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I had protected sex, with a condom, when it slipped off while being withdrawn.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!
All user-generated information on this site is the opinion of its author only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Members and guests are responsible for their own posts and the potential consequences of those posts detailed in our Terms of Service.
Add a Comment288 Comments
Hi Anonymous,
The delay can possibly be linked to taking Plan B. Try to relax. If you do not have any withdrawal bleeding by the end of the week, call your gynecologist.
Regards,
August 16, 2016 - 9:49amMaryann
This Comment
i took a plan b on june 17 and its now august 10 my boobs are swollen and i am bloating but and had my period 2 weeks after taking the plan b and then i had my period on july 25 it only lasted 4 days it ended 2 days early. Can i be preganat or
August 10, 2016 - 9:06pmThis Comment
Hello Anonymous,
Bleeding two weeks after taking Plan B and having a period start on July 25 is proof that the pill was effective and you did not become pregnant.
Changes in the menstrual cycle is a reported side effect of the pill. For some women, the next monthly period can start earlier or later than expected, and flow can be lighter or heavier than normal.
I do not think you have any thing to worry about.
Maryann
August 11, 2016 - 9:55amThis Comment
Hey
July 31, 2016 - 9:23amIm currently also going through the same horror.
Its been 2 weeks since I've taken the pills and after bleeding for 4 days and having other symptoms.
But as of today I've got sharp pain in my abdomen and nausea.
Do you think this is normal
This Comment
Hi Anonymous,
The sharp abdominal pain is a concern, especially two weeks after taking an ECP. For peace of mind, contact your gynecologist.
Maryann
August 1, 2016 - 8:30amThis Comment
Hey I took plan b and about a week later I got my period early and it's been 12 days and hasn't stopped dyou think somethings wrong? My normal period cycle would've begun about two days ago so maybe it's doing a double cycle...? Help
August 18, 2016 - 10:35amThis Comment
Hello there I took had sex July 17 also the last day of my period I took the pill basically 15-18 hours later I felt fine up until July 22nd Friday I threw up my three beers that I had never happens Saturday night we celebrated a friend's birthday threw everything up in my head I'm thinking ok maybe I'm throwing up because I recently stop eating meat Monday I felt super nauseas the whole day so I gave in and just started eating meat again Tuesday still felt sick Wednesday it seem to ease up i was just super sleepy and today Thursday I felt náuseas all morning got off work and took a 3 hour nap something I never do. My breast feel sore every now and then I got back cramps I don't know if Plan b just throw my body. I am freaking out.
July 28, 2016 - 5:42pmThis Comment
I took plan B Sunday evening after having unprotected sex Saturday afternoon. My partner and I don't use protection but I practice fertility awareness. I felt extremely tired within a few hours. It's been hard to wake up the past few mornings but I don't have any nausea or tenderness. I feel like I have virtually no symptoms at all. I know that the pill delayed my ovulation but I think I will probably ovulate within the next few days. I've taken plan B before. Twice, within a few days. That royally screwed up my hormones for quite some time. The period following those dosages was nearly 2 weeks late. I don't recall any other symptoms tho. It's been 4 days since I've taken it and all I'm experience is slight weight gain but it doesn't seem to be bloat. I'm a very lean person, so I can tell of there is water under my skin making me puffy and there really isn't. I'm attributing the weight gain to some larger meals recently. From what everyone is writing here, it looks as though I may experience some symptoms within the coming weeks and that's helpful. I'm not freaking out, fortunately, because if I'm pregnant, I'm pregnant. This was helpful in alerting me to potential issues. I hope everyone is healthy and okay after their experiences. :)
June 29, 2016 - 5:25pmThis Comment
Hi so i took plan b after unprotected sex but he didn't finish. i took is just incase. i got my period a week later then i started counting my cycle since then. I then got my period 37 days later. now im here waiting for the next one and im 2 days late according to a 28 day cycle. i have cramps and heat flashes for about a week though. Did this ever happen to anyone. I took a pregnancy test it was negative. did this ever happen to anyone?im freaking out!!!!!
June 24, 2016 - 3:26pmThis Comment
Hello Anonymous,
I have not personally had such an experience. But, I will point out that Plan B contains a high dose of the synthetic hormone, levonorgestrel, which is found in most birth control pills.
Never take the pill just in case. It is strong stuff. The high dose of hormones may have caused an imbalance in your own hormones which regulate the menstrual cycle.
The good news is you did get your two normal monthly periods.
Try to relax, two days isn't that late and stress will only cause a further delay.
If you have not had unprotected intercourse since your last period, there is no chance that pregnancy is causing the delay. Please consider speaking with your gynecologist if you have further concerns or do not get your period this month.
Regards,
June 27, 2016 - 8:49amMaryann
This Comment