It's no secret that historically, women's healthcare and the concerns and challenges that surround it have typically fallen to the wayside. From an absence of funding to a lack of access to medical professionals and further, medication, it's an unfortunate reality that continues to be felt far and wide. One of the most universally-experienced struggles, of course, continues to be in relation to contraception, and more specifically, the contraceptive pill.
Previously, you would need to book in to see your GP to be prescribed the pill – an exercise that is not only costly (especially in a cost of living crisis) but presented other personal barriers like proximity to doctors for those who live in regional, rural or remote areas. Even long-term users of the pill could not receive a new script for their medication without making an appointment with their doctor. But in late 2023, the rules changed in New South Wales, allowing eligible women across the state to visit one of more than 1000 pharmacies to receive a resupply of their oral contraceptive pill. Now, Queensland has also joined them, announcing that trained pharmacists will now be able to prescribe a range of contraceptive pills to women across the state.
Where can you buy the contraceptive pill over the counter in Australia?
At the time of publishing, you can only purchase the contraceptive pill over the counter in two states in Australia – New South Wales and Queensland. But the rules are slightly different in each state.
In New South Wales your initial prescription will still need to come from a doctor. But pharmacists can resupply the pill to you after your first prescription. No repeat visits to the GP for a new script required.
In Queensland, select trained pharmacists can prescribe a range of contraceptive options (including the initial presciption).
The changes to the rules around the prescribing of the pill were as a result of clinical trials that were conducted in each state. Here are some more details on the differences between how this change has been rolled out in Australia.
How old do you have to be to access the pill over the counter?
In New South Wales, you must be at least 18 years of age to have access to the pill over the counter. In Queensland, the minimum age is 16 years old.
What forms of contraception can you access at participating pharmacies?
In New South Wales, a pharmacist can resupply some Combined Oral Contraceptive pills (COC) and Progestogen-Only Pills (POP or the mini-pill) as outlined in the NSW Pharmacy Trial.
In Queensland, select pharmacies will be able to prescribe contraceptive options including:
- Oral medications, including the COC (excluding those with high estrogen dose) and the POP
- Injected medication – depot medroxyprogesterone acetate
- Contraceptive device – the combined hormonal contraceptive vaginal ring
