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I had protected sex, with a condom, when it slipped off while being withdrawn.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
Hey everyone. So, i have a question. I had unprotected sex 14 days ago. I took plan b 36 hours after. Today, i have some bleeding. Not heavy or anything. Is this a sign that i am in the clear? Or could this be implantation bleeding? I took 2 pregnancy tests yesterday and they were negative.
Thank you in advance.
October 7, 2016 - 1:18pmThis Comment
I took the pill about 2 weeks ago. I had unprotected sex the day that my period ended, and it lasted 6 days. A week after I took the pill I had another period that lasted only 4 days but it was really really light. Is there any chance I'm pregnant? I'm just really really scared.
October 5, 2016 - 9:31pmThis Comment
Hello Anonymous,
The bleeding means you are not pregnant.
Regards,
October 6, 2016 - 9:03amMaryann
This Comment
For those of you who experienced back pain for such a long time,it's because of plan B. Apparently 1 to 10% of people on the trial only are affected. So I'm guessing I'm one of the less than 10%.I have back pain for over a month now. And I don't know if it's going to be gone or stay forever.
October 3, 2016 - 1:50pmI'm gonna report in about a month.
This Comment
Please help! I been really stressed. So I had unprotected sex around the beginning of September. My partner didn't come inside but I was afraid of Precm so I took Plan B 73 hours after intercourse. After a week I had very light bleeding like the end of your period for a week. I'm confused if it's my period or just spotting. I am also extremely bloated right now and stressed is it because I'm pregnant?
October 2, 2016 - 8:14pmThis Comment
Hello Anonymous,
When was your period due to start?
If the light bleeding occurred at least one week before your period was due, then it was bleeding caused by Plan B.
If it started when your period was due, then it was your period.
Plan B can cause changes in the menstrual cycle. Your next period can start on time, earlier or later than expected. Flow can be lighter or heavier than normal.
Anonymous, these changes last for only one menstrual cycle. Things should be back to normal next cycle.
Regards,
October 3, 2016 - 9:24amMaryann
This Comment
Hello,
October 6, 2016 - 12:37pmI am in the same situation I had unprotected sex Septmeber 24th and he went inside me, 12 hours later I had taken plan b and thought I was in the safe zone. Fast forward 2 weeks later I didn't start my period, which I was supposed to one the 2nd or 3rd of October. I have had such bad cramping similar to my period cramps, I am bloated, I have headaches and dizziness but with no period coming, no spotting or bleeding what so ever. So I am about 3 days late now and I am really worried I could be pregnant.
This Comment
Hello Anonymous,
Wait one more week, and if no period, take a home pregnancy test.
What you are feeling are all reported side effects of Plan B.
Regards,
October 7, 2016 - 8:25amMaryann
This Comment
It's due at the end of the month and so far i don't feel abnormal.
October 4, 2016 - 2:54pmThis Comment
I usually have my period halfway or the end of the month. I had the slight bleeding halfway through the month but I usually have a heavy flow not light. I no longer have bloating and I feel pretty normal.
October 4, 2016 - 7:20amThis Comment