Clinical Trial Experience
| Plan B Levonorgestrel N=977 (%) | |
| Nausea | 23.1 |
| Abdominal Pain | 17.6 |
| Fatigue | 16.9 |
| Headache | 16.8 |
- Nausea or vomiting.
- Dizziness.
- Fatigue.
- Headache.
- Breast tenderness.
- Bleeding between periods or heavier menstrual bleeding.
- Lower abdominal pain or cramps.
Is Plan B bad for You?
While the docs all agree there's no clear health danger from taking Plan B even as often as a couple times per month, it's definitely not recommended by anyone as a replacement for regular birth control.
What are the most common Plan B side effects?
- The most common Plan B side effects are fatigue, nausea, and pelvic pain.
- You may also experience changes in your menstrual cycle, like irregular bleeding.
- Side effects shouldn't last more than a few days — if they do, talk to your doctor.
- Visit Insider's Health Reference library for more advice.
Does Plan B Make you Bleed?
Most women who take Plan B don’t bleed heavily, but it’s possible. In a 2006 study of 232 women, only 14.7 percent of participants spotted or bled between periods after taking the morning-after...
What is bleeding after Plan B?
Some of the most common side effects of taking the morning after pill include:
- Headaches.
- Nausea and/or vomiting.
- Bleeding, non-period related.
- Changes in heaviness of bleeding during pregnancy.
- Delay or advancement of your period.
How long after taking Plan B do you feel side effects?
This means many potential side effects are similar to those of birth control pills that contain any type of progestin hormone, also known as combined oral contraceptives. Most of these side effects, if you have any, will begin within a couple hours to a day of taking Plan B and will only last about two or three days.
Can Plan B cause symptoms a week later?
It causes a change in hormone levels, which can affect the usual pattern of your menstrual cycle. This can lead to spotting between the time you take it and the beginning of your next period. It can also cause your period to start up to a week earlier or a week later than you would otherwise expect.
How do I know if Plan B worked?
How do you know if Plan B worked? The only way to know if Plan B has prevented pregnancy is to wait for your next period. If your period arrives more than a week late, you may want to consider taking a pregnancy test.
How long do Plan B pill symptoms last?
The side effects for these medications are similar and usually last a day or two at most. They may include: Belly pain and cramping. Breast tenderness.
How do you know if Plan B didn't work?
How do I know if Plan B worked? You'll know if your emergency contraception worked when you get your next period, which could come within a week of when you expect. Your period may be heavier, lighter, earlier, or later than usual. EC pills can also cause some irregular bleeding or spotting afterward.
What are the signs of pregnancy in the first week?
Pregnancy symptoms in week 1nausea with or without vomiting.breast changes including tenderness, swelling, or tingling feeling, or noticeable blue veins.frequent urination.headache.raised basal body temperature.bloating in the belly or gas.mild pelvic cramping or discomfort without bleeding.tiredness or fatigue.More items...•
How long does it take to know if you are pregnant?
Despite its early appearance in the process, it takes some time for your body to build up enough hCG to register on a pregnancy test. Typically, it takes about three to four weeks from the first day of your last period before there's enough hCG in your body for a positive pregnancy test.
Does Plan B work if you're ovulating?
It's really quite simple: No morning-after pill works during ovulation, as they're designed to delay it. If ovulation is already happening, Plan B (or any other emergency contraceptive pill) will have failed before it's even begun.
Can Plan B throw off your period?
Official answer. Yes, Plan B (levonorgestrel) can delay your period or cause bleeding to occur outside of regular menstrual bleeding because levonorgestrel is a synthetic hormone. To prevent pregnancy, Plan B, like other birth control pills, must alter your hormone levels, which can prompt these menstrual changes.
Does Plan B make you moody?
The emergency method can also cause mood swings and you may feel more emotional than normal. This is due to the hormones in the pill and should resolve within a few days, however, if you're worried or if you experience ongoing feelings of depression, speak to a medical professional about it.
Does Plan B cause discharge?
Less common Plan B® side effects Migraine or severe headache, lower abdominal pain, painful menstruation and vaginal discharge.
What should I avoid after taking Plan B?
Certain women should also avoid using ECPs, including those who are allergic to any of the ingredients or those who take certain medications that may make ECPs less effective, such as barbiturates and St. John's wort. If you're breastfeeding, you should not use ella.
What happens if you throw up after taking Plan B?
Also, if you throw up within two hours of taking Plan B, the medication may not have been fully absorbed into you system. You should call your doctor to see if you need to repeat the dose.
What are the side effects of taking the morning after pill?
One unpleasant side effect of the morning-after pill is that queasy, upset-stomach feeling. “Again, this is due to the pill having a high dose of progesterone,” says Hoskins. That extra influx of hormones can throw your body out of whack for a bit, until it gets used to the higher level.
Does Plan B cause breast tenderness?
Breast tenderness is also linked to Plan B. “This is actually just a known side effect of progesterone,” says Hoskins. “In a normal menstrual cycle, the second half has more progesterone in the blood, and breast tenderness and headaches are known to occur during this time.”
Does Plan B cause pregnancy?
It prevents pregnancy from occurring in the first place; it does not terminate an existing pregnancy.) Though Plan B is generally considered very safe (especially compared to an unplanned pregnancy ...), that high dose of progesterone may cause a few potential side effects. Here's are the Plan B side effects you should know about:
How long does it take for Plan B to work?
How Does Plan B Work? Plan B One-Step is a very popular kind of emergency contraception that protects against pregnancy if you take it within 72 hours of having unprotected sex.
How effective is Plan B?
That is, statistics show that this “morning-after pill” is 95 percent effective if you take it within 24 hours, a percentage that drops to 89 percent if you take it within 72 hours. Plan B is also less effective than the regular birth control pill.
Is Plan B effective for birth control?
As such, it should never be relied on as a main source of birth control, however, because accidents do happen and Plan B is more effective the sooner it is taken, women of reproductive age may consider having the morning-after pill in their personal medicine cabinet at all times.
Does Plan B cause spotting?
Menstrual Changes Following Plan B. Some women will experience light spotting after they take Plan B, something that can sometimes be confused for a menstrual period but isn't — this spotting will take place shortly after taking Plan B.
Can Plan B cause nausea?
Nausea and vomiting, fatigue, abdominal discomfort or cramps, breast tenderness and headache are all possible in women who have recently taken Plan B. In addition, taking this emergency contraceptive can alter the normal patterns of your menstrual cycle, leading to you not having your period when you expected it.
Can Plan B be used as a substitute for birth control?
Remember, Plan B is not meant to be used as a substitute for regular birth control, and if you find yourself using it often, you are better off looking into a reliable form of long-term contraception, such as the combined oral contraceptive pill, the Mirena or Paragard intrauterine devices, or depo Provera.
How long does it take for levonorgestrel to work?
If you take Plan B One-Step within 24 hours, it is much more effective. But you should know that Plan B One-Step is not as effective as regular contraception.
Is Plan B a form of birth control?
So don' t take it as a form of birth control. And, it does not protect you against sexually transmitted diseases. Think of it as a backup -- not for routine use. That's why it's called Plan B. Get more information on emergency contraception and its effectiveness.
Can levonorgestrel cause a period?
However, it is possible that levonorgestrel may cause your next period to be heavier or lighter than usual. It may also come earlier or later than is normal for you. If you don't get your period within three weeks, get a pregnancy test to make sure you're not pregnant. Read more on emergency contraception side effects.
How long after sex can you take Plan B?
What’s the Plan B morning-after pill? The Plan B pill works best when you take it within three days after unprotected sex. You can get Plan B at your local drugstore or pharmacy.
How long does it take to get your period after taking contraception?
However, if you don’t get your period within 3 weeks of taking emergency contraception, take a pregnancy test.
Can you take the morning after pill earlier?
It may come earlier or later, and be heavier, lighter, or more spotty. Or it may be the same as it normally is. You may get an upset stomach, feel lightheaded or dizzy, or have tender breasts for a short while when you take the morning-after pill.
Does it matter how old you are to get the morning after pill?
It doesn’t matter how old you are and it doesn’t matter what your gender is. Sometimes the morning-after pill is locked up or kept behind the counter, so you may have to ask the pharmacist or store clerk for help getting it — but you don’t have to have a prescription or show your ID.
Is it normal to have a period after taking the morning pill?
After you take the morning-after pill, it's totally normal for your next period to be different from what you’re used to. It may come earlier or later, and be heavier, lighter, or more spotty.
Can you delay your period with emergency contraception?
Can emergency contraception delay period? Emergency contraception can delay your period. In fact, getting your period later or earlier than usual is one of the most common side effects of emergency contraception pills like Plan B and ella.
What is Plan B?
Simply, Plan B is an over-the-counter (OTC) pill that contains a highly concentrated dose of hormones to block a pregnancy after unprotected P-in-V intercourse has occurred. Per Planned Parenthood, if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex, the morning-after pill can decrease your chance of getting pregnant by 79 to 89 percent.
What happens when I take Plan B?
Again, Plan B is *not* an abortion pill, but it will work with your body to prevent a pregnancy from ever occurring. Here’s how it all goes down:
What are the side effects of Plan B?
I’m so glad you asked! While Dr. Jackson-Bey stresses that they do vary from person to person, here are the general side effects you might deal with after taking Plan B:
How long do Plan B side effects actually last?
Again, it totally varies from person to person—but here’s what Dr. Jackson-Bey says you might expect:
How can I relieve Plan B side effects?
Yeah, if you’re feeling even remotely sh*tty, I get that you wanna find a quick fix. The most important thing Dr. Jackson-Bey suggests is to stay hydrated.
The bottom line
Plan B is a perfectly safe and easily accessible pill to take when you’re in need of emergency contraception. While you might feel a few side effects, overall you’ll probably find them to be super mild and manageable.
How long after sex can you take Plan B?
Research has found that Plan B is “moderately effective” when taken between 72 and 120 hours after sex. But remember that its effectiveness decreases the longer you wait.
How much weight can I take with Plan B?
There’s no official weight limit for Plan B. But the pill may not be as effective for people who have a BMI of 30 or more. Trusted Source. or weigh 155 pounds or more. After conflicting results, some researchers have recommended a greater level of counseling for people who fall into those two categories. But they point out that there’s no reason ...
How long does it take for ulipristal acetate to work?
It works by delaying or preventing ovulation. Most importantly, it is said to remain consistently effective when taken up to 5 days after unprotected sex, reducing the risk of pregnancy by 85 percent. It’s also more suitable for people with a higher BMI or weight.
How much does Plan B cost?
Expect to pay between $40 and $50 for Plan B. As Plan B is a branded form of EC, it tends to be more expensive. Generic levonorgestrel pills cost less and work in the exact same way. There are other ways to reduce the cost. If you have insurance or Medicaid, for example, you may be covered for some form of EC.
What to do if you vomit after taking the morning after pill?
If you vomit within 2 hours of taking this morning-after pill, speak with a healthcare professional to see if you need to take a second dose. Remember that the biggest risk is that the morning-after pill fails. So, if your period is significantly late, take a pregnancy test.
What is Plan B?
What exactly is it? Plan B — also known as the “morning-after pill” — is a type of emergency contraception (EC).
How long can you take ella?
There are no long-term side effects. But ella does have a limitation: The label says you should only take it once during a single menstrual cycle. It’s also advised not to take two different kinds of EC pills within 5 days of each other, as there’s a risk that they may not work.
