Whereas completely protected, one in all Plan B’s most important (albeit momentary) uncomfortable side effects is a change in your menstrual cycle. Many individuals discover their interval unpredictable or irregular for a couple of weeks after taking it. But when the change is ongoing (that’s, it lasts for months on finish), an underlying well being situation is also at play.
Learn on to learn the way the morning-after tablet can have an effect on your interval, when issues ought to return to your “regular,” and when it could be time to test in along with your OB/GYN.
The morning-after tablet needs to be used ASAP after unprotected intercourse. The longer you wait, the much less efficient it turns into. It is also not a substitute for each day contraception drugs.
How does Plan B have an effect on your interval?
After you are taking Plan B, your subsequent interval could be a bit wonky. This pertains to how emergency contraception works. “Levonorgestrel emergency contraceptive drugs (generally often called Plan B) forestall being pregnant by delaying ovulation,” says Mary Shorey, MD, an OB/GYN at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Heart.
“In different phrases, Plan B prevents the physique from releasing an egg…till sperm are now not within the reproductive tract (often a couple of days),” Dr. Shorey says. Lengthy story brief, if there’s no egg to fertilize by sperm, you’ll be able to’t get pregnant.
However delaying ovulation can have an effect on your interval. In the course of the common menstrual cycle, your interval comes about two weeks after you ovulate (if the egg hasn’t been fertilized). “As a result of Plan B delays ovulation by a couple of days, it additionally could delay your interval by a couple of days,” Dr. Shorey says. Then again, some folks get their interval sooner than ordinary, in keeping with Deliberate Parenthood.
Lighter or heavier bleeding than regular (i.e., what you’re used to) is feasible, too. It’s additionally frequent to have recognizing or “irregular bleeding within the week, and even month, following emergency contraception use,” says Sonya Brar, MD, an OB/GYN and teacher within the division of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive science on the Icahn Faculty of Medication at Mount Sinai. The truth is, the sooner you are taking Plan B in your menstrual cycle, “the extra doubtless you might be to have irregular bleeding that month,” Dr. Brar says.
If you happen to take Plan B greater than as soon as a month (extra on this later), these results might be magnified. That means your interval could be much more unpredictable (suppose: extra irregular bleeding or longer delays in getting your interval), Dr. Shorey provides.
Fortunately, all these uncomfortable side effects are short-lived (they often subside on their very own inside a couple of weeks) and don’t require remedy.
Different attainable uncomfortable side effects of Plan B
Taking plan B can briefly mess up your ordinary menstrual cycle. However it could additionally produce other attainable, minor uncomfortable side effects. These embrace the next, per Deliberate Parenthood and Mount Sinai:
- Headache
- Upset abdomen, nausea, or vomiting
- Lightheadedness or dizziness
- Tender breasts
- Fatigue
Like interval signs, these uncomfortable side effects could be annoying and inconvenient, however they need to solely final a short while. Bear in mind, although, when you have nausea and vomit inside two hours of taking the tablet, it will not be efficient, in keeping with Deliberate Parenthood.
Plan B recognizing vs. implantation bleeding
Gentle recognizing is a standard aspect impact of Plan B. But it surely’s additionally a attainable symptom of implantation bleeding—i.e., the kind of spotty bleeding that occurs one to 2 weeks after fertilization (when an embryo embeds into the uterine lining), Dr. Brar says. So, how are you going to inform the distinction between the 2?
“That may be tough,” Dr. Brar says. Implantation bleeding “is usually accompanied by different signs resembling cramping, nausea, and breast tenderness,” she says. However as we realized, Plan B can have a few of these uncomfortable side effects as effectively.
Dr. Shorey agrees: “It’s very arduous, if not inconceivable, to inform the distinction” between Plan B recognizing and implantation bleeding. One of the best ways to rule out a being pregnant? Take a being pregnant take a look at if you do not get your interval inside three weeks after taking Plan B, or if it doesn’t come inside every week of once you’d usually anticipate it, she says.
Is it regular for Plan B to mess up your cycle for months?
The brief reply? No. “It’s not regular for Plan B to change your menstrual cycle for months,” Dr. Shorey says. “Most individuals will get their interval inside one week of the anticipated time,” she provides.
Dr. Brar seconds this: “Your interval ought to return to regular both inside that very same cycle or after a month.”
But when your cycle appears off months after taking Plan B, you could be questioning what provides? “Many points of your medical historical past may additionally play a job in your interval timing,” Dr. Shorey says. “Totally different situations, like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), uterine polyps or fibroids, or thyroid abnormalities, can have an effect on your durations,” she says. Endometriosis and different hormonal imbalances also can mess along with your menstrual cycle, Dr. Brar provides.
“Equally, some medicines, like some varieties of contraception or blood thinners, can change your bleeding patterns or alter when your interval comes,” Dr. Shorey says.
“In case your interval is delayed by greater than every week, or when you have another signs like decrease stomach ache, you must name your physician…to rule out being pregnant, and different situations that may trigger irregular bleeding,” Dr. Brar says.
When to see a physician
Usually, you needn’t see your physician after taking Plan B. But when your interval doesn’t come inside three weeks of utilizing the morning-after tablet, it could be time to test in along with your physician (and take a being pregnant take a look at).
“You also needs to see a physician when you have decrease stomach ache or persistent irregular bleeding,” Dr. Shorey says. “These might be indicators of ectopic being pregnant [when a fertilized egg has implanted outside the uterus] or different situations,” she says.
This may additionally be a superb time to talk along with your physician about prescribing Plan B for the long run. Whereas the morning-after tablet is obtainable over-the-counter, “many individuals nonetheless have problem discovering or buying it at their pharmacy once they want it,” Dr. Shorey says. “Your physician can sometimes prescribe it so that you can assist scale back the associated fee and guarantee its availability. They will even do that upfront in order that it is prepared for you forward of time, when you want it,” she says.
When you’re on the workplace, you also needs to take the chance “to debate your choices for contraception, whether or not hormonal or non-hormonal, to search out one which’s best for you,” Dr. Brar provides. “Plan B just isn’t meant to be an everyday type of contraception as a result of it’s not as efficient,” she says.
FAQ
Can Plan B trigger two durations in a month?
“Typically Plan B could cause irregular bleeding or recognizing,” Dr. Shorey says. “This will make it appear to be you may have two durations in a month relying on the heaviness of the bleeding.” Keep in mind, “when you take Plan B a number of instances inside one month, it’s possible you’ll be extra prone to have these irregular bleeding episodes,” she provides.
Recognizing or irregular bleeding often resolves after a month, but when it persists, “it’s at all times a good suggestion to test in along with your OB/GYN to determine what could be inflicting it,” Dr. Shorey says.
What number of instances can you are taking Plan B in a month?
Technically, you’ll be able to take Plan B as many instances as you want (it’s not dangerous), nevertheless it shouldn’t substitute for normal routine contraception, in keeping with the Cleveland Clinic. That’s as a result of it doesn’t work in addition to different types of contraception, Dr. Brar says. And it might be much less efficient for sure teams, resembling folks with weight problems, Dr. Shorey provides. Plus, one other factor to contemplate? Plan B gained’t shield you towards sexually transmitted infections.
On the finish of the day, it’s most likely finest to stay to taking Plan B to stop being pregnant in emergency conditions—i.e., once you didn’t use contraception (or it failed) or in circumstances of non-consensual sexual activity.
What’s the most delay in durations when you’re not pregnant?
As soon as you employ the morning-after tablet, your interval ought to come inside one week of when it was presupposed to occur, Dr. Shorey says. If it “doesn’t return to regular inside three to 4 weeks after taking Plan B, you must take a being pregnant take a look at and make an appointment to see an OB/GYN,” she says.
Can you are taking Plan B when you’re nursing?
Whereas your threat of getting pregnant when you solely breastfeed, chestfeed, or pump (i.e., you solely feed your child your milk, not method or different stable meals) is decrease, it could nonetheless occur. So when you had unprotected intercourse, and also you don’t want to conceive once more, you may marvel if it’s okay to take the morning-after tablet. Relaxation assured, “it’s protected to take when breastfeeding,” Dr. Brar says. “It will probably, nonetheless, briefly decrease milk provide,” she provides, so maintain this in thoughts when taking it.
