A qualitative exploration of the over-the-counter availability of oral contraceptive pills in Australia.

The participants expressed their support for reclassifying OCPs to OTC, particularly for repeat prescriptions, as it would save valuable resources and time. However, some safety and logistical issues were raised. Women indicated they would balance these concerns with the benefits when deciding to use OTC OCPs. This could be explored using a discrete choice experiment. The expansion of telehealth was perceived to reduce barriers to accessing OCPs. The findings are likely to be informative for policymakers deciding whether to reclassify OCPs to OTC, and the concerns of women that need addressing to ensure the success of any policy change.