Improved
6112 HealthChanged
3785 LivesSaved
3568 Lives0 lives impacted in the last 24 hrs Learn More
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
The last day I was on my period was on the 17th.
November 26, 2016 - 5:29amThen, I had unprotected sex two days after, on the 19th.
I took Plan B 17 hours after that.
Six days after (on the 25th), I experienced what looked like spotting, a very light period, but it got progressively heavier throughout the day and is now mainly bright red in color. It also can now fill up my pad. It looks like a regular period. I have yet to see how long this goes for, but for now, do you think there is a possibility of this being implantation bleeding or an early period? I am not expected to get my period until the 6th, after 11 days, which is a very long time. I've never had 2 periods this close together. Is this a side effect of Plan B, an early period, or could I be pregnant? I am also planning on taking a pregnancy test three days before my period is due, so the 3rd. Should I wait longer? Please advice me. I've never been so stressed.
This Comment
Hello Anonymous,
This bleeding is caused by taking Plan B.
You are not pregnant. This is not implantation bleeding. There is no need to take a pregnancy test.
Changes in the menstrual cycle are a reported side effect. Your next monthly period might start earlier or later than expected. Flow might be lighter or heavier than normal.
If you have any further concerns about the bleeding, such as it continues beyond one week, please contact your physician.
Regards,
November 28, 2016 - 10:13amMaryann
This Comment
Hi, I had protected sex where the condom broke on the 11th of November. My last normal period started the 25-26 of October, and my cycles are 24.5 days on average. Because of this i assumed I most likely was okay, but was wasn't sure about ovulating so I took plan b two hours after the condom broke. This past week Ive been very very stressed out which delayed my period by two or so days, but yesterday I woke up with normal period flow and cramps. My cramps and bleeding were heavy throughout the day (like normal, maybe a bit more intense) however at around 3pm the cramping pretty much stopped and my period became lighter. I was very confused by this, and the same thing happened today- normal if not slightly lighter period flow throughout the night, normal bleeding throughout the day with heavier than usual cramping, and then it just suddenly tapers off at around 3. Did the plan b not work or something? This is very very very confusing, Ive never heard of something like this happening.
November 22, 2016 - 6:40pmUsually on my period when I use the bathroom, urinating brings my blood into the toilet making the water red with a blood clot or two, but I instead have just been getting a lot of bloody discharge when I wipe. Like blood stained ovulation discharge. Its much heavier overall than what implantation bleeding should be, and since it came at the normal time of my period, I don't think its breakthrough bleeding. Should I be worried?
This Comment
Hello Anonymous,
This "different" period was most likely caused by taking an emergency contraceptive. Changes in the menstrual cycle are a reported side effect. I don't think you need to worry. If you still are concerned, please reach out to your gynecologist.
Regards,
November 23, 2016 - 10:07amMaryann
This Comment
Hi! I could use some advice.
Had sex with my boyfriend october 11. Condom broke. Fertile period too.
Took the pill within 72 hours.
Started seeing some light bleeding october 21, a week before my period's scheduled to start.
On-off light bleeding, cramps, tender breasts, headache for more than a week.
November 2, my "period" started. 4 days later than my expected start date. pretty heavy bleeding until November 3. And then today nothing. My period usually lasts 5-7 days. With the heavy bleeding in between 2nd-3rd day.
Is this normal? Did the pill work? What are the chances of this being a weird pregnancy symptom?
November 4, 2016 - 11:37amThis Comment
I took the morning after pill and two weeks after I got what I think was my period it lasted 8 days and was a lot lighter that usual. My next period was then a week late and only lasted 3 days it was very light. 2 weeks after my late period I've just noticed blood again. I am currently on the mini pill which in the past has completely stopped my periods but it obviously isn't the case now. I've took about 10 pregnancy tests in the last 6 weeks and there all negative. Are these weird "periods" normal even though I took the morning after pill 2 months ago? My stomach seems to look bigger as well but is this also a side affect of the morning after pill?
October 27, 2016 - 9:26amThis Comment
Hello Anonymous,
Reach out to your gynecologist about this.
The bleeding after taking the morning after pill showed that it was effective and you did not become pregnant.
The following period, which was shorter and flow was lighter, could have presented this way because of the pill.
I cannot explain why you noticed blood two weeks after your last period. That is why I think you should speak with your doctor.
Regards,
October 27, 2016 - 9:34amMaryann
This Comment
Hi,
October 3, 2016 - 5:47pmMy last period came 9/5, before that 8/3. My boyfriend and I had sex on September 17th, and the condom broke, so we went to CVS and I took an Aftera about six hours later. I experienced light bleeding the 23rd - 26th. Hopefully expecting period within a few days and hoping I have nothing to worry about. Can you advise?
This Comment
Hi, I took EC on day 4 after my period because my boyfriend did the withdraw method, he isn't orgasm inside, but just to be sure I took one whenI wasn't fertile at all. Since in a couple days I would be fertile and I wanted to be safe. I had no symptoms. Usually when my period is coming, I get cramps and bleeding that starts off light and gets heavier and heavier. I had my period around 3 days. It was heavy the first and second day then on the 3rd day in looks like how when your period is over there is some brown discharge. I have tested because I'm really confused and it was negative. So if I am not pregnant, is it normal since this is my week to be on my period and it is usually 4 to 5 days. My last period on the 24 th of August and I started the cramping with light bleeding on the night of 22th of October and it is the 25th now.
September 25, 2016 - 8:58amThis Comment
Hello Anonymous,
It is very likely that the emergency contraceptive is the reason this recent period was different. Your menstrual cycle should return to normal in the coming month.
Regards,
September 26, 2016 - 9:36amMaryann
This Comment