Whereas completely protected, one in all Plan B’s fundamental (albeit momentary) uncomfortable side effects is a change in your menstrual cycle. Many individuals discover their interval unpredictable or irregular for just a few weeks after taking it. But when the change is ongoing (that’s, it lasts for months on finish), an underlying well being situation may be 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 is perhaps time to examine in together 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 day by day contraception capsules.
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How does Plan B have an effect on your interval?
After you’re taking Plan B, your subsequent interval is perhaps somewhat wonky. This pertains to how emergency contraception works. “Levonorgestrel emergency contraceptive capsules (generally referred to as Plan B) stop being pregnant by delaying ovulation,” says Mary Shorey, MD, an OB/GYN at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center.
“In different phrases, Plan B prevents the physique from releasing an egg…till sperm are now not within the reproductive tract (often just a few 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. Throughout 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 just a few days, it additionally could delay your interval by just a few days,” Dr. Shorey says. Alternatively, some individuals get their interval sooner than common, in keeping with Deliberate Parenthood.
Lighter or heavier bleeding than regular (i.e., what you’re used to) is feasible, too. It’s additionally widespread 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 School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. In reality, the sooner you’re taking Plan B in your menstrual cycle, “the extra seemingly you might be to have irregular bleeding that month,” Dr. Brar says.
Should you take Plan B greater than as soon as a month (extra on this later), these results might be magnified. That means your interval is perhaps much more unpredictable (assume: 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 just a few weeks) and don’t require therapy.
Different potential uncomfortable side effects of Plan B
Taking plan B can briefly mess up your common menstrual cycle. However it will probably additionally produce other potential, 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 is perhaps annoying and inconvenient, however they need to solely final a short while. Take into account, 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
Mild recognizing is a standard facet impact of Plan B. However it’s additionally a potential 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 difficult,” Dr. Brar says. Implantation bleeding “is usually accompanied by different signs comparable to cramping, nausea, and breast tenderness,” she says. However as we realized, Plan B can have a few of these uncomfortable side effects as properly.
Dr. Shorey agrees: “It’s very arduous, 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 take a look at if you aren’t getting your interval inside three weeks after taking Plan B, or if it doesn’t come inside every week of whenever 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 is perhaps questioning what provides? “Many elements of your medical historical past might also play a job in your interval timing,” Dr. Shorey says. “Completely different circumstances, like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), uterine polyps or fibroids, or thyroid abnormalities, can have an effect on your intervals,” she says. Endometriosis and different hormonal imbalances also can mess together 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 some other signs like decrease stomach ache, you must name your physician…to rule out being pregnant, and different circumstances that may trigger irregular bleeding,” Dr. Brar says.
When to see a health care provider
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 is perhaps time to examine in together with your physician (and take a being pregnant take a look at).
“You also needs to see a health care provider 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 circumstances,” she says.
This may also be 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 after they want it,” Dr. Shorey says. “Your physician can usually prescribe it so that you can assist cut back the associated fee and guarantee its availability. They’ll even do that upfront in order that it is prepared for you forward of time, in the event 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 seek out one which’s best for you,” Dr. Brar provides. “Plan B is just not 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 intervals in a month?
“Generally Plan B may cause irregular bleeding or recognizing,” Dr. Shorey says. “This may make it appear to be you have got two intervals in a month relying on the heaviness of the bleeding.” Keep in mind, “in the event you take Plan B a number of instances inside one month, you could be extra more likely 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 examine in together with your OB/GYN to determine what is perhaps 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), however 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, comparable 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 forestall being pregnant in emergency conditions—i.e., whenever you didn’t use contraception (or it failed) or in instances of non-consensual sexual activity.
What’s the most delay in intervals in the event 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 imagined 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’re taking Plan B in the event you’re nursing?
Whereas your danger of getting pregnant in the event you solely breastfeed, chestfeed, or pump (i.e., you solely feed your child your milk, not method or different strong meals) is decrease, it will probably nonetheless occur. So in the event you had unprotected intercourse, and also you don’t want to conceive once more, you would possibly marvel if it’s okay to take the morning-after tablet. Relaxation assured, “it’s protected to take when breastfeeding,” Dr. Brar says. “It may possibly, nonetheless, briefly decrease milk provide,” she provides, so maintain this in thoughts when taking it.
