Plan B can "trigger" a period to start early, and it may be lighter or heavier than your regular periods...this is all normal. (Plan B can also delay a period; it is basically just a "mega dose" of the same hormones in the pill, and can have a different effect on different women).
To answer your question directly: it depends and there is no clear cut answer from what I've researched (re: if your bleeding after Plan B means you are definitely "not pregnant"). My educated-guess is: if everyone woman who bleeds after Plan B is definitely not pregnant, then we would all know this information (and be screaming it from the roof-tops!).
So, the more likely answer is: it depends, and can not be used as an indicator of pregnant or not pregnant. A women who is having a regular menstrual period (meaning, she is also not using any hormonal contraceptives) is known not to be pregnant, as menstrual bleeding originates in the uterus, where the uterine lining is shed. A viable pregnancy would include a fertilized egg implanted in the uterine lining, and thus, it is not possible for the uterine lining to be shed while having an implanted fertilized egg in-tact.
The caveat is: bleeding can be occurring from elsewhere in the body (vagina or cervix, for example), and this can be mistaken for a menstrual period (from the uterus).
We have received this question numerous times, and I will ask one of our medical experts if they can provide any more information or insight as to what happens to a woman's body (including the hormones, bleeding, and how to know if you are/are not pregnant if your bleeding is irregular...and may/may not be a menstrual period) after taking Plan B.
Thanks for your question, and we will hopefully post a response from a medical expert soon.
Comment Reply
Plan B can "trigger" a period to start early, and it may be lighter or heavier than your regular periods...this is all normal. (Plan B can also delay a period; it is basically just a "mega dose" of the same hormones in the pill, and can have a different effect on different women).
To answer your question directly: it depends and there is no clear cut answer from what I've researched (re: if your bleeding after Plan B means you are definitely "not pregnant"). My educated-guess is: if everyone woman who bleeds after Plan B is definitely not pregnant, then we would all know this information (and be screaming it from the roof-tops!).
So, the more likely answer is: it depends, and can not be used as an indicator of pregnant or not pregnant. A women who is having a regular menstrual period (meaning, she is also not using any hormonal contraceptives) is known not to be pregnant, as menstrual bleeding originates in the uterus, where the uterine lining is shed. A viable pregnancy would include a fertilized egg implanted in the uterine lining, and thus, it is not possible for the uterine lining to be shed while having an implanted fertilized egg in-tact.
The caveat is: bleeding can be occurring from elsewhere in the body (vagina or cervix, for example), and this can be mistaken for a menstrual period (from the uterus).
We have received this question numerous times, and I will ask one of our medical experts if they can provide any more information or insight as to what happens to a woman's body (including the hormones, bleeding, and how to know if you are/are not pregnant if your bleeding is irregular...and may/may not be a menstrual period) after taking Plan B.
Thanks for your question, and we will hopefully post a response from a medical expert soon.
October 22, 2009 - 12:00pmThis Comment
Reply