Birth control pills are an important part of the full range of sexual and reproductive health care, including for AAPI communities, who face significant barriers to accessing care. Immigration status, English proficiency, cultural stigma, insurance coverage rates, and wage gaps all affect the ways that we are able to access health care. Over-the-counter access to birth control would alleviate many of the barriers to contraception that our community faces.

The FDA is holding public hearings on May 9 and 10 to consider whether to make birth control available over the counter. NAPAWF has submitted this letter to the FDA that outlines how important over-the-counter availability would be for AAPIs.