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I'm a 39 year old female who has three children; each one was conceived within a few months of trying. Our 3rd child was conceived when I was 33. I had lost track of where I was in my cycle and my husband and I did not use protection last night. I thought I had already ovulated for this month. When looking at my calendar early this morning I realized there might be a possibility that my ovulation time was right about now. I panicked and looked up plan B, I thought I needed my gynecologist to call it in only to find out when researching online it's available over the counter. I went and purchased it with an ovulation predictor kit. I took the test as soon as I got home and of course my luck, I had a positive LH surge. I immediately took the Plan B, which was about 10 hours after intercourse. Tonight I have a lot of cramping, bloating and just do not feel well. Some nausea off and on and it's upsetting my stomach tonight. What should I expect from here? I'm really worried; we do not want anymore children. Our family is complete and my husband has an upcoming vasectomy scheduled in October.
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Hi Anon
Thank you for your post!
Emergency contraceptives are up to 95% effective when taken as prescribed within the first 24 hours and up to 90% effective if taken within 72 hours, so the risk is very small. It works by preventing ovulation and stopping a pregnancy from starting if ovulating. It is not an abortion pill. It prevents a pregnancy, it does not end one. Side effects can include stomach aches, headaches, breast pain, nausea and a general feeling of being unwell.
The more frequently they are taken, the more likely a woman is to have side effects and an irregular cycle. They should be taken only for emergencies, not used as a method of birth control.
September 25, 2017 - 3:37amSymptoms usually start 2-7 days after taking the medication and may or may not include bleeding or spotting. Not all women get symptoms. Some get many, or a few, or none. If a woman doesn’t get her next period within a week of it’s expected date, a pregnancy test may be necessary although the risk is very low. Periods can often be delayed or longer/shorter as a result of taking emergency contraception. We cannot predict this for our readers in terms of length of delays. Each women is different. Periods should get back to normal by the second cycle after.
Best,
Susan
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