The over-the-counter (OTC) sector is becoming more popular for its ability to serve and transform healthcare deserts, particularly for reproductive care.
OTC solutions are increasingly and effectively filling gaps in accessibility and affordability, enabling healthcare providers, community care organizations, and health-focused entrepreneurs to address disparities in access to reproductive care.
By approaching reproductive healthcare through a consumer products lens, businesses and providers can tap into new opportunities and markets, and individuals can gain more agency in managing their reproductive health concerns.
Regulatory hurdles for OTC care
As providers and businesses learn to navigate rapidly changing state regulations, in the wake of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health, the OTC market holds enormous potential to address accessibility and affordability issues—but not without working within the confines of the current regulatory framework.
Innovative companies are working with investors, medical and pharmaceutical professionals, and governing bodies to develop OTC birth control and emergency contraception that would be just as easy to buy as barrier contraceptives, such as condoms. However, hormonal contraceptives cannot go to market without FDA approval, which involves comprehensive trials, safety evaluations, and sufficient data to demonstrate that a product’s benefits outweigh its risks.
By bringing together renowned reproductive health experts and experienced healthcare entrepreneurs, these innovative companies have found ways to open dialogue among policymakers and other stakeholders and collaborate with the FDA on a comprehensive plan to make hormonal contraception available without a prescription and at an affordable price.
Addressing gender bias in medical care
Historical gender disparities in medical education, research, and treatment have resulted in women’s healthcare needs, particularly reproductive needs, being overlooked or misinterpreted. Entrepreneurs recognized that these disparities could be corrected through the marketplace, resulting in an uptick of companies serving the needs of women and marginalized communities. From operating virtual menstrual pain clinics to providing at-home tests that screen for vaginal infections and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), companies are working to raise standards in reproductive healthcare and bridge the gaps that have resulted in poorer health outcomes for women.
How is technology shaping the OTC space?
Technological and digital developments have played a key role in how healthcare is consumed and delivered. From wearable technologies and trackers to telemedicine platforms, technological innovations enable individuals to take greater control over their health and make informed decisions, and providers are better able to assess patient needs and deliver care.
While technological advancements have the potential to transform reproductive healthcare, businesses developing new technologies and solutions must be mindful of accessibility and inclusivity hurdles, privacy and security concerns, and regulatory barriers.
Rewriting the future of reproductive healthcare
With growing concerns over the accessibility of reproductive healthcare products and services in the US, businesses have opportunities to collaborate with the medical community, advocacy groups, and legislators to transform the way that individuals receive care. Nixon Peabody’s Fertility, Reproductive Medicine, Sexual Health & Wellness team partners with innovators, investors, and clinicians to leverage opportunities in this market while navigating complex regulatory and compliance concerns.
