I wanted to share my experience with Plan B in hopes it will calm some fears of others who were in my position.
I had protected sex, with a condom, when it slipped off while being withdrawn. This was after he ejaculated. Not being sure if any sperm had leaked out or somehow presented itself, I took action into my own hands. My partner claimed I had nothing to worry about, but I wasn't so sure. I was never one for charting my ovulation, nor was I highly aware of it, BUT the night this happened I could have been ovulating. I panicked. I did not want to have a baby, so I rushed to my local 24 hour drugstore. I picked up Plan B. It ran me $50 and it's now found on the shelf in the family planning aisle. It was Plan B one step. I took the one pill about two hours after we had had sex. Then the waiting began...
The night I took it, I felt pretty decent. Next day, nothing. It wasn't until about a week after taking Plan B, that nausea, little hot flashes, dizziness, and breast tenderness started setting in. The second week after taking Plan B, my breasts got so sore, I couldn't barely put a bra on, shower water hitting them was like daggers, it was awful! I was pretty concerned as it's normal for me to experience tender breasts about a week before my period but my period was still a while away and my breasts had NEVER been this sore. But I dealt with it, and reassured myself that I was okay. At the end of the second week, I started feeling cramps, really really bad cramps, spotting occurred, brown at first, then pink, then about two days later I broke out into a full bleed. I bled straight for 4 days, pretty much the length of my normal period, however this one seemed more heavy, and more bright red blood than I was used to, but on the 4th day of it, it stopped.
So to recap, I took Plan B around the possible time of ovulation. I experienced symptoms within a week, VERY sore breasts that lasted about three weeks, cramps, bloating, zits, dizziness, just awful. However I received my period 3 days earlier than when it was due.
Did I feel relief? Yes. Did I think this ordeal was over? Not quite. Even after my "period" had ended I ended up being the worry wart I am, taking a pregnancy test. First morning urine, about 3 weeks after the sex had happened, negative. At that point I was convinced Plan B had caused my bleeding and that I could consider that my period and the pill worked.
So when do you count your next cycle from? Well I ended up counting my next cycle from the day the new bleeding started from taking Plan B. My cycle is usually 30 days and I'm pretty regular. I am also NOT on any additional birth control, I only use condoms. So I sat here waiting or my next period to show, the next period after you have already bled once on Plan B. Now I know cycle changes are one of the side effects from Plan B and can go on for months, but again, what girl isn't worried about her health? And if you are like me, you want to be double, triple, quadruple sure you are okay?
So 30 days since I bled after taking Plan B, I had NO signs of my period coming. Very light soreness in my breasts, a twinge of pain in my abdomen, but nothing like what usually indicated it was coming. Day 30 came and went, nothing. Day 37, nothing, I was panicking! I took more home pregnancy tests even though probably not needed but to ease my mind I did. They were negative. I got so worked up that something was wrong I actually went to a free clinic for testing and they only did urine samples, negative. No one could really give me a real answer if Plan B was causing this and they seemed to have no information for me, just telling me everyone woman is different. Which I understand, but the last thing you want to hear when you are in full out panic mode is an, "I don't know, come back in two weeks", I mean this ordeal has been going on for almost two months now and the immature guy I was with jumped ship the moment I even tried to tell him I was a bit fearful of being pregnant. So lesson learned. If your partner is decent enough to stick around, bravo. I just wanted to share with him what I was going through and he did not even want to hear it.
Moving on though, so I sat with my negative pregnancy tests, being alone and scared, with no health insurance not knowing what my next move was. I have done the internet searches, I have read many of these message boards. So many girls in the same position as me, grasping for answers, yet they never seem to get one of people don't come back to tell their story after they have gone through something. So that's what I'm here for, I want to help others, because man I have been through the gauntlet with this Plan B.
So to wrap it up, here I sit, 45 days into my second cycle after taking plan b, which makes me roughly about two weeks late and I had the worst cramps, and I had mild spotting, but it looks like I have finally gotten my period and maybe now i can finally get my life back on track and focus on my life again instead of worrying about peeing on a stick.
So to recap -
Can Plan B bring on your period late or early?
Yes, after taking Plan B, I actually ended up bleeding fully two and a half weeks after taking it. I took it during the time I was ovulating and the day I got my period after taking Plan B was three days earlier than I would have expected.
Side effects?
I hate VERY sore breasts, alarmingly sore for almost three weeks, cramps, dizziness, very bad breakouts on my face which I'm still dealing with and some weight gain / bloating.
Second period after Plan B, showed almost no symptoms and more than two weeks late?
YES! My second period showed no signs it was even approaching, I drove myself nuts taking pregnancy tests, all negative, FINALLY i got my period after 45 days in between the time i bled after Plan B and now. The cramps are pretty bad I will admit. Stronger than I'm used to.
hope this helped someone out there! lesson learned for me, I'm glad as a female I have options like Plan B, very glad it's there, but wow it does work over your system pretty good so lesson learned and take caution!
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Add a Comment288 Comments
Its been a while since you posted but thank you so much for sharing.
March 15, 2019 - 12:23pmI had protected sex, we ended and put it aside, we think the cat played with it cuz it had a little hole, i took the next day pill, my period came a week later but it came normal and lasted a whole week as usual, i did had cramps and a littler bit of sore boobs, everything okay. That was on january, i had have protected sex 3 times since then, now its march and im a week and a half late, i took a pregnancy test 3 days ago (12march) at 5pm and was negative, i will do another one in the morning.
My boobs are sore but bearable since 13 march.
Im a little bit worried, and afraid, do yall think its bc the pill? how long would it take for my period to come?
This Comment
Hello, Anon.
Emergency contraceptives are up to 95% effective when taken as prescribed within the first 24 hours and up to 90% effective when taken within 72 hours. It works by preventing ovulation and stopping a pregnancy from starting. It will not end a pregnancy already in place. Side effects can include stomach aches, headaches, nausea and a general feeling of being unwell. The more frequently they are taken, the more likely a woman is to have side effects and an irregular cycle. They should be taken only for emergencies, not used as a regular method of birth control.
Symptoms usually start 2-7 days after taking the medication and may or may not include bleeding or spotting. If a woman doesn’t get her next period within a week of it’s expected a date, a pregnancy test is advised. Periods can often be delayed or longer/shorter as a result of taking ECP. They should get back to normal by the second cycle. However, this can vary and we cannot predict what each woman's experience will be with ECP.
Helena
March 15, 2019 - 3:42pmThis Comment
Thank you for replying Helena, i am aware that its only for emergencies and it was the first time ive used it. I did another pregnancy test yesterday and was negative, today finally my period came, after almost three weeks, and 53 days of cycle, i have really bad cramps, i feel week and i had puked, all the symptoms i didnt have when i took the pill.
March 19, 2019 - 9:47pmIm replying this so the rest of the girls who find this can have double assurance that it does take a while till your period appears.
This Comment
Hat protected sex on last period day wasn’t bleeding. Felt nervous being first time
October 3, 2018 - 9:57pmNot being on the pill been off for 2 years.
Took Plan b 48 hours after felt fine had protected sex again next day which was my first fertile day (5 days before ovulation, 27 day cycle) used spermicide VCF Film also but made him pull out with condom he ejacated on me and dripped on to labia but i cleaned up right away and inserted second VCF spermicide film just Incase and we fooled Around more but did not finish. Been nonstop stressing as I’m not using the pill. Started feeling symptoms day after 2nd time having sex 72 hours after taking plan B. Everyone tells me I’m being irrational that’s it’s so rare anything could happen. Going on 8 days after taking plan B full symptoms painful boobs, weight gain, IBS cramping, dizziness. Feel like I’m getting my period everyday. Not due for another 11 days for my regular period. Haven’t taken any pregnancy tests. Should I? Am I being over worried? Need some reassurance
This Comment
Thanks for sharing all your stories, It’s been one week since I took plan b and my breasts are so sore and am experiencing extreme bloating. Because I have 2 kids and both times my breasts felt the same as they currently do I am panicking. This post helps me feel better because I didn’t know how I was going to wait 3 weeks to even miss my period to find out whether I was pregnant, I think it’s just from the pill.
August 26, 2018 - 6:07pmThis Comment
So it’s been almost a month since I had unprotected sex with my boyfriend and he never came in me or anything, I took the plan b pill right after, a week later I started bleeding really heavily like a period for 4 days, and now here I am 3 weeks after the bleeding and my period was supposed to come last week(August 9) I’ve been having sharp pains/cramps in my abdomen, I started feeling really weak and sick 2 days ago, I have some breast tenderness, please help me I’m really scared, I’m not ready to have children at all and I’m scared of what’s going on!!!
August 18, 2018 - 10:38amThis Comment
Hello, Anon.
If you had heavy bleeding, you wouldn't be pregnant. ECP can cause a delay in your (next) period. I can't say why you might be feeling sick. Your period may be on its way.
Take some time to read through the information and comments and you will see similar complaints of period irregularity. It's quite common.
Helena
August 18, 2018 - 2:36pmThis Comment
Hi Helena, I’ve been reading through this thread and trying to gain a little peace of mind. I am approaching 36 years old and have a 3 year old son. My situation is that I had unprotected sex with a man very late on Tuesday (October 9), he did not come in me, however I may have been ovulating already as the start date of my last period was sept 25. I am pretty consistent with a 28 day cycle and I believe I had the egg white discharge on Sunday Monday and maybe even into Tuesday morning. I took a plan B on Wednesday afternoon, about 12 hours after the intercourse. I felt nauseous and tired later Wednesday night and somewhat into Thursday then nothing until heavy nausea Saturday evening till Sunday morning. I actually felt like I was getting cramps Sunday evening but nothing. I know it’s too early to test for pregnancy but I am so anxious and can’t seem to relax. When is the earliest you think I could test and how likely (or hopefully unlikely) do you think it is that I could’ve gotten pregnant?
October 15, 2018 - 6:42amThis Comment
I know this post is old. But i need a response. Please! My hub and I has unprotected sex in May. He did not finish in me. I took the pill just in case. About 2 weeks later I only got brown discharge when I wiped. No blood at all. That only lasted 2 days. Then nothing. I had lots of milky white discharge for about a week. Then it went away. Here we are July 6th and have the period symptoms. And 3 negative pregnancy test. I’m loosing my mind please help.
July 7, 2018 - 12:50amThis Comment
I’m in the same boat as you I had protected sex on July fourth and I was freaking out even though I had protected sex so 12 hours later of having the protected sex I took a plan be seven days later I had brown discharge for two days then heavy bleeding for two days but it was brown. Then second week I had milky crap out my boobs I’m a month and a week in since the plan b and I still haven’t gotten my second period given I get my period on the 26th of every month still boobs are sore sleepy moody and cramps but I want to say I’m moody because I’m stressing I’ve taken 6 pregnancy test all negative but still no period and the milky stuff but I will keep you posted if I get my cycle soon or not
August 12, 2018 - 8:16pmThis Comment