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Literature Review 1 <br />EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <br />Of the millions of pregnancies annually in the United States, nearly half are unintended. The <br />rates of unintended pregnancies are substantially higher for low-income and poorly educated <br />women. Lack of financial resources serves as a barrier to contraceptive access and can prevent <br />women from having autonomy over their fertility. In most states, birth control pills currently <br />require a prescription, which typically requires an annual visit to a clinician. Visiting a clinician <br />can facilitate other services such as Pap smears and preventative screenings. However, the <br />current recommendation is for women to visit their clinician once every three years to receive a <br />Pap smear. Therefore, the burden to visit a clinician for a prescription acts as a barrier to <br />obtaining birth control pills. Other barriers include side effects and costs. Analysis of current <br />research suggests that birth control pills are safe to be available over the counter. Women and <br />pharmacists together can effectively screen for contraindications to birth control pills. <br /> <br /> <br />