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I had protected sex, with a condom, when it slipped off while being withdrawn.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
Hi I am 18 years old and weight 215lb. I had unprotected sexual inter course on 9/2 and took plan b pill an hour later after the action. 9/8 i had brown discharge, 9/9 i had full on bleeding if i was to be on my period. Today 9/10 i am having full on bleeding. I do have cramps and minimal lower abdominal pain. I want to know if they are side effects of the plan b pill or something else. I need help asap!
September 10, 2016 - 11:45amThis Comment
Hello Anonymous,
The bleeding, cramps and lower abdominal pain are side effects of Plan B. The bleeding indicates it worked to prevent pregnancy.
Regards,
September 12, 2016 - 9:24amMaryann
This Comment
Hi,
September 5, 2016 - 2:02pmI had unprotected sex using the withdrawal method on 8/26, and took a plan b the next night within 24 hours. I then had unprotected sex on 8/29, took a plan b within 12 hours, and also another on 8/31. I have been having nausea and constipation since 9/3, but did not know if they were side effects of the pills because they were so late. there was no ejaculate spilled for any of the times, but I was wondering if these symptoms could possibly be pregnancy symptoms or the high dosage of hormones.
This Comment
Hello Anonymous,
Please speak with your gynecologist today. You should never have taken more than one dose of Plan B. This pill is intended for emergency use only. It is not to be used for birth control.
By taking three doses just days apart you have caused a serious hormonal imbalance in your body.
Regards,
September 6, 2016 - 9:05amMaryann
This Comment
I'm really worried, so I'm 17 and I took the plan b one step pill on the 3rd day, I had the side effects for a few minutes then they stopped but for a few days I've been really bloated /constipated, and I haven't really felt like eating, I've just drank water and had a few snacks. at this point I'm getting really scared that I might be pregnant.
September 5, 2016 - 6:28amThis Comment
Hello Anonymous,
Please try your best to relax. Nausea/vomiting, abdominal pain, tiredness, dizziness, changes in vaginal bleeding, breast tenderness, diarrhea, or headache are reported side effects of Plan B. Anxiety can cause you to lose your appetite.
No need to worry yet. If you have not had any vaginal bleeding within three weeks of taking the pill, then test for pregnancy.
Regards,
September 5, 2016 - 8:31amMaryann
This Comment
please help! july 19th there was precm on the surface of my vagina and it kinda stung a little. i took plan b the next day. i had bad side effects and i kinda thought my weight (97lbs) had a role in it being so harsh on me. the next week i had a very heavy flow of red blood that lasted 7 days. it is now september 1st and im so bloated, constant diarrhea, and nauseous. i havent gotten my 2nd period yet and im 3 days late. please help im so worried..im 16.
September 1, 2016 - 9:58amThis Comment
Hello Ano
Because of your weight and age, the high dose of the hormone, levonorgestrel, in Plan B may have caused an upset in the hormonal imbalance that regulates your menstrual cycle, as well as causing the side effects of bloating, diarrhea and nausea.
The heavy bleeding that lasted seven days confirmed that you did not become pregnant.
Plan B can causes changes in the menstrual cycle. The next monthly period can start earlier or later than expected.
Anonymous, i am concerned about the constant diarrhea. Please reach out to your pediatrician about this.
Regards,
September 2, 2016 - 9:07amMaryann
This Comment
thank you so much for getting back to me, truly appreciated. do you think it would be a good idea to take my birth control pills for a few days and stop to get my period or is that silly?
September 2, 2016 - 3:02pmThis Comment
Hi Anonymous,
Contact your gynecologist's office and ask what you should do.
Regards,
September 5, 2016 - 8:28amMaryann
This Comment