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. 

,

Weather

Daily Forecast

View Hourly Forecast

Day

Conditions

HI / LO

Precip

Tuesday

02/10/2026

AM Showers

69° / 53°

41%

Wednesday

02/11/2026

Partly Cloudy

65° / 44°

5%

Thursday

02/12/2026

Partly Cloudy

64° / 44°

6%

Friday

02/13/2026

Mostly Sunny

63° / 42°

16%

Saturday

02/14/2026

Partly Cloudy

69° / 46°

4%

Sunday

02/15/2026

Mostly Cloudy

66° / 47°

18%

Monday

02/16/2026

Showers

58° / 44°

66%

Tuesday

02/17/2026

Rain

53° / 40°

64%