According to a study of people who took Plan B:. You can tell the difference between spotting and your period because spotting tends to be shorter and much lighter than your usual bleeding. Most people should expect their period within three weeks of taking Plan B, Cutler says.
Implantation bleeding occurs when a fertilized egg attaches to the wall of your uterus — this is typically the first stage of pregnancy, meaning Plan B didn't work. Your period may also come early if you take Plan B. The menstrual blood should be similar to your usual period, but it may be darker and stickier than usual.
If you think you may have implantation bleeding, you should wait at least three days from the start of bleeding to take a pregnancy test. This will give your body time to build up pregnancy hormones and give you an accurate result. In addition to bleeding, Plan B can cause other side effects , including:.
The most common side effects of Plan B are nausea and cramping, while vomiting and diarrhea are rarer. In rare cases, bleeding after taking Plan B can be a sign of something more serious, especially if it comes with other symptoms like severe abdominal pain. Generally, bleeding after Plan B shouldn't last much longer than a week, so prolonged bleeding can be a sign of a problem like an ectopic pregnancy or may lead to a dangerous amount of blood loss.
It's also concerning if your bleeding is too heavy, meaning you have to change your pad or tampon at least every two hours for longer than a day, Gersh says. If you're having any of these symptoms after taking Plan B, it's best to see your gynecologist to make sure there isn't a more serious issue. Other symptoms that should raise an alarm include:.
Also, if any of the normal side effects like nausea or cramping last more than a day or feel severe to you, it's best to get medical attention, Gersh says. It's normal to experience bleeding after taking Plan B, especially if you get your period early or just have light spotting. As we mentioned earlier, there are two different types of morning-after pill currently available in the United States. The first, ella, contains the active ingredient ulipristal acetate.
Despite containing different active ingredients, both types of morning-after pill work similarly to prevent pregnancy. When you take the morning-after pill, the ingredients in the medication suppress luteinizing hormone LH , which delays or inhibits ovulation.
The same hormones or, in the case of ella, a selective progesterone receptor modulator that make the morning-after pill effective at preventing you from becoming pregnant can also lead to changes in your menstrual cycle.
After you take either type of morning-after pill, you may experience spotting — a form of light and irregular bleeding that occurs outside your normal period. Because the morning-after pill affects the ovulation process, it could also cause you to start your period earlier or later than normal.
When you get your period, it may be heavier or lighter than it normally is, or last for a longer or shorter amount of time. Some degree of spotting is a common side effect of the morning-after pill. According to data from the World Health Organization , approximately 30 percent of women who use the levonorgestrel morning-after pill experience some degree of bleeding within seven days, with up to 13 percent experiencing a delay of more than 7 days to their menstrual cycle. Among women who used ella, FDA data indicates that approximately nine percent of reported intermenstrual bleeding after using the pill, with 19 percent reporting a delay of more than seven days to their menstrual cycle.
Seven percent of the women who took ella reported getting their period more than seven days earlier than normal. Read on to learn what to expect. When it comes to emergency contraception, there can be a lot of confusion.
Natural Cycles and other fertility awareness apps can be an effective way to prevent pregnancy. Our review explains what you need to know. There are alternatives. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. How does Plan B work?
Other side effects. Treatment for bleeding. When to see a doctor. The bottom line. Read this next. How to Handle a Pregnancy Scare. Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph. Emergency Contraception: What to Do Afterward. Medically reviewed by Rachel Liberto, R. Take Action vs. Plan B: What Are the Differences? Medically reviewed by Carolyn Kay, M. Medically reviewed by Fernando Mariz, MD.
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