For reproductive health advocates, the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the nation’s first over-the-counter birth control pill is a clear win.

The landmark decision eliminates the need for a prescription for Opill, a hormone based contraceptive — removing a barrier to access.

“It’s about time. We’ve been talking about this forever,” said Lisa David, president and CEO of Public Health Solutions. “Even in New York City, there are areas where [access] is more challenging, and as a general rule you can safely say in communities where there are more Black and brown women… the access is a little bit harder.”

The pills, which are meant to be taken once a day, are expected to hit drug store shelves early next year.

Federal regulators set no age limit on who can buy them.

Health experts say Opill has been in use since the 1960s and the science on its effectiveness and safety is sound.

“The progesterone-only pill is safe for virtually everybody. It’s really hard to hurt yourself on a progesterone-only pill. You can’t overdose on a progesterone-only pill. If you’re already pregnant, a progesterone-only pill won’t do anything. It’s a very safe form of contraception,” said Dr. Colleen Denny.  

Advocates say the pill is safer than condoms, currently the most common form of over-the-counter contraception.

“We know that 50% of pregnancies in this country are unintended [and] that number is just too high,” said Sonia Ossorio, executive director of NOW-NYC.

She’s among those raising potential red flags for the policy’s implementation.

Health advocates point out that over-the-counter medicines aren’t typically covered by insurance.

“What we do know is how inexpensive and affordable over-the-counter birth control is in countries across the world. We need to make sure that happens here,” said Ossorio.