Can I Take Plan B While On My Period

Who Can Use The Iud

I missed my period. Is it because I took the i-pill, or am I pregnant?

Most women can use an IUD, including those who are HIV positive. A GP or nurse will ask about your medical history to check if an IUD is suitable for you.

The IUD might not be suitable if you have:

  • an untreated sexually transmitted infection or a pelvic infection
  • problems with your womb or cervix
  • unexplained bleeding between periods or after sex

The emergency IUD wont react with any other medicines youre taking.

How Does The Morning After Pill Work

The morning after pill works by stopping or delaying your ovary releasing an egg. It might also stop the sperm from reaching an egg that has already been released.

If the sperm has already fertilised the egg, it is too late and the pill wont work.

The morning after pill is for emergency contraception only. It doesnt protect against sexually transmitted infections .

Research Findings Vs Fda Labeling

Monique Rainford, MD, is board-certified in obstetrics-gynecology, and currently serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor at Yale Medicine. She is the former chief of obstetrics-gynecology at Yale Health.

Plan B One-Step is an emergency contraceptive. Emergency contraceptives are used to prevent pregnancy after birth control failure or unprotected sex. Generic forms of Plan B include My Way, Take Action, and Next Choice One Dose.

Emergency contraception is safe and effective. Still, Plan B is controversial. Much of the debate is based on a misunderstanding about how Plan B works.

Some people believe Plan B prevents a fertilized egg from implanting in the lining of the uterus. This belief is based on the product’s FDA labeling. Research, however, has not confirmed the information on the FDA label.

This article will discuss the controversy around the FDA labeling for Plan B. It will also look at what research says about how Plan B actually works.

Don’t Miss: Brown Stuff Instead Of Period

Bottom Lineyou Can Still Get Pregnant After Taking Plan B

Its important to note that you can still get pregnant even after taking Plan B. Also, if you take Plan B after unprotected sex and then have unprotected sex again, youll need to take another pill. A long-term form of birth control is the best way to prevent pregnancy. Long-term birth control options include the birth control pill, IUDs, implants, shots, patches, latex condoms, and vaginal rings .

How Effective Is Plan B And How Long Is It Effective For

Can a plan B make my second period late?

Whether you forgot to take the pill or the condom broke, you still have an option for preventing pregnancybut you have to act fast. Plan B One-Step is a morning-after pill that can prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex or birth control failure. Emergency contraception can offer peace of mind, but many women still wonder: How effective is Plan B?

Also Check: 90 Day Probationary Period Template

Q: What Are Options For Emergency Contraception

A: There are currently four available methods:

  • Levonorgestrel . These pills contain a synthetic hormone called progestin and are available over-the-counter. They prevent pregnancy by delaying the release of the egg from the ovary to prevent fertilization. They will not work if you are already pregnant.
  • Ulipristal acetate . This medication also suppresses or delays ovulation but is only available by prescription. It will not work if you are already pregnant.
  • Copper-releasing IUD. Once its placed in the uterus by a healthcare professional, it offers additional pregnancy protection for as long as you keep it in, up to 10 years.
  • Yuzpe regimen. This method calls for a woman to take multiple birth control pills that total 100 mcg of estrogen and 1 mg of progesterone twice in a 12-hour period. It is the least effective method of emergency contraceptive, and will not work if you are already pregnant.

How Will The Morning After Pill Affect My Period

Posted by south ave& filed under Birth Control.

For women who have recently had birth control fail them, or may have forgotten it altogether, the morning after pill can be a life saver. Emergency contraception, such as Plan B or ella, should never be relied on as your main form of birth control, but can be extraordinarily helpful if something happens and you end up needing to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. It is important to note that the morning after pill is NOT the same as an abortion pill. Emergency contraception prevents pregnancy, while abortion terminates an existing pregnancy.

Taking the morning after pill can be a little scary if you dont know what to expect. Many women wonder how the pill will affect their next period, especially because theyre eager to get it and confirm theyre not pregnant. Lets take a look at what your first period after emergency contraception will look like.

Don’t Miss: Usaa Grace Period

How Do I Know If Emergency Contraception Will Work

It can take up to six years after someone first gets their period for cycles to settle into a predictable pattern . Stress, sleep changes, jet lag, and intensive exercise can also affect the timing of ovulation, usually delaying it . Ovulation is also affected by some medical conditions that influence reproductive hormones like polycystic ovarian syndrome . Tracking your period and knowing the days you are most at risk for pregnancy can be an effective method of better understanding your cycle and ovulation timing.

If you are unsure if you are in the biological fertile window of your cycle, using an EC may be a good idea. Any method may be more effective than nothing . Some people may choose to keep an emergency contraceptive pill on hand for backup in emergencies, so they wonât lose time getting a pill if they ever need one quickly. ECPs can be bought in advance at many pharmacies, medical clinics, and online. Some require a prescription while others do not.

Can You Still Get Pregnant After Taking Plan B

Plan B Side Effects – How Does The MAP Affect Your Periods?

The morning-after pill, sometimes referred to by brand name Plan B, is a levonorgestrel emergency contraceptive pill that prevents pregnancy after unprotected sex or if your contraception failed . It works by stopping an egg from being released from the ovary during ovulation, which prevents the egg from being fertilized if ovulation has already happened or prevents a fertilized egg from being implanted in the womb.

There are many brands of levonorgestrel EC pills that work in the same way. This type of EC works best when taken as soon as possible after unprotected sex, ideally within 12 hours.

When taken within 24 hours, levonorgestrel EC is 95 percent effective. If taken 4872 hours after unprotected sex, the Plan B effective rate is 61 percent. The effectiveness of Plan B decreases the longer you wait, so taking it sooner is better!

After taking Plan B, you may feel some side effects, including nausea, abdominal pain, headache, dizziness, or vomiting. If you throw up within two hours of taking the pill, you should talk to a provider right away youll need to get a second dose or use another form of emergency contraception, like the copper IUD, in order to prevent pregnancy.

The other type of morning-after pill has ulipristal acetate as the main ingredient and can prevent pregnancy when taken up to five days later. But they always work much better when taken within the first three days.

You may also ask yourself, does it matter when in your cycle you take an EC pill?

Don’t Miss: 90 Day Probation Period Template

Do I Need To Use Protection On My Period

Yes, if you dont want to get pregnant because there is a risk of pregnancy when youre on your period, to avoid getting pregnant you should begin taking long-term contraception.

If you need to get protection immediately the following contraceptives can be started straight away:

  • The combined contraceptive pill
  • Progestogen-only pill

Protection against STDs matters too you also need protection from sexually transmitted diseases as well as getting pregnant. Barrier method contraceptives like condoms can help here.

What if Im sure Im not at risk of pregnancy? even if youve carefully planned your periods using the rhythm method, there is still a chance you could get pregnant, so we recommend using another method of contraception.

Back to top

You Wont Have Terminated A Pregnancy

This is crucial. If you take Plan B, you wont be ending a pregnancy. Plan B is not the same as an abortion, Sonia Patel, Pharm.D., Chief Pharmacist at Capsule tells Bustle. An abortion, whether through medicine or a procedure, refers to terminating a pregnancy by detaching a fertilized egg from your uterine lining. Plan Bââ¬â¢s main aim is to prevent that fertilization from happening in the first place. To reiterate, Plan B wont work if youre already pregnant. This means that if you happen to have already gotten pregnant, youll need to see a doctor and explore other options. And if youre not, youll likely stay that way.

Also Check: Can You Still Be Pregnant If You Have Your Period

Also Check: Period Blood Stains On Sheets

Im On My Period Can I Get Pregnant

It is possible to get pregnant on my period? yes, if you are not using any form of contraception. On average a young couple who have sex have a 1520% chance of getting pregnant. It is important to remember you can get pregnant if the man’s sperm is able to reach the egg to fertilise it.

Isnt it possible to plan sex and your period so you dont get pregnant? yes, natural family planning methods such as the rhythm method, if followed properly, can be up to 99% effective, but it is much less effective in practice. It works by avoiding sex to prevent pregnancy or use barrier contraception such as condoms when a female is fertile. There are apps which can help you to follow your natural cycle, so you are able to work out when you are most fertile.

If Im on my period doesnt that mean theres no egg in my womb? yes, but remember that sperm can survive up to 6 days inside the female body. All pregnancies can be associated with a six-day period in their cycle so having intercourse within this time can result in pregnancy. The sixth day is the end of the period and the day of ovulation. The length of time sperm can survive in the human body means you could be at risk of pregnancy even if you are on your period.

Back to top

How Effective Is The Emergency Contraceptive Pill

Can I Take Plan B While On My Period

Emergency contraceptive pills are around 85% effective at preventing pregnancy. The ulipristal acetate emergency contraceptive pill , is more effective at preventing pregnancy than the levonorgestrel emergency contraceptive pill.

Another emergency contraception option is the non-hormonal copper IUD. It is more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. See non-hormonal copper IUD for more information.

Recommended Reading: Can You Donate Plasma While Pregnant

Also Check: Can You Donate Plasma On Your Period

You Have More Unprotected Sex After You Take Ec

Sometimes people think that after a dose of EC, they a sexual get-out-of-jail-free card, Dr. White explains. Thats not true. Ovulation is just delayed, not stopped, so further acts of unprotected sex put you in the line of fire, she says.

Once more, with feeling: Everyone makes mistakes. If you need emergency contraception, theres no reason to feel down on yourself. It only becomes somewhat concerning if it becomes a habit, because it means there might be a better birth control option out there for you. If you find yourself needing morning-after contraception on several occasions, its not dangerous, but we can do better, Dr. Minkin says. If youre sick of taking birth control pills, we can get you an IUD, the Nexplanon implant, or something elsethere are lots of options, and you dont have to rely on morning-after contraception.

Related:

Does Plan B Work During Ovulation

Morning-after pills are most effective before ovulation. This is because they stop an egg from being released from the ovary so theres no egg available to get fertilized by sperm. But if youve already ovulated, the pill may prevent sperm from fertilizing an egg.

If enough time has passed after unprotected sex and an egg has already been fertilized, Plan B may stop the egg from implanting in the uterus. But if the fertilized egg has already been implanted in the womb before taking Plan B, its unfortunately too late, and it wont prevent pregnancy. Timing is key here.

After having sex, it can take up to six days for an egg to get fertilized and another three to four days for the fertilized egg to implant itself into the uterine lining. If youre within your fertile window, using the copper IUD as emergency contraception is a safer option to avoid pregnancy.

It may also be helpful to know that if you take a morning-after pill and are already pregnant, it wont harm the fetus.

Recommended Reading: Usaa Grace Period Auto Insurance New Car

Taking Plan B While On Period

Ask U.S. doctors your own question and get educational, text answers â it’s anonymous and free!

Ask U.S. doctors your own question and get educational, text answers â it’s anonymous and free!

HealthTap doctors are based in the U.S., board certified, and available by text or video.

Do I Need To Take Plan B After My Period If Im On Birth Control Pills

Delayed or Missed Periods | Emergency Birth Control | How Late Can Your Period Be?

I have been taking birth control pills the same time everyday am I protected right after I take my first pill after break week, or should I take plan B?

As long as you start your next pack of birth control pills on time, youll still be protected from pregnancy. The pill keeps preventing pregnancy during the week you get your period . So if youve been taking your pill correctly, theres no need to use emergency contraception like Plan B.

Tags:placebo pills, the pill

Planned Parenthood delivers vital reproductive health care, sex education, and information to millions of people worldwide. Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. is a registered 501 nonprofit under EIN 13-1644147. Donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowable under the law.

You May Like: 90 Day Probationary Period Letter

When To See A Doctor

People should not use the Plan B One-Step as a regular birth control pill. They should discuss with their doctor if they are interested in learning more about regular birth control and the options that are suitable for them.

Planned Parenthood also recommends that individuals ask a doctor to determine if Plan B is safe for them. This is because levonorgestrel morning-after pills may not work if a person is taking other medications, including:

  • the antibiotic rifampin

Recommended Reading: Can You Donate Plasma When Pregnant

Related Posts

Popular Articles