FDA Advisory Board Approves First Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pill
This week an FDA advisory board paved the way for the first over the counter birth control pill, with an unanimous decision 17-0. The FDA must accept the recommendation before the pills are available for sale, which is expected in a few months time. If approved, the progestin-only pill wou ... Show More
Oct 16
Could a whale swallow a human, 'Whalefall' style?
In the new movie “Whalefall,” a scuba diver (Austin Abrams) gets accidentally swallowed by a sperm whale. What follows is a tense battle against time and the whale’s digestive system, to escape before his air supply runs out. But could a whale actually swallow a human? And how mi ... Show More
18m 18s
Oct 14
Sargassum superblooms are choking coastlines around the Atlantic
An unwelcome visitor is arriving on beaches from West Africa to the Caribbean, and Brazil to Florida. It’s brown, it’s stinky, and it’s more abundant than ever: sargassum. This free-floating seaweed has become a major problem for coastal ecosystems, communities, tourism, and infr ... Show More
12m 41s
Oct 2024
Update on Over-the-Counter (OTC) Contraception
<p>In July 2023, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Opill, a daily progestin-only oral contraceptive for over-the-counter sale to people of all ages. Daniel Grossman, MD, discusses this and more with JAMA Associate Editor Melissa A. Simon, MD, MPH.<br /> <br /> <s ... Show More
13m 12s
Dec 2021
FDA Authorizes First Pill In U.S. To Treat Covid
The White House Coronavirus Task Force just finished meeting as cases surge and Omicron takes over. But, this afternoon, a possible game changing pill has been approved by the FDA.
As Democratic Senator Joe Manchin faces criticism from his own party, there is a new, very public ... Show More
41m 19s
Jul 2023
How the Birth Control Pill Got Over the Counter
<p>Last week, for the first time in U.S. history, federal regulators approved the sale of a birth control pill without a prescription.</p><p>Pam Belluck, a health and science correspondent for The Times, explains why, after decades of brutal battles over contraception, this decis ... Show More
29m 28s