Okay, so I know why you're here reading this post. You've taken plan b and are freaking out because you don't know whether or not these symptoms you're having are because you're about to get your period or because you are pregnant. Well, I have two stories about plan b, each totally different. So, listen up because this can make you feel 10 times better.
The first time I took plan b was in June of 2015. My boyfriend was unsure whether or not he pulled out in time, so to be on the safe side I went to the drug store the next day and took plan b within the 24 hour period. I had just gotten off my period a few days before the incident. About a week after I took plan b, I got like a fake period induced by plan be that lasted for about a week. I didn't have many PMS symptoms with this one. Naturally, I started searching online for some answers. According to the plan be website, this is normal, but you should still get your normal period at the normal time. So, it came time for my period and nothing happened. I was starting to freak out. A couple weeks later I started having back pain and some minor cramps on and off. Then it got really severe. I had a headache, my back was hurting and I was cramping. Finally, I got my period. It came exactly one month after I took plan b.
So, the same accident happened again in September, one day after my period ended. I took plan b again on the 26th expecting the same results. Wrong. I had the initial bleeding induced by plan b about one week later. Then, I thought okay my next period will come October 26th... but it didn't. I waited, I researched and I freaked out. Around the end of October, beginning of November, my boyfriend urged me to take a pregnancy test when I got back to college. So, I went to walmart, grabbed the cheap 3 dollar test and rushed out. Let me tell you those 3 minutes you have to wait for the result are brutal! But the test turned out negative! What a relief. However, I knew you were supposed to use morning urine for the test, so I took another one the following morning. Negative. The week went on and I still had little to no symptoms. I had an occasional back pain or mild cramps. Around Thursday, my boyfriend and I decided that I should do another test, but get the more expensive kind because they were supposed to pick up lower levels of hCg. So, I purchased the First Response test. Both were negative. By this time my breasts were starting to ache. Like bad. They were starting to feel fuller and the nipples were protruding more than usual. I was also bloating and I had mild cramps. So, turns out ALL of these are symptoms of early pregnancy. Great. Needless to say, I was freaking out. My boyfriend and I read countless articles about plan b and early pregnancy, none giving us absolute relief. The next week my breasts continued to get more and more sore. I was used to breast tenderness during PMS, but nothing like this. I though maybe that week I would start my period since my boobs hurt so bad. Nothing. The next week came and I was stressed to the max. I was now considering going to the health department, women's clinic or my student health clinic because I needed some answers and the two month mark was approaching. I decided to take two more pregnancy tests before I did anything. So, on Monday of that week, I went to walmart and got two more tests. I took one that night which came out negative and one the next morning, also negative. At this time, my little spurts of cramping were getting more severe, my boobs were killing me and I was eating constantly. And finally on Thursday 54 DAYS after taking plan b, I got my period.
My advice on taking plan b is only take it when its an emergency and if you take it more than once don't take it less than 2 months apart. After you take it, expect a "fake" period. After that, relax and wait. Your second period will come. It can take up to 8 weeks for your cycle to return to normal. Most likely if you miss your expected period, you can take a pregnancy test and it will be accurate. Don't take it too soon. The best time to take it is after you've missed your period. If it's negative don't stress. Your period will come. Plan b induces symptoms that are EXACTLY like pregnancy symptoms, so it is hard to tell the difference. Take a pregnancy test if you are unsure. They are designed to detect small amounts of the pregnancy hormone hcg.
Good luck ladies!