Whereas completely protected, one among Plan B’s major (albeit short-term) uncomfortable side 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 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 could be time to examine in together with your OB/GYN.
The morning-after tablet ought to be used ASAP after unprotected intercourse. The longer you wait, the much less efficient it turns into. It is also not a alternative for every day contraception drugs.
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How does Plan B have an effect on your interval?
After you are taking Plan B, your subsequent interval could be a little bit 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 Center.
“In different phrases, Plan B prevents the physique from releasing an egg…till sperm are not within the reproductive tract (often a number of days),” Dr. Shorey says. Lengthy story quick, if there’s no egg to fertilize by sperm, you may’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 a number of days, it additionally could delay your interval by a number of days,” Dr. Shorey says. However, some folks get their interval sooner than normal, in response to 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 School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. The truth is, the sooner you are taking Plan B in your menstrual cycle, “the extra possible you’re to have irregular bleeding that month,” Dr. Brar says.
When you take Plan B greater than as soon as a month (extra on this later), these results could be magnified. Which means your interval could be 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 a number of weeks) and don’t require remedy.
Different attainable uncomfortable side effects of Plan B
Taking plan B can briefly mess up your normal menstrual cycle. However it might additionally produce other attainable, minor uncomfortable side effects. These embody 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. Be mindful, although, if in case you have nausea and vomit inside two hours of taking the tablet, it will not be efficient, in response to Deliberate Parenthood.
Plan B recognizing vs. implantation bleeding
Mild 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 similar to cramping, nausea, and breast tenderness,” she says. However as we discovered, Plan B can have a few of these uncomfortable side 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 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 count on 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 elements of your medical historical past might also play a task 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 may also mess together with your menstrual cycle, Dr. Brar provides.
“Equally, some drugs, 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 if in case you have some other signs like decrease belly 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 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 examine in together with your physician (and take a being pregnant take a look at).
“You must also see a physician if in case you have decrease belly ache or persistent irregular bleeding,” Dr. Shorey says. “These could be indicators of ectopic being pregnant [when a fertilized egg has implanted outside the uterus] or different circumstances,” she says.
This may additionally be a superb time to speak together with your physician about prescribing Plan B for the long run. Whereas the morning-after tablet is on the market 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 sometimes prescribe it so that you can assist scale back the price and guarantee its availability. They will even do that upfront in order that it is prepared for you forward of time, in the event you want it,” she says.
When you’re on the workplace, you must also 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 shouldn’t be meant to be a daily 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 could cause irregular bleeding or recognizing,” Dr. Shorey says. “This will make it seem to be you will have 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 occasions inside one month, chances are 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 all the time a good suggestion to examine in together with your OB/GYN to determine what could be inflicting it,” Dr. Shorey says.
What number of occasions can you are taking Plan B in a month?
Technically, you may take Plan B as many occasions as you want (it’s not dangerous), nevertheless it shouldn’t substitute for normal routine contraception, in response to 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, similar to folks with weight problems, Dr. Shorey provides. Plus, one other factor to contemplate? Plan B gained’t shield you in opposition to sexually transmitted infections.
On the finish of the day, it’s most likely finest to stay to taking Plan B to forestall being pregnant in emergency conditions—i.e., once 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 are taking Plan B in the event you’re nursing?
Whereas your threat of getting pregnant in the event you completely breastfeed, chestfeed, or pump (i.e., you solely feed your child your milk, not formulation or different stable meals) is decrease, it might 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 could possibly, nevertheless, briefly decrease milk provide,” she provides, so hold this in thoughts when taking it.
