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Some people react very badly to hormonal contraceptives, to the degree that it makes a lot of sense to have them actively prescribed so the GP can watch for (or at least warn to watch for) side-effects.

I know people who can't take them because they make them suicidal, of the "spontaneously walking into fast-moving traffic" sort. I don't know if that would happen with this type specifically, but there are reasons to be cautious.

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Yeah, I was a bit shocked to see this. Not because it shouldn't be easily accessible, but because most women I've talked to about this has gone through some sort of dialing in process. Whether its for dosage or a different brand. Hormones are not easy.

I should point out that if this specific type is known to be safe... yeah, dish them out like tic-tacs. Fill your footwear of choice.

No medication is completely safe. Any medication approved for use has to be "generally safe" when used correctly. So basically all meds can be dangerous or safe. It's all about informed consent and proper use.

Well exactly. In this case it's more a matter of whether the move to non-prescription introduces significant new risks both that didn't exist before and that the layperson shouldn't be expected to be able to handle.

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