Tyler, Texas — Women might be able to start buying birth control next to Tylenol and Claritin. One group is recommending that oral contraceptives be sold over the counter. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists say, if women could buy birth control over the counter the number of pregnancies would decline, but one doctor here in Tyler, says there's so many factors people aren't considering.

Access and cost issues are the main reason many women aren't using birth control. So, what would happen if you could pick up a pack next to your everyday ibuprofen? Dr. Hope Short, M.D.., in Tyler says "I for see that we would have more people with sexually transmitted diseases." Without needing a prescription, women could pick up birth control without any examination from a doctor. Like all medicine, there are risks involved when using birth control. "We're talking about cancer, cervical cancer, breast cancer, there's risk factors for hormones with heart disease and stroke," said Short.

However, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists say people can "self-screen" for these types of complications. "I don't see how its possible for a patient with no medical knowledge to self screen themselves," said Short.

KETK went out and asked a few local women what they thought of this possible change. Laura Kennedy, of East Texas, says, "If you don't have the doctor between you and getting birth control which regulates hormones you may not know whether or not you shouldn't take it." However, some people we spoke with, saw the accessibility as a good thing. One woman said, "I mean they sell condoms on the shelves, why not birth control" and another said, “I don't see why it shouldn't, maybe it will help."