Take care with access to birth control: #tellusatoday

California and Oregon will be the first states to allow women to get birth control pills without a prescription. Comments from Twitter and Facebook are edited for clarity and grammar:

Birth control is a medication with serious possible side effects. You should need a prescription.

— @k4yteeee

Access to birth control without a prescription is smart because it would empower women with options.

— @atravelersnote

A talk with a doctor might be a good idea, to learn about proper use, side effects and long-term use.

— @NothappyMatt

I don't agree with dispensing birth control pills without a prescription until I see the details of the health screening these states are implementing at pharmacies.

I'm all for a woman's right to do what she wants with her body, but only if it's safe. I've seen how busy many pharmacists are, and I hope that they will spend the proper amount of time screening and educating women about these medications.

— Kayleigh Michelle

Hormonal contraception is safe. Yes, there are health risks. There are also risks with aspirin. The pharmacists will ask questions, talk to the individual for a few minutes and give out the right kind of pills for each woman's situation.

— Alice Bengel

It's about time for over-the-counter birth control pills. Of course they can be dangerous when misused, but that's the story with almost any drug.

— Terry Hay

For more discussions, follow @USATOpinion and #tellusatoday on Twitter.