A graduate of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Dr. Maureen Muoneke serves as a medical consultant at the Georgia Division of Aging Services in Atlanta, where she assists in disability evaluations. Originally trained as an OB/GYN, Dr. Maureen Muoneke is a fellow in the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
In September 2019, ACOG updated its guidelines concerning over-the-counter birth control methods. The organization added vaginal rings, depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) injections, and contraceptive patches to its list of safe methods that are safe to give over-the-counter.
In addition to expanding options, ACOG also urges reforms when it comes to insurance coverage for birth control. Many carriers only cover one type of birth control, but some women may better tolerate a different method that isn’t covered. This creates an artificial barrier to the cost that the organization says should be eliminated.
The most updated guideline, “Over-the-Counter Access to Hormonal Contraception,” can be found in the October 2019 edition of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Dr. Maureen Muoneke 