The United States today approved the sale of an over-the-counter birth control pill, a first for the country, aimed at making it easier for women to access contraception.

The Opill pill will be available in pharmacies, grocery stores, supermarkets but will also be sold online, as announced by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The decision will “reduce the barriers” faced by women who want to use this contraceptive method, as they will not need to see a doctor beforehand.

Many other countries already allow the free sale of birth control pills, but this measure has met with opposition in the US, where the right to abortion is disputed by conservatives. Many states have banned abortions in recent years.

“When used as directed, (the pill) is safe and more effective at preventing unwanted pregnancies than other over-the-counter methods,” said Patricia Cavazzoni, a senior FDA official.

Opill is manufactured by the company HRA Pharma which was recently acquired by Perrigo and has been available for many years in the US, but only by prescription.