Today's eye-opening statistic: One in nine women have used the morning after pill. New data has been released that the use of emergency contraception is on the rise. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, 11 percent of sexually experienced women between 15 and 44 said they've used the morning after pill between 2006 and 2010. This is compared to 4 percent in 2002. Well, hello there, awareness. It's nice to see you've spread across America.

The most interesting part to me? Research shows more educated women are most likely to use it, and heck, I'm happy that's true. There's no excuse not to know what contraception options are on the market. Whether you have a college education or not, take this chance to educate yourself with these 5 need-to-know facts on emergency contraception:

Governor Bobby JindalLast month, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists endorsed the idea of selling birth control pills without a prescription. Non-minor purchasers would be able to pick up their monthly supply right next to condoms and pregnancy tests and would be required to show ID.

Last week, Louisiana governor and rising Republican rock star Bobby Jindal publically agreed with the opinion and strongly stated his support for making birth control more accessible to any adult who wants it. Say what now? A decidedly pro-life GOP member isn’t trying to take women back to the 1950s by banning birth control? And in fact wants to increase access to it?

The devoutly Roman Catholic founder of Domino’s Pizza is suing the federal government over the mandatory contraception coverage in Obamacare. Tom Monaghan says that the health care law violates his rights to practice his religion, which does not allow the use of hormonal birth control.

Once intricately involved in day-to-day operations, Monaghan sold Domino’s for $1 billion in 1998, and has devoted much of his time and money since to Catholic causes. He has said, “I want to die broke.”

Currently, Domino's Pizza offers a health care plan to its eligible employees that excludes contraceptives and abortions. That isn't to say that they don't hire women that choose to use it or that have had abortions -- that would be discrimination. The company is simply not willing to pay for other people’s lifestyle choices.

A doctor's group has recommended that the birth control pill be available over the counter, without a prescription. Hallelujah, I couldn't agree more. Happy dance! When I first started taking the pill, sometime in my mid-20s, it was fairly easy to get -- despite having to go to a doctor, something that, of course, you can really only do with health insurance. Even then, I'd have to call a month or so in advance to get an appointment. And then take an hour or so off of work. But, hey, my Ob-Gyn would write a birth control prescription for me for the whole year. I'd just hop to the pharmacy and get my refill. No problemo. But, for whatever reason, it seems things have gotten more complex lately. You'd think I was trying to get a nuclear warhead.

Not Actual Hormone TherapyNot that long ago every woman "of a certain age" was given a prescription of estrogen as soon as she got a little snippy. The idea being that hormone therapy could solve all of the ills of menopause: the hot flashes, the mood swings, the vaginal dryness that no one wants to talk about. 

While these symptoms were the primary reasons ladies were asking their doctors for some relief, the side benefits of reducing the risk of chronic lady diseases like breast cancer and osteoporosis were also touted around the medical world. 

Turns out, those benefits are hardly worth the risks of taking hormone therapy. And if you're currently on hormone therapy, you should probably stop. 

Elizabeth Banks may have made us laugh in The 40-Year-Old Virgin and 30 Rock and impressed us with her portrayal of Effie Trinket in The Hunger Games, but now she's been cast in a whole different kind of role: herself. In a new political ad, Banks talks about how at one time, she relied on Planned Parenthood for her most essential health care.

In a totally awesome, slightly self-deprecating way, Banks explains how she went to Planned Parenthood for birth control, but it was for her "massive migraine headaches" and "heavy flow." Oh yes! She actually talks about her heavy flow -- and how, no, that's not something she feels she should have to talk to her employer about. (Damn straight.) She also goes on to express her disillusionment with presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney's stance on the organization ...

Now that the road just got a little bit clearer for women (at least those with private insurance) to obtain preventative health care without a hefty co-pay, thanks to the Affordable Care Act, everyone's raving about how their birth control pills will be free. And that's awesome for the ladies who don't mind hormonal birth control (and all its side effects and potential side effects), but the enactment of the reform actually offers an awesome opportunity to take a second look at a different form of birth control -- one that's totally hormone-free.

As it turns out, use of intrauterine devices (IUDs) has been on the rise over the past few years, as more American women are choosing IUDs and contraceptive implants over the pill and condoms, according to a new national study. That's the good news.

Birth control was easy when you were younger, probably. You just headed down to the student health center and picked up cheap birth control pills or a strip of like 20 condoms for $1.

Fast forward however many years, and the options are way better than we had back in the day: IUDs! Essure! The ring! The patch! But of course, with more choices comes more confusion. Which is the right birth control for you?

Dr. Logan Levkoff tackles the issue in the latest episode of Mom-Ed: In the Bedroom. She runs through several questions you need to ask yourself if you're considering your birth control options. Read on, below: