News

Actions

Birth control now over-the-counter in California

Birth control now over-the-counter in California
Birth control now over-the-counter in California
Posted
and last updated

It's official. Now that Senate Bill 493 is a law, birth control is now available over-the-counter in California.

It's now the third state to implement the law, while Oregon and Washington also offer over-the-counter options.

Under the law, pharmacists can now furnish oral, transdermal, vaginal and depo injection prescription methods. 

This worries some Kern County residents and local healthcare professionals, and that it will further discourage women from annual exams.

"The importance of annual screenings is if they're under a birth control method, that they are using it effectively and that if there's any side effects that aren't good for the patient, that maybe we need to change their form of control method," said Amy Anderson, R.N. with Kern County Department of Public Health. 

Sign up for our Morning E-mail Newsletter to receive the latest headlines in your inbox.

,

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Wednesday

10/29/2025

Sunny

80° / 54°

1%

Thursday

10/30/2025

Sunny

82° / 55°

2%

Friday

10/31/2025

Sunny

78° / 55°

3%

Saturday

11/01/2025

Sunny

79° / 55°

2%

Sunday

11/02/2025

Partly Cloudy

77° / 55°

2%

Monday

11/03/2025

Mostly Sunny

80° / 55°

1%

Tuesday

11/04/2025

Mostly Sunny

78° / 55°

0%

Wednesday

11/05/2025

Partly Cloudy

77° / 55°

4%