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States that allow pharmacist-dispensed birth control

in

Birth control pills

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History

As of 2025, the District of Columbia and 30 U.S. states allowed pharmacists to dispense birth control without a prescription. In these states, birth control options are kept behind the counter, rather than in drug store aisles, though Opill remains OTC in all 50 states and DC. In 13 of those states, the patient must be 18 years old or older (with some exceptions by state), and in 13 states and DC, the pharmacist must provide additional information, such as educational materials, to the user of the birth control.

Jurisdiction Contraceptive methods specified Patient must be 18 or older Pharmacist must provide additional information such as educational materials
Source: Guttmacher Institute, “Pharmacist-Prescribed Contraceptives” (April 2, 2025), guttmacher.org
Arizona self-administered hormonal (pill, patch, ring) yes yes
Arkansas oral contraceptives yes yes
California self-administered hormonal (pill, patch, ring, depot injection, EC) no yes
Colorado self-administered hormonal (pill, patch, ring, injection) yes yes
Connecticut hormonal (pill, patch, ring, EC) no yes
DC self-administered hormonal no yes
Delaware medications and injectable hormonal contraceptives yes, unless the minor is married yes
Hawaii self-administered hormonal no yes
Idaho none specified no no
Illinois hormonal contraceptives no yes
Indiana self-administered hormonal and hormonal patches yes yes
Maine self-administered hormonal (pill, patch, ring, injectable) no yes
Maryland self-administered devices and medications no yes
Massachusetts self-administered oral hormonal and hormonal patches no yes
Michigan self-administered hormonal (pill, patch, ring, EC) no yes
Minnesota self-administered hormonal yes, but pharmacists can prescribe to people younger than 18 with proof of previous prescription. yes
Montana none specified no no
Nevada self-administered hormonal (pill, patch, ring) no yes
New Hampshire hormonal (pill, patch, ring; does not include injections or intradermal implants) yes, but pharmacists can prescribe to people younger than 18 with proof of previous prescription. yes
New Jersey self-administered hormonal and nonhormonal (pill, patch, ring, self-injectables, diaphragms) no yes
New Mexico hormonal (pill, patch, ring, depot injection, EC) and non-hormonal no yes
New York self-administered hormonal (pill, patch, ring) no yes
North Carolina self-administered pill or patch yes, but pharmacists can prescribe to people younger than 18 with parental consent. yes
Oregon self-administered hormonal (pill, patch, ring, injectable) no yes
Rhode Island short-term hormonal no yes
South Carolina self-administered hormonal (pill, patch, ring, injectable) yes, but pharmacists can prescribe to people younger than 18 with proof of previous prescription. yes
Tennessee self-administered hormonal (drug, patch) yes, but pharmacists can prescribe to people younger than 18 if they are emancipated. yes
Utah self-administered hormonal (pill, patch, ring) yes yes
Vermont self-administered hormonal (pill, patch, ring, injection, EC) no yes
Virginia self-administered hormonal (pill, patch, ring, injectable) yes yes
West Virginia self-administered hormonal (pill, patch, ring) yes yes

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Discussion questions

  1. Should birth control pills be available over the counter? Why or why not?
  2. One type of birth control pill, Opill (a progestin-only daily birth control pill), has been made available over the counter in the United States. Do you agree with this status? Why or why not?
  3. Consider other drugs that you think should be available over the counter. Research the drugs’ safety record and other facts in making your case.
  4. What questions do you have after reading the debate above? Where might you find answers?
  5. What was the most interesting thing you learned from this debate?
  6. Consider how you felt about the issue before reading this article. After reading the pros and cons on this topic, has your thinking changed? How and why? If your thoughts have not changed, explain how and why you better understand the other side of the debate.
  7. Push for the position and policies you support by writing local officials, U.S. senators and representatives, or other people in a position to make the change you champion.

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