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I had protected sex, with a condom, when it slipped off while being withdrawn.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
So I had a one night stand with this guy. We did not use protection but he swore he didn't finish, but I took plan b about 36 hours later anyway just in case because I was off of my birth control at the time. But I'm worried because about a week later I experienced what I thought was a very light period but I now believe was spotting because I couldn't use a tampon at all and I had no cramps. However, I decided to restart my birth control at that point since they say to start the Sunday of your most recent period. I read that plan b causes spotting but it has now been 3 weeks and I feel like I've gained quite some weight. Is it likely that im pregnant? I haven't seen any other symptoms other than being nausea one night which I attributed to restarting my pill. Since then I haven't had any other symptoms than the weight gain but I'm still worried and I'm not sure also if a pregnancy test would be accurate because I don't know if that was my period or not.
August 30, 2016 - 4:28pmThis Comment
Hello Anonymous,
I suggest you call and speak with your gynecologist. This is no a straightforward situation. Your gynecologist can order a blood pregnancy test, which is more accurate than a urine test.
I am suggesting you speak with your physician because you were not taking birth control pills when you had intercourse, took Plan B and then restarting taking the birth control pills. This might have led to a hormonal imbalance.
Regards,
August 31, 2016 - 8:35amMaryann
This Comment
I have been on the pill for 3 years and have ALWAYS taken it at the exact same time every single day, except last week. And i have only ever had sex with one man, my boyfriend of 3 years. The day after my period ended (Sunday), I forgot to take my first pill at 7am like usual of my new pack of BC and ended up taking it 6 hours later, and had sex with my boyfriend right after. He didnt ejaculate inside of me, but I took plan B the next night just to be safe, but then forgot to take my bc pill Tuesday morning and ended up taking it that night (almost 12 hours later). Wednesday night I started getting cramps, and now a week after taking plan B I am still experiencing cramps, tiredness and my breasts have been slightly tender. I have never been so worried and scared in my life. I'm 23 and completely in love, but I can't have a baby right now. Could this be early signs of pregnancy or am I scared over nothing?
August 29, 2016 - 8:19pmThis Comment
Hello Anonymous,
I do not think these are early signs of pregnancy but side effects of Plan B. Please confirm this with your gynecologist.
Taking the first missed pill within six hours still protected you.
Taking Plan B "blasted" your body with a high dose of levonorgestrel, which is the hormone found in most birth control pills. It is a progestin.
Taking Tuesday's pill almost 12 hours late added another "roll" in the "roller coaster ride" your hormones were on.
Regards,
August 30, 2016 - 8:40amMaryann
This Comment
Hello Maryann! My boyfriend had protected sex on the 14th but when he pulled out, his condom came off and the last of his ejaculate landed on my vagina. I quickly washed it off and immediately took Plan B. As of today, my period was 2 days late but I began bleeding heavily in the morning and having bad cramps. As of now, it seems to be tapering off. Should I still be worried about pregnancy or is this a sign that it worked?
August 29, 2016 - 5:40pmThis Comment
Hello Anonymous,
If you began to have heavy bleeding after taking Plan B, it showed that it was effective. Cramping is a side effect of the pill. I don't think you need to worry. But, if the cramps worsen, you could reach out to your gynecologist.
Regards,
August 30, 2016 - 8:43amMaryann
This Comment
Hi I've taken plan b friday Aug, 26 an hour after the condom broke. the next two days Ive been have sharp fast cramps but Im not bleeding or anything and I'm scared that this could mean implantation. Im worried. is it safe to take birth control again after 5 days of already taking it? and are sharp quick cramps normal?
August 28, 2016 - 2:58pmThis Comment
Hello Anonymous,
The cramping might be a side effect of Plan B. It is far too early for implantation to occur.
What do you mean by birth control? Are you on oral contraceptives or are you asking if you should take an ECP again?
Do not take another dose of an emergency contraceptive.
If the cramps worsen, please contact your gynecologist.
If you do not have any vaginal bleeding within three weeks of taking the pill, test for pregnancy.
Regards,
August 29, 2016 - 9:53amMaryann
This Comment
Hi I had unprotected sex the second day of my period (August 22). He didn't ejaculate but I'm worried about pre cum so I took plan b about 2 hours after. My period usually lasts about 4 days or less but it's about to be a week of being on my period which has never happened so is that the "spotting" happening? I've also had stomach issues and been very sleepy.
August 27, 2016 - 10:57amThis Comment
Can someone please help me out. I'm freaking out here.. actually last month July I took plan b the 12 July. And my period came the 23. Now this month August I had unprotected sex, my boyfriend didn't release in me. He did outside.. I didn't wana take plan b again, cause I already took it last month.. I ask my boyfriend again and again and he says he released outside. But since 21 August I seeing light bleeding... I don't know what's happening to me. Could this be the side effects of the plan b or...... Scared....
August 25, 2016 - 5:19amThis Comment