Whereas completely secure, considered one of Plan B’s predominant (albeit short-term) unintended effects is a change in your menstrual cycle. Many individuals discover their interval unpredictable or irregular for a number 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 find out how 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 together with your OB/GYN.
The morning-after tablet must be used ASAP after unprotected intercourse. The longer you wait, the much less efficient it turns into. It is also not a substitute for every day contraception drugs.
How does Plan B have an effect on your interval?
After you’re taking Plan B, your subsequent interval could be a bit of wonky. This pertains to how emergency contraception works. “Levonorgestrel emergency contraceptive drugs (generally often known as Plan B) stop 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 (normally a number of days),” Dr. Shorey says. Lengthy story quick, 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. Through 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 number of days, it additionally might delay your interval by a number of days,” Dr. Shorey says. Alternatively, some individuals get their interval sooner than typical, 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. Actually, the sooner you’re taking Plan B in your menstrual cycle, “the extra doubtless you’re 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 will be magnified. Which 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 unintended effects are short-lived (they normally subside on their very own inside a number of weeks) and don’t require therapy.
Different attainable unintended effects of Plan B
Taking plan B can briefly mess up your typical menstrual cycle. However it may additionally produce other attainable, minor unintended 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 unintended effects could be annoying and inconvenient, however they need to solely final a short while. Remember, although, in case 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 facet impact of Plan B. However it’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 will you inform the distinction between the 2?
“That may be difficult,” Dr. Brar says. Implantation bleeding “is commonly accompanied by different signs corresponding to cramping, nausea, and breast tenderness,” she says. However as we discovered, Plan B can have a few of these unintended effects as properly.
Dr. Shorey agrees: “It’s very exhausting, if not unattainable, to inform the distinction” between Plan B recognizing and implantation bleeding. One of the simplest ways to rule out a being pregnant? Take a being pregnant check if you do not get your interval inside three weeks after taking Plan B, or if it doesn’t come inside every week of if you’d usually anticipate it, she says.
Is it regular for Plan B to mess up your cycle for months?
The quick 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 offers? “Many facets of your medical historical past may additionally play a task 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 may mess together with your menstrual cycle, Dr. Brar provides.
“Equally, some medicines, like some sorts 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 in case you have some other signs like decrease belly 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 need not 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 together with your physician (and take a being pregnant check).
“You also needs to see a physician in case you have decrease belly ache or persistent irregular bleeding,” Dr. Shorey says. “These will be indicators of ectopic being pregnant [when a fertilized egg has implanted outside the uterus] or different situations,” she says.
This may additionally be an excellent time to speak together with your physician about prescribing Plan B for the long run. Whereas the morning-after tablet is offered 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 usually prescribe it so that you can assist scale back the fee and guarantee its availability. They will even do that prematurely in order that it is prepared for you forward of time, should you want it,” she says.
Whilst 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 will not be 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 look like you’ve got two durations in a month relying on the heaviness of the bleeding.” Keep in mind, “should you take Plan B a number of instances inside one month, chances are you’ll be extra more likely to have these irregular bleeding episodes,” she provides.
Recognizing or irregular bleeding normally resolves after a month, but when it persists, “it’s all the time a good suggestion to test in together with your OB/GYN to determine what could be inflicting it,” Dr. Shorey says.
What number of instances can you’re 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, corresponding to individuals with weight problems, Dr. Shorey provides. Plus, one other factor to contemplate? Plan B received’t defend you towards sexually transmitted infections.
On the finish of the day, it’s in all probability greatest to stay to taking Plan B to stop being pregnant in emergency conditions—i.e., if you didn’t use contraception (or it failed) or in instances of non-consensual sexual activity.
What’s the most delay in durations should you’re not pregnant?
As soon as you utilize the morning-after tablet, your interval ought to come inside one week of when it was purported 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 check and make an appointment to see an OB/GYN,” she says.
Can you’re taking Plan B should you’re nursing?
Whereas your danger of getting pregnant should you completely breastfeed, chestfeed, or pump (i.e., you solely feed your child your milk, not formulation or different stable meals) is decrease, it may nonetheless occur. So should you had unprotected intercourse, and also you don’t want to conceive once more, you would possibly surprise if it’s okay to take the morning-after tablet. Relaxation assured, “it’s secure to take when breastfeeding,” Dr. Brar says. “It might probably, nonetheless, briefly decrease milk provide,” she provides, so preserve this in thoughts when taking it.
