We wanted to fill you in on some exciting news about emergency contraception.

Last week the FDA approved a generic version of Plan B.

This whole thing gets a little tricky since Plan B is available with and without a prescription depending on your age, but we'll try to clarify what exactly was approved. Duramed still has market exclusivity on over-the-counter Plan B which can be purchased by women age 17 and older without a prescription until August 24, 2009. However, the recently approved generic version (which will be marketed as Next Choice™) will be available to women age 17 and younger with a prescription in the near future (hopefully in August, Next Choice will be available over-the-counter as well).

The price of Next Choice™ will likely vary by pharmacy, but will most likely be 20-70 percent cheaper than the name brand version which ranges from $35-70 depending on the pharmacy. Clear as mud? Check out these FAQs for more info.

I don't know about you, but a lower cost version of emergency contraception might be just what I need to stock up on for a rainy day...Not that it's a substitute for birth control, mind you. But you can never be too careful...

At The National Campaign, we like to keep you firmly in the loop...so, here's some news about Plan B in case you haven't heard yet:

A federal judge recently ordered the Food and Drug Administration to make Plan B emergency contraception available without prescription to 17 year olds and to consider approving it for those even younger.  Many health groups have long advocated that Plan B should be made available without prescription and without age restriction.  At present, only women 18 and older can receive Plan B without a prescription. 

Read more in this piece from the New York Times.

On March 11, the FDA approved the FC2, a new, less expensive version of the previously approved female condom (FC1).

In spite of stigma surrounding this method, the International Women's Health Coalition has noted a great deal of demand for female condoms in their experiences working to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, particularly in Africa, as outlined in their recent video "Female Condoms: Demand and Distribution." According to the video, a primary deterrent for use of the female condom in Africa has been its cost and, in part as a result of cost, lack of availability.

Considering that the female condom is currently the only form of contraception designed for use by women that protects against both unintended pregnancy and HIV infection, making it more financially accessible is certainly a step in the right direction. Here's hoping governments and health advocates in the U.S. and abroad can leverage this development to provide women and couples with more options to protect themselves against infection and unintended pregnancy.