Reasons Not To Take Emergency Contraception
Emergency contraception pills might not be a good option for you if you have a history of allergy to the medication, if you are significantly overweight, or if the unprotected sex occurred more than 120 hours earlier. There are no known medical conditions for which emergency contraception is unsafe.
Remember, even if its been more than 120 hours, and the episode occurred at mid-cycle, the chances of becoming pregnant are still low .
What Is The Effectiveness Of Plan B
The sooner you take Plan B®, the more effective it is. It can prevent pregnancy if taken within 72 hours and preferably within 12 hours of unprotected sex. If you take it within 24 hours of unprotected sex, it is 95% effective. If you take it between 48 and 72 hours of unprotected sex, the efficacy rate is 61%.
Is There A Plan B Weight Limit
Some research suggests that emergency birth control containing levonorgestrel may be less effective in individuals with a higher BMI. But a 2017 review of four randomized trials found that women with a BMI over 30 had only a slightly higher risk of pregnancy than women overall . These findings suggest that even among women with a higher BMI, Plan B still has a high chance of being effective when used correctly. Still, more research is needed.
In the United States, there is no weight limit on the Plan B label. After conducting a review of the efficacy of levonorgestrel in women over 165 lbs or whose BMI was greater than 25, the FDA found no evidence to change the labeling. The FDA states that the most important factor is how quickly the medication is taken after unprotected sex or contraceptive failureas quickly as possible within 72 hoursregardless of the womans weight, because it can be highly effective for women of any weight.
However, for women with a higher body weight, these two forms of emergency contraception may be more effective:
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How Effective Is The Morning
When youre thinking about how effective the morning-after pill is at preventing pregnancy, its important to factor in time. This is key to the medications effectiveness. All forms of the emergency contraception pill are more effective the sooner you take it. You don’t need to wait to take these medications until the next day despite the name morning-after pill.
There are certain time frames for each type of morning-after pill. The progestin-only option should be taken within the first 72 hours after unprotected sexual intercourse. The ulipristal and combined options can be taken up to 120 hours after sex.
Each day you wait outside of these recommended windows of time makes the medication less effective.
Which Is Better Plan B Or Ella
Ella contains the ingredient ulipristal and is considered to be more effective than Plan B and other emergency contraception that contains the ingredient levonorgestrel. Ella requires a prescription, while Plan B does not. However, whats most important is taking the emergency contraception as quickly as possible after unprotected sex. So, for example, if it is Friday night and you cant get in touch with your doctor, its best to buy OTC Plan B and take it as soon as possible, rather than wait a few days until you can speak to your doctor to request a prescription for Ella.
Better yet, plan ahead. Speak to your doctor at your next visit about which would be the best emergency contraception for you. If your doctor thinks Ella would be better, have them call in a prescription to your pharmacy so you can fill it right away and have it on hand. If your doctor thinks Plan B would be better for you, you can pick it up on your next trip to the pharmacy to keep on hand.
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Other Side Effects Of Plan B
Now you have known the answer to “Does Plan B affect your period?”, it’s time to learn more side effects of consuming Plan B. But experiences are very individual and vary from person to person. If you have taken Plan B or are planning to, it is important to know what the side effects may be.
- Common side effects of Plan B include nausea, headache, fatigue, dizziness, abdominal pain, breast tenderness, vomiting and diarrhea.
- Less common side effects of Plan B include sudden stomach cramps, uterine or vaginal hemorrhaging, itching, rashes or any of the effects noted above being persistent or worsening.
In some instances, the use of Plan B is not advisable. If you have irregular vaginal bleeding, allergies to the ingredients, or a confirmed/suspected pregnancy, the use of Plan B is best avoided.
For further information on plan B, check out the link below for a video explaining Plan B in further detail:
If You Are Already Using The Pill Patch Vaginal Ring Or Contraceptive Injection
You may need to take the emergency pill if you:
- forgot to take some of your regular contraceptive pills, or
- did not use your contraceptive patch or vaginal ring correctly, or
- were late having your contraceptive implant or contraceptive injection
If you have taken Levonelle, then you should:
- take your next contraceptive pill, apply a new patch or insert a new ring within 12 hours of taking the emergency pill
You should then continue taking your regular contraceptive pill as normal.
You will need to use additional contraception, such as condoms, for:
- the next seven days if you use the patch, ring, combined pill , implant or injection
- nine days for the combined pill Qlaira
- the next two days if you use the progestogen-only pill
If you have taken ellaOne, you will need to wait at least five days before taking your next contraceptive pill, applying a new patch or inserting a new ring. You should then use additional contraception, such as condoms, while waiting to restart your contraceptive method and then for:
- the next seven days if you use the patch, ring, combined pill , implant or injection
- nine days for the combined pill Qlaira
- the next two days if you use the progestogen-only pill
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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 products 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.
What If My Periods 2 Weeks Late After Plan B
Plan B is 95 percent effective if taken within a day after sex and 88 percent if taken between 3 days after. But theres always a slim chance it wont work.
If you take Plan B and your period is over a week late, theres a slight chance that you might be pregnant. Take a pregnancy test to play it safe.
If its been 2 weeks, your pregnancy odds are even greater and you should likewise take a test. If your pregnancy test is positive, visit a doctor or midwife to confirm your result and walk you through your options.
If youre not sure what stage of your cycle youre at or you have irregular periods, Planned Parenthood recommends waiting 3 weeks after taking Plan B before you take a pregnancy test.
Pregnancy tests measure the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin , which the body starts to produce a few days after conception. So if you take a test too early, it could show a false-negative result.
If your period is still MIA 2 months after taking Plan B, you could be pregnant. Its unlikely its the EC still messing with your cycle.
Take a pregnancy test and visit a doctor or midwife ASAP to know for sure.
Other things that can delay your period include:
- chronic illness
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Taking The Combined Pill Back
If you take a combined contraceptive pill, you can delay your period by taking the packets back-to-back.
How you do this will depend on the type of pill you take.
Examples are:
- monophasic 21-day pills, such as Microgynon and Cilest you take a combined pill for 21 days, followed by 7 days without pills, when you have a bleed . To delay your period, start a new packet of pills straight after you finish the last pill and miss out the 7-day break.
- everyday pills, such as Microgynon ED and Lorynon ED you take a combined pill every day. The first 21 pills are active pills and the next 7 pills are inactive or dummy pills, when you have your period. To delay your period, miss out and throw away the dummy pills, and start the active pills in a new packet straight away.
- phasic 21-day pills, such as Binovium, Qlaira and Logynon the mix of hormones in each pill is different, depending on which phase you’re in. You need to take these pills in the correct order to have effective contraception. Speak to your pharmacist, community contraception clinic or GP surgery for more information before taking phasic pills back-to-back.
Taking your contraceptive pills in the ways described above will not affect how they work as contraceptives.
If you’re not sure which pill you’re on, which pills in the packet to miss out, or you need advice, speak to your pharmacist, community contraception clinic or GP surgery.
Taking the combined pill can cause side effects, such as:
What The Pill Does
The emergency pills work by delaying ovulation, that is, the release of an egg from the ovary.
- In a woman with a regular 28-day cycle, the release of an egg usually happens about 14 days following the first day of the last menstrual period.
- A regular cycle means you usually will have a montly bleeding about the same time each month with one or two days earlier or later on some occasion.
The pill changes your hormones to prevent the release of the egg, usually till sperm from sexual activity have died off.
Since we know that sperm can remain alive in the woman for 3-5 days, the hEC pill delays ovulation for 5 days after which you then ovulate.
If you do have sex again after the postponed ovulation happens, you could get pregnant despite the pill. Hence you must resume your regular contraception method straight away or use another emergency pill after sex.
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Who Should Not Take Plan B
Even though Plan B is very effective, it isnt right for everyone and is less effective under the following circumstances:
- Plan B is less effective the longer you wait to take it, so take it as soon as possible.
- Its not effective if youre already ovulating.
If you have a BMI thats 30 or greater, a copper IUD such as Paragard, hormonal IUD Mirena or Liletta, or the Ella morning-after pill may be better options for you. An IUD is almost 99.9% effective at preventing pregnancy if it is put in within five days after unprotected sex. Once inserted, the Paragard IUD can prevent pregnancy for up to 12 years. Mirena can prevent pregnancy for up to 7 years, and Liletta can prevent pregnancy for up to 6 years.
Ella emergency contraception works to prevent pregnancy up to five days after sex and lowers the risk of pregnancy by about 85%. However, you should not take Plan B or other morning-after pills containing levonorgestrel if you have taken Ella since your last period. If you took Ella and need to take another morning-after pill within 5 days, take Ella again .
Note: Unlike the Plan B pill, the Ella morning-after pill requires a prescription from a doctor to obtain. The Paragard IUD and hormonal IUDs are available by prescription and through your doctor or family planning clinic. Youll need your OB/Gyn to insert the IUD, so if you decide to go that route, call them ASAP and explain the situation so they can bring you in quickly to insert the IUD.
What If Its Been Longer Than Expected And Still No Period
Its normal for Plan B to affect the timing of your period. But if its a week later than usual or still hasnt arrived within 3 weeks of taking Plan B, theres a possibility that youre pregnant.
EC pills containing levonorgestrel can reduce the chance of pregnancy by 95 percent if taken within 24 hours of sex. This lowers to 88 percent if the pill is taken between 24 and 72 hours after sex.
If youre unsure whether Plan B has worked, take a pregnancy test.
Take one straight away if you keep track of your cycle and know that your period is at least a week late.
But if youre not sure where you are in your menstrual cycle, wait 3 weeks after taking Plan B before using a pregnancy test.
Pregnancy tests detect a specific type of hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin , which is only produced a few days after conception. So taking one too early can produce a false result.
If your test comes back negative, wait a couple more weeks to see if your period arrives.
If it doesnt, take another pregnancy test and visit a doctor for advice on delayed periods if the result comes back negative once again.
If the result is positive, book a doctors appointment. Theyll be able to confirm your pregnancy and talk you through all the available options, including both medical and surgical abortions.
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How Long After Unprotected Sex Should I Wait Before Taking The Morning
You don’t need to wait until the next morning to take the morning-after pill. Emergency contraception pills are most effective at preventing pregnancy when theyre taken as quickly as possible after unprotected sexual intercourse. The amount of time you have can vary between different medications.
- Progestin-only pills : For these medications, you typically have about a three-day window of time when Plan B will still be effective. It becomes less effective at preventing pregnancy the longer you wait. If you take a progestin-only medication within five days of unprotected sex, it can be moderately effective.
- Ulipristal : This type of emergency contraception pill is more effective for a longer period of time. With this medication, you have up to five days after unprotected sex where its still effective at preventing pregnancy.
- Combined birth control pills: Combining birth control pills that contain progestin and estrogen can be used as emergency contraception for up to five days after intercourse. There can be a lot of variety between different brands of birth control pills, so its a good idea to talk to your healthcare provider about the exact timing and dosage.
Exercise The Right Way
Exercising regularly can help reduce the intensity of cramps and other symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, says Ross. Exercise may even reduce the frequency or length of your period. However, its also important to note that exercising too much or suddenly starting an intense new exercise routine can cause your period to stop or become more irregular.
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How Many Times Can You Take Emergency Contraception Medications
Even though there isnt a set restriction on how many times you can take the morning-after pill, you shouldn’t use it as routine birth control. This type of birth control is meant to be used in emergency situations when your birth control has failed, wasn’t used or in cases of non-consensual intercourse.
How Does Levonorgestrel Work
Depending upon where you are in your cycle, levonorgestrel helps prevent pregnancy after unprotected intercourse. It may prevent or delay ovulation.
Levonorgestrel is not the same as RU-486, which is an abortion pill. It does not cause a miscarriage or abortion. It will not work if you are already pregnant when you take it. Learn more about how emergency contraception works.
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How Often Can You Take Plan B For Birth Control
There is no limit on how often you can use Plan B as emergency contraception to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. Emergency contraception pills like Plan B are generally safe for most people and do not pose any significant health risks.Taking Plan B multiple times does not make it less effective or cause any long-term side effects. Be mindful that multiple use of Plan B is acceptable, and this is different than taking it regularly as a form of birth control which well discuss below.