considerations.

‘Safety will depend greatly on their pre-pregnancy fitness level, their weightlifting experience and their health during pregnancy.

‘I have seen cases where professional athletes managed to maintain a high level of activity during their pregnancy without any ill effects.

‘However, this should not be considered the norm and should not be interpreted as a blanket endorsement for all pregnant individuals.

‘I always recommend that anyone who is pregnant, especially those engaged in high-intensity activities such as weightlifting, have a thorough consultation with their GP.

‘This includes continuous monitoring of their health and the health of the fetus, in addition to adjustments to their routine as the pregnancy progresses.’

He concluded: ‘It is essential to listen to the body’s signals and reduce intensity if necessary. In addition, maintaining proper form and technique becomes even more important to prevent injuries.”

The Maharashtra Cabinet has decided that mother’s name will be mandatory on all government documents such as birth certificates, school documents, property documents, Aadhar cards and PAN cards.

Mumbai: From May 1, 2024, the Maharashtra government has declared a mandatory rule, which essentially marks a giant leap towards gender equality. In the future, every piece of official documentation should rightly include the mother’s name. This rule extends across multiple official documents and affects birth certificates, school records, property papers, as well as Aadhar and PAN cards.

(More details are expected)

PRINCESS Diana’s niece Lady Kitty Spencer has given birth and shares a sweet photo of her baby.

The royal family announced the news in an Instagram post to celebrate Mother’s Day.

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The photo shows a photo of Kitty in a white swimsuit, walking on the beach with her newborn baby.

She wrote on Instagram: “Being your mommy, little one, is the joy of my life.

“I love you unconditionally. Happy Mother’s Day to those celebrating today.”

She did not reveal the child’s gender or name.

Kitty is the daughter of Diana’s younger brother Charles Spencer and model Victoria Aitken.

It means the baby is a second cousin to Princes George, Louis, Archie and Princesses Charlotte and Lilibet.

She married her billionaire fiance Michael Lewis in a lavish Italian ceremony in July 2021.

The bride and groom exchanged vows in front of their high-society guests at the Villa Aldobrandini, which offers stunning views of Rome.

Fashion magnate Michael is chairman of the South African Foschini Group and owner of the Whistles and Phase Eight stores.

The couple’s relationship was first made public in August 2018 and it is believed they met through former Defense Secretary Liam Fox.

Kitty stunned onlookers at the 2018 royal wedding with comparisons to her aunt, Princess Diana.

The model was joined by her sister Lady Eliza, brother Louis and mother Victoria at the wedding in Windsor.

She received rave reviews for her outfit. She paired her Dolce & Gabbana dress with a burnt orange clutch and heels.

Princes Harry and William have remained close to their mother’s family and wanted them to be part of their big days.

Kitty first made headlines in 2016 when she confessed that she admires homeless people because they have a focus in their lives that she doesn’t have.

Despite being part of the £100million Spencer dynasty, the glamorous socialite says she struggles with having no purpose in life.

She told The Times: “The young people are so focused on one thing.

“They know exactly what they want to do and what their talents are. That’s why I’m jealous of them.”

Kitty spent most of her childhood in South Africa as part of her father’s attempt to keep her out of the spotlight after her aunt’s death in 1997.

She studied art history in Italy before returning to London to pursue a modeling career, making her debut with Dolce & Gabbana in 2017.

Why it matters

The drug, called Opill, which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration last year for sale without a prescription, will be the most effective method of contraception available without a prescription, research shows — more effective than condoms, spermicides and other nonprescription drugs . methods.

Reproductive health experts said its availability could be especially helpful for teens, young women and others who struggle with the time, cost or logistical hurdles associated with visiting a doctor to get a prescription. to acquire.

Some experts said they thought this could be a particularly good option for teens, who might otherwise have to rely on condoms.

Lupe M. Rodriguez, executive director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, said in a statement Monday that “over-the-counter access to contraception will significantly reduce barriers such as transportation, cost, language and documentation.”

Opill is not a new drug; it was approved for prescription use 50 years ago. Reproductive health experts and members of an FDA advisory panel cited the long history of safety and efficacy. With normal use, it is 93 percent effective in preventing pregnancy. Women with certain conditions – mainly breast cancer or undiagnosed vaginal bleeding – should not use Opill. But for most women, “the risk is very low and virtually nonexistent if they read and follow the labeling,” Karen Murry, deputy director of the FDA’s Office of Nonprescription Drugs, said in a memo explaining the approval decision.

Since the Supreme Court overturned the nation’s right to abortion in 2022, accessibility to contraception has become an increasingly pressing issue. But long before that, the move to make a pill available without a prescription to all ages had received widespread support from reproductive health and adolescent health specialists and groups.

Opill’s endorsement was met with very little public opposition from conservative groups who are often critical of measures increasing access to abortion, emergency contraception and sex education. The resistance seemed to come mainly from some Catholic organizations and Students for Life Action.

In a research in 2022 by healthcare research organization KFFMore than three-quarters of women of childbearing age said they preferred an over-the-counter pill, mainly because of convenience.

The details

Opill is known as a ‘minipill’ because it contains only one hormone, progestin, unlike ‘combination pills’, which contain both progestin and estrogen. Cadence Health, a company that makes a combination pill, is also in discussions with the FDA about applying for over-the-counter status.

Perrigo said Monday that Opill can be pre-ordered from some online retailers. A three-month pack of Opill will also be sold by retailers for a price of $49.99. The company’s website Opill.com will also sell the three-month pack, as well as a six-month supply that costs $89.99.

In the announcement, Perrigo said the company would offer a “cost assistance program” to “help qualified, uninsured, low-income individuals obtain Opill at low or no cost.”

What happens now

Making the pill affordable for all women remains a goal for reproductive health advocates, many of whom said Monday that the cost would be out of reach for some populations.

“As a high school student in Texas who struggled to access birth control under the current system and faced social stigma while trying, I know firsthand the importance of ensuring young people can enter a store can walk and easily access the contraception they need. Maia Lopez, 17, a member of the FreeThePill Youth Council at the nonprofit Advocates for Youth, said in a statement. “While today is a huge step forward, the price is still high for many teens I know.”

The Affordable Care Act requires health insurers to pay for prescription contraception, but not for over-the-counter methods. Some states have laws mandating coverage of over-the-counter contraception, but most states do not.

The KFF research found that 10 percent of women would not be able or willing to pay out-of-pocket costs for contraception. About 40 percent would pay $10 or less per month, and about a third would pay between $11 and $20.

Three Democratic senators — Patty Murray of Washington, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada — issued a statement Monday urging passage of legislation to require insurers to cover over-the-counter contraception. They have also urged the federal government to do something similar under a executive order to increase access to contraception that President Biden issued signed last year.

“The work doesn’t stop here – more must be done to ensure that every American has access to the pill and can afford it without a prescription,” the senators said.