Birth control now over-the-counter in California

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.