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Until I needed it myself, I was completely unaware that so many women close to me had used Emergency Contraception or the “morning after pill”. At the time, it was very reassuring to hear my friends’ experiences, and because so many women on the EmpowHER website ask questions regarding EC, I thought I would share my own experience and try to provide some answers to general concerns women have after taking the pill.
My need for EC was the result of a mistake many couples make when using condoms. (Now YOU definitely won’t!) Instead of pulling out after his orgasm, my partner remained inside me and when his erection shrank, the condom fell off. I immediately knew that despite my aversion to unnatural hormones, I had no choice but to use Emergency Contraception. First rule of thumb: when in doubt, just take the pill! It’s much less expensive than an abortion or a baby.
I headed to Walgreens and was quickly helped by a pharmacist who seemed quite used to seeing disheveled young women asking for the drug. Anyone over the age of 17 is now able to acquire EC without a prescription, thanks to the recent work of dedicated women's health activists. The brand of EC I received was called Next Choice, an option that contains 2 doses of Levonorgestrel (a hormone commonly used in birth control pills), to be taken 12 hours apart. Another common brand is the Plan B One-Step, consisting of only one pill.
Sitting in the parking lot, I carefully read all the directions on the Next Step package and swallowed the pill. I knew I was well within the time constraints of the pill’s effectiveness (3 days or 72 hours), but because the earlier you take the drug the more effective it will be, I still felt hurried. All day I awaited side effects like dizziness, nausea, or headache, but none came. 12 hours after my first dose, I took the 2nd pill – still feeling just fine.
2 days after I took the pills, I began to feel some cramping. Although it was not yet time in my cycle, I experienced a very light, 3-day period.* Because early stages of pregnancy can also cause similar symptoms, just in case I also took a pregnancy test to confirm. Negative! Though it took about 2 months until my menstrual cycle was regular again, it was clear that the Next Choice pill had done its job with minimal side effects. Sometimes, drugs truly are miracles.
Please feel free to share your own experience with EC, or ask any questions about mine! If there’s interest, I’d love to provide more details about how the drug works and its common side effects. I also (as always) recommend doing your own research on the pill. Planned Parenthood's website is a great place to start: http://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-topics/emergency-contraception-morning-after-pill-4363.htm
* Important clarification: EC is not the abortion pill. If you are already pregnant, the hormone will not have any effect on a fetus. Instead, Levonorgestrel can prevent ovulation, thicken your vaginal discharge making it less penetrable to sperm, and help shed your uterine lining to prevent implantation of an egg – resulting in the common side effect of a period-like bleeding.
Sources: http://www.mynextchoice.com/Consumer/whatis_Main.asp
Add a Comment182 Comments
Hi, I had sex on the first of January. We did use a condom but it slipped off on one occasion and I'm worried about precum (he had come once before and didn't go pee or anything) and as I calculated later, this happened exactly on my ovulation day. I took the morning after pill the next day, around 13 hours later and had no side effects other than a crazy yeast infection that has gone now (took a single dose of Fluconazole, 150 mg).
I started having watery brown/black discharge yesterday (10th day since I had sex), and cramps that day and the day before. Now I have very little amount of brown discharge, the sticky kind that comes after your period, only very little of it. My period is due in about three days, but I'm worried sick. Please help, could this be implantation bleeding or just my period about to come in early because of the morning pill?
January 12, 2017 - 1:54pmThis Comment
Hi, I had sex with my boyfriend about 1-2 days after my period ended, but he did not ejaculate inside me, but there may have been pre cum. I took the morning after pill that day for precaution, and now, about 4 days later there is a slight spotting that is of a red colour on my underwear and when i wipe. however it seems to have disappeared. could i be pregnant or would this just be a side effect of the pill?
January 5, 2017 - 3:24amThis Comment
Hello Anonymous,
This is most likely caused by taking the morning after pill.
Regards,
January 5, 2017 - 10:48amMaryann
This Comment
Hi, I'm in desperate need for answers! I had protected sex on the 18th of December. My boyfriend was wearing a condom and he also pulled out before ejaculating. There were no holes in the condom. We had sex again on the 27th of December, same procedure. He had a condom on and pulled out before ejaculation, no holes in the condom. However, I started to fear I was pregnant a couple days ago on the 30th of December because I noticed some light spotting which had some clots in it. It got slightly heavier and had some more clotting in it. It continued for 3 days getting lighter each day until it ended. Could this be implantation blood? Or just blood from vaginal trauma? (I'm relatively new to having sex, this was only my 3rd and 4th time in intercourse.) I took plan B yesterday (Jan 1st) just because I was paranoid, so I took it less than 120 hours after sex (plan b is said to work up to 120 hours after sex). I started experiencing some nausea after taking it and it's continued for two days. Please help me understand what could be going on. Could I be pregnant? And if so, how long should I wait to take a pregnancy test for it to be accurate.
January 2, 2017 - 2:16pmThis Comment
Hello Anonymous,
This did not sound like implantation bleeding. Implantation bleeding is pink or brown colored spotting that lasts about two to three days, never increases to a flow and should not contain clots.
Plan B prevents pregnancy primarily by preventing ovulation. To be effective it must be taken within 72 hours or three days of unprotected intercourse.
If you do not have any bleeding within three weeks of taking the pill, then you should test for pregnancy.
Be aware that an emergency contraceptive can cause changes in the menstrual cycle. Your next monthly period could start on time, or earlier or later than expected. Flow might be lighter or heavier than normal.
Regards,
January 3, 2017 - 9:07amMaryann
This Comment
Dear Doctor. I had my last period that started from 9th of December and continued for 7 days (I always have them for 7 days), after that, I had unprotected sex on 18th, 19th and, 23rd December, 24th and 25th... I took a total of 7.5mg ( Emergency contraceptive pills of levonorgestrel) within 24 hours as well as 48 hours. Total of 5 tablets from 18th dec to 25th! Took 2 tablets (3mg levonorgestrel ecp) once at the same time and took the other 3 tablets as single doses during those days..I, however, suddenly found a bright reddish discharge and confused it for a period. But my periods should not have come so early! The discharge started on Sunday 25th december and is still coming out!! Its color has changed from reddish brown to black and with 2 to 3 cms long and extremely thin blood clots, too! It is not as heavier as my periods but it's mixed in color. Plus, I have this severe lower abdominal pain (on my left hand side), severe lower back pain that is from the day I have been having this discharge. Such pains come and go away, but they are worrying me out. Checked the internet for info, but most sites say it might be a side effect of the ECP (emergency contraceptive pills/morning after pill/levonorgestrel)...Others say the dark brownish red black discharge may mean an ectopic tubal pregnancy or some cancer/hemorrhage.. Am only 19, and am just worrying that is this (discharge for more than 8 days with pain in the mentioned areas) normal for me because of my overdose of levonorgestrel? Because websites say that the withdrawal bleed (after taking the normal dosage of ECP levonorgestrel 1.5mg) with similar pain might last just 24 hours or just 2-3 days... Am I having more than 8 days brownish bleeds with such pains due to consuming 5 tablets (7.5mg) altogether? Kindly help.
January 1, 2017 - 5:54pmThis Comment
Hello Anonymous,
Please contact your gynecologist or primary care physician today. Or get to the local emergency room or urgent care clinic nearest your home.
You took too many doses of the ECP. I am very concerned that you have been bleeding since December 25, passing clots and having severe lower abdominal and lower back pain.
Get medical attention now,
January 2, 2017 - 9:53amMaryann
This Comment
Hello..I am Anonymous 4. I had unprotected sex for nearly 1 minute.. I took Emergency pill after 7 hours. My period date was after 13days and I got my periods after1 day delay that lasted for 5 days and now after 2 days I'm getting back pain. Should I be worried or take a pregnancy test? Also after my periods got over I observed drop bleeding with stool. Please help!
December 26, 2016 - 9:20pmThis Comment
Hello Anonymous4,
Your period was proof that the emergency contraceptive worked and that you did not become pregnant. There is no need to take a test.
If the back pain gets worse or persist and if you notice more blood when you have a bowel movement, please speak with your doctor.
Regards,
December 27, 2016 - 10:48amMaryann
This Comment
im 2 weeks late for my period (took plan b nov 20)
December 18, 2016 - 6:52pmbut all negative pregnancy tests. is this normal
should i be worried, i cant go to the doctors as im traveling in 2 days
but is this ever possible, can i completely skip a period?
are pregnancy test reliable one week after your missed period day?
This Comment