Could I Be Pregnant
Some spotting after using Plan B is harmless. It shouldnt be taken as a sure sign that youre not pregnant, though.
Implantation spotting can happen when a fertilized egg attaches to the lining of the uterus. This is perfectly normal in early pregnancy, usually occurring about 10 to 14 days after conception.
Youll only know that youre not pregnant when you get your period or have a negative pregnancy test.
In addition to spotting and menstrual changes, other potential side effects from Plan B may include:
- nausea
- breast tenderness
- vomiting
If they happen at all, these side effects should only last a few days and you probably wont have all of them.
Emergency contraceptive pills are not associated with serious or long-term side effects. Plan B wont affect your ability to get pregnant or carry a pregnancy in the future.
Remember, your period may be late even if youre not pregnant.
You dont have to do anything for spotting, getting your period early, or a heavier-than-normal period. When you take Plan B, keep some menstrual products on hand just in case.
Your cycle should return to normal the following month.
What Should You Do If You Think You Might Be Pregnant
We know that trying to make a decision about an unplanned pregnancy is incredibly difficult, but there are many people who can help you make an informed decision.
If you want to continue with the pregnancy then you will need to ring your GP so you can book in to see a midwife, says Julia.
If you need help to consider your options, you can contact Marie Stopes UK on 0345 300 8090 and book a telephone appointment with one of our counsellors who will talk you through your options . If you are sure that you want an abortion, the team will book you into a telephone consultation to start the process, she continues.
How Do You Know If Plan B Worked
Doctors say that you don’t need any tests or procedures after using emergency contraception. However, if you haven’t gotten your period within a week of when it should come or expect it to come, you should have a pregnancy test. Don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor for some good, solid medical advice.
When you take it as directed, your emergency contraception pill should be safe and effective. The California State Board of Pharmacy says that emergency contraception could reduce your risk of getting pregnant by up to 89%. Note that this number is only an estimate, and it rides upon the fact that you take it on time, as soon as possible after having unprotected sex.
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How To Prevent Stress From Delaying Your Period
The first step in preventing stress from delaying your period is to understand whats causing your stress and how much stress you can manage. You may not always be able to avoid stress, but you can develop healthy ways to cope with it. Tracking your cycle and any changes you experience in your moods will make it easier to identify any issues that may arise so you can better understand why your period is late.
While stress is a common cause for a late period, it is just one of many potential reasons for a delay in menstruation. Pregnancy, hormonal birth control, and health problems like polycystic ovary syndrome can also make your period late.
Sometimes the stress of worrying about a potential unintended pregnancy can make your period late. Taking a pregnancy test to find out if you are pregnant can reduce this stress. If your period is late, and youre experiencing symptoms like unwanted hair growth, headaches, weight gain, and difficulty sleeping, you may want to see a health care provider to rule out PCOS, which is a treatable condition.
Tracking your mood, life events, and symptoms in an app like Flo can help you gain perspective on your level of stress, and taking simple measures like exercising or making time for meditation can help you get your period back on track.
When Should You Stop A Period
If your gynecologist thinks that your periods are not beneficial because you have anemia, endometriosis, or some types of uterine fibroids, it may be necessary to stop your period for a season.
In these cases, the gynecologist will indicate which is the best way to stop a period for a specific time until the disease is under control and the loss of blood is not a problem.
Read Also: How To Know When Your Period Is Coming Again
What Happens After I Take It
Side effects of taking Plan B are generally mild and can include:
- Headache
- Abdominal pain
- Occasional spotting for 1-3 days
If side effects are severe or you are having an allergic reaction seek medical attention immediately.
Your period should start within 21 days after taking Plan B. If your period is late by more than 1 week, pregnancy testing and follow-up with your health care provider are recommended. Plan B will not prevent pregnancy from future acts of unprotected intercourse, so use birth control until your next period.
A Few Ways To Get Your Period Back On Track
Getting your period back on track might be possible by eliminating the unhealthy stressors in your life. If thats not possible, learning and adopting new coping strategies might work.
If you have experienced delayed periods in the past, it can be quite helpful to track your moods, changes in diet, new medication, or big life events. This will help you better identify what some of your stressors are. The Flo app can help you with this.
Here are a few ways to reduce stress and get your period back on track:
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Can Plan B Delay Your Period
Emergency contraception is a way to prevent unwanted pregnancy after unprotected sex. Post-coital pills, emergency contraceptive pills, and morning after pills all refer to emergency contraception. These drugs contain the hormones progestin and estrogen and are not for routine use. Some drugs contain estrogen or progestin, while others contain combination of both. Plan B is quite a popular choice and is available in the form of two levonorgestrel pills, each of 0.75mg.
If The Test Is Positive
If your pregnancy test is positive, its still a good idea to see your doctor to confirm the results. Its also an opportunity to begin a discussion about your options. If youre pregnant and want to continue the pregnancy, youll be able to get started on prenatal care right away.
If you decide that you dont want to continue with the pregnancy, your doctor can explain the different types of abortion available to you.
Alternatively, you can contact the nearest Planned Parenthood clinic to learn more. Legal options vary depending on where you live. The Guttmacher Institute provides the latest information about abortion laws in each state.
Plan B is an OTC medication. You can get it at most drugstores without seeing a doctor or getting a prescription.
Also Check: Signs To Know Your Period Is Coming
Cut Back On Caffeine And Alcohol
Both alcohol and caffeine can increase cortisol levels, so its recommended that you reduce your intake of both of these when dealing with major life changes, going through a rough patch, or nearing your menstrual cycle. Instead, you might try decaffeinated beverages or herbal teas that are known to have calming effects, such as chamomile or lavender.
What Should You Do If You Think You Might Be Pregnant During Lockdown
Dealing with the possibility of an unplanned pregnancy can be scary enough at the best of times, but we understand it could be even more worrying during a pandemic.
Dont panic though, because essential health care services are still operating and will still be able to help you.
If you think you may be pregnant during lockdown, you have options available to you, depending on whether you want to continue with the pregnancy or not, says Julia, during COVID-19, as much of this will be done remotely as possible to protect you.
Worrying about a delayed period is rough, but there are many different reasons why it might not have come yet many of which are not a cause for concern.
The length of your menstrual cycle can vary from month to month and things like stress and different sleeping patterns can also have an impact. As the morning after pill works by delaying ovulation, it makes sense that it may also push back your period by a couple of days.
Dont jump to any conclusions and see if that pesky period arrives. Remember that you have options no matter what happens its your body, your choice.
If youve taken the morning after pill and would like to share your experience, please do so by clicking the link below.
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If Your Period Is Later Than Seven Days Does It Mean You’re Pregnant
If your period is later than seven days it does not necessarily mean you are pregnant, but you should do a pregnancy test to rule it out, says Julia.
Most pregnancy tests will be accurate 21 days after the unprotected sex took place, or from the first day of a missed period.
However as mentioned above, factors like stress, sudden weight loss, changing or coming off your contraceptive pill and changes in schedule can all have an affect on your menstrual cycle.
Did you know different phases of the menstrual cycle make you angry, horny, hungry? Find out more about your menstrual cycle here.
If Your Cycle Is Altered By Plan B How Will You Know That You’re Not Pregnant
Experiencing vaginal bleeding after taking Plan B could be a sign that you aren’t pregnant. “You may experience bleeding similar to a period after taking Plan B, which may indicate that fertilization has not occurred,” notes Kakani.
Your cycle should also go back to normal soon. Most of the changes caused by emergency contraceptives like Plan B do not persist beyond one menstrual cycle.
If your period is over a week late after you’ve taken Plan B, there’s a chance that you may be pregnant, so consider taking a pregnancy test.
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You Start Hormonal Birth Control Right After Taking Ella
After a slip-up requiring emergency contraception, it might seem like you should immediately hop back on the non-baby-making train by getting yourself a scrip for birth control, stat. But you shouldnt start or continue any form of hormonal birth control within the first five days of taking Ella, Dr. White explains. Another hormonal birth control method can decrease Ellas efficacy, she says. In return, Ella can mess with hormonal birth control’s mechanisms, according to its website. To be safe, after using Ella, use condoms until your next period, and don’t use hormonal birth control until five days have passed.
Why Its Not Possible To Stop A Period That Has Already Started
It isnt possible to stop a period that has already started, because the shedding process in the lining of the uterus has already started.
This process happens close to the end of the menstrual cycle, when the levels of estrogen and progesterone decrease, which causes the internal lining of the uterus to shed and that leads to the bleeding that occurs during a period.
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First Heres What You Need To Know About Emergency Contraception
There are a few types of emergency contraception, and some work better than others. According to Planned Parenthood, you basically have two options:
- Go to your doctor to get a Paragard IUD within five days of having sex without protection. Paragard creates a toxic environment for sperm, and it prevents pregnancy more than 99.9 percent of the time. Thats why its considered the most effective type of emergency contraception, according to Planned Parenthood.
- Take an emergency contraceptive pill within five days of unprotected sex. There are two types of morning-after pills: A brand called Ella uses the drug ulipristal acetate to delay ovulation, and according to Planned Parenthood, is the most effective type of morning-after pill. The only hitch: You need a prescription to get it . Your other option is an OTC morning-after pill like Plan B or Next Choice, both of which use levonorgestrel, a synthetic version of the hormone progesterone, to delay ovulation. These pills work best the sooner you take them, but you can take them up to five days after unprotected sex, according to Planned Parenthood.
What To Do If Plan B Didnt Work
The sooner you take Plan B, the more likely it is to be effective. Ideally, it should be taken within a 72-hour window. Thats 3 days from the time you had unprotected sex. You should also continue to use your regular birth control.
In any case, its not 100 percent effective. Its estimated that about 7 of every 8 women who would have gotten pregnant will not get pregnant after taking the medication. It may not work if you vomit within 2 hours of taking it.
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How Does Plan B Work
It is possible to take the Plan B pill up to 3 days after unprotected sex, even though many people call it the morning-after pill. However, the sooner a person takes Plan B following unprotected intercourse, the more effective it is in preventing pregnancy.
The Plan B pill contains 1.5 milligrams of the hormone levonorgestrel. Levonorgestrel is a synthetic chemical that mimics the natural hormone progesterone. It triggers several responses in the body that prevent pregnancy.
Levonorgestrel ensures that the body is:
- Preventing ovulation, the process by which the ovary releases an egg. If there is no egg to fertilize, pregnancy is not possible.
- Thickening the mucus in the cervix, which helps prevent sperm from reaching the uterus and combining with an egg.
- Thinning the uterine lining, which reduces the likelihood of a fertilized egg attaching to the uterus.
There are many misconceptions regarding how the Plan B pill works. The pill is not an abortion pill as it does not destroy or damage a fetus. Instead, it prevents a pregnancy from occurring in the first place. Once an embryo has implanted in the uterus, Plan B will not disrupt it or cause an abortion.
Anyone who has had unprotected sex or failure of their birth control method can take the Plan B pill. This pill is available without a prescription and has no age restrictions.
Some people should avoid taking Plan B, including those who are: