Understanding how young women view the possibility of obtaining oral contraception over-the-counter: A qualitative study

Levonorgestrel emergency contraception is available OTC only to women age 17 or older, and it is likely there will be similar opposition to approval of an OTC OC for adolescents. However, little is known about how young women themselves view an OTC OC. The aim of this study was to assess the acceptability and feasibility of OTC access to OCs among teenage and young adult women. We conducted 11 focus groups with 109 young women ages 13-25. Community organizations recruited participants through convenience sampling and hosted the discussions. Focus groups were transcribed and coded thematically in Atlas.ti. Young women reported benefits of OTC access including convenience and privacy. Many believed OTC availability would remove barriers to access such as having to take time off school and finding transportation to get to doctor's appointments. Current pill users suggested that OTC access would prevent gaps in use. Decrease in parental involvement and embarrassment from going to a clinic was also seen as a benefit for some young women. Participants also expressed concerns about obtaining OCs OTC, such as increased cost and worry that first time users and pre-teens would not have enough information to use the pill safely and effectively. Overall, teenage and young adult women were interested in the option to obtain OCs OTC. Future research should explore whether OTC access to OCs is safe and effective for adolescents without an age restriction.