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I had protected sex, with a condom, when it slipped off while being withdrawn.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
Hello Anonymous,
I think it is a little late to still be seeing side effects of Plan B, except for one side effect. That is a change in the menstrual cycle. The next monthly period can start earlier or later than expected. Flow can be lighter or heavier than normal.
Wait and see if you get a period this month. If it is late by more than seven days, take a pregnancy test.
Maryann
August 25, 2016 - 9:36amThis Comment
Hi! I had unprotected sex on August 17th, the day I was supposed to start my period. He pulled out, but I was scared about precum so I decided to take plan b. About two hours later, I took it. Later that night, I started my period. I didn't feel anything until the next day, when I suddenly started getting cramps or pains in my lower abdomen. I read this could be a symptom of plan b but it started so quickly after taking it. I've also had people tell me that they could just be period cramps, but I've never had cramps before I took plan b. Does this mean I'm pregnant? Can plan b cause cramps when I'm on my period? I'm sorry these might be dumb questions I'm just freaking out!! Please help!! I also had a huge migraine the morning after I took plan b. Is this normal? Or should I be worried?? I'm so scared
August 20, 2016 - 1:53pmThis Comment
Hello Anonymous,
You are not pregnant. The bleeding proved that.
Plan B prevents pregnancy by preventing ovulation. It contains a high dose of the synthetic hormone, levonorgestrel, which is the same hormone found in most birth control pills.
The cramping is a side effect of Plan B. Your body is reacting to the blast of the synthetic hormone at a time when your own hormonal balance was causing you to have your period.
Relax. Your cycle will return to normal. You should start feeling better.
Maryann
August 23, 2016 - 9:32amThis Comment
Hello! So I had sex with my boyfriend 3 days before my period July 25th. I am on Mya 28 birth control. Usually he pulls out but this time he did but it was a little late and it got on my general area. So like any 18 year old couple we went to the drug store and bought plan b. I took it probably an hour after this has happened. I didn't end up getting my period that month. And I heard that's because if you take plan b after ovulation your period should be late but by time my period has time to be late I'm already on my next pills causing my body not to bleed. So that's fine I wasn't worried about that. On the Aug 8 I had surgery and they put antibiotic in my Iv, and told me it would make my 99.9% Portection go down a bit for 2 days. So me and my boyfriend has sex 4 days after. He didn't finish inside me or anything and I continued my birth control like normal. I am suppose to get my period August 25 but the past 4 days I have been experiencing like a brown almost spotting or something I don't have cramping or any other symptoms. I am just concerned could this mean I'm pregnant? Or is it just the plan b messing with my hormones. I am goin to take some home preg tests soon I just wanted someone's Oppinion hopefully to ease my mind. I have many friends that have taken plan b and not gotten a normal period for months after they have taken it because it really messes with your pill and cycle. Thanks :)
August 20, 2016 - 4:48amThis Comment
Hello Anonymous,
You need to speak with your gynecologist.
Missing birth control pills, taking Plan B, continuing to take your birth control pills, being on an antibiotic and continuing to have intercourse are ingredients in a recipe for a messed up menstrual cycle with the risk for pregnancy.
Regards,
August 23, 2016 - 9:37amMaryann
This Comment
Hello! I took plan B one week again and just started light bleeding yesterday. It is not spotting brown though, it is bright red and like a light period for the past two days. Yesterday I started feeling nauseous here and there and am still feeling bouts of nausea throughout today. Is this caused by plan b?
August 19, 2016 - 4:37pmThis Comment
Hello Anonymous,
This is the result of taking Plan B.
Maryann
August 23, 2016 - 9:33amThis Comment
I took Plan B One Step on July 27th, 48 hrs after unprotected sex...and he did not ejaculate in me...just nervous of precum. About a week after taking it my boobs started to get sore, like they always do before my period. I started what I think was my period on August 9th...I was 2-3 days late! It was lighter than usual, but lasted 3-4 days. It is now August 18th and for the past 2 days I've felt real bloated and a tad bit nauseous. It only seems to come after I eat. Could I be pregnant or is this just from taking Plan B?
August 18, 2016 - 6:43pmThis Comment
Hello Anonymous,
It is rather late to be having any side effects of Plan B. Was August 9 when you expected your period?
Plan B can cause changes in the menstrual cycle. The next monthly period can start earlier or later than expected. Flow can be lighter or heavier than normal.
Wait and see if you get your next expected period. If not, and you continue to feel nauseous, take a home pregnancy test and reach out to your gynecologist.
Regards,
August 19, 2016 - 9:23amMaryann
This Comment
Hello.
August 15, 2016 - 9:31pmI have a dilemma regarding the plan b pill. I've been on loestrine 120 for over a year now. Recently on the the 10th day of my 21 day pack of pills (no sugar pill week) of this month my partner and I used a condom during sex but it broke while he climaxed and so it was aterrible mess and nothing like this has happened to me. I have taken my pills around the same time each day (9 am) and got the okay from the doctor to take plan b (took it 18 hours after the incident). Now I have finished the pills and I am on day 3 of no pills (which this week I'm supposed to get my period). I get in around Monday mid day and it has yet to come. Is it the chance that because I combined my birth control with the plan b (which I only used on the 10th day August 2nd) that my period be delayed or not come at all? Also what are my chances if I were to become pregnant? Again, I take my pill at 9, yet once this month I took it an hour late and another time 15 minutes late. I HAVE NOT MISSED ANY PILLS FROM MY LAST PACK OF 21 LOESTRIN 120.
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