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Understanding Plan B: How Emergency Contraception Affects Your Period

If you’ve taken Plan B, you’re probably wondering when your period will arrive. The good news is that this emergency contraception typically only delays your period by up to a week. However, it’s essential to understand how Plan B works and what to expect.

What is Plan B?

Plan B One-Step is a type of emergency contraception (EC) or “morning-after” pill. It’s used after unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy. The pill contains the hormone levonorgestrel, a progestin type that can stop ovulation. You can take it within 72 hours after unprotected sex, but the sooner, the better.

How Does Plan B Affect Your Period?

Taking Plan B can affect the length of your menstrual cycle, causing your period to come earlier or later than usual. The delay is usually no more than a week, but it’s possible that it can take longer for your flow to return. If you haven’t had a period about two weeks after taking Plan B, you could be pregnant.

What Causes the Delay?

The extra-strong dose of levonorgestrel in Plan B is responsible for the delay. This hormone can do a number on your menstrual cycle, including delaying your period.

What to Expect After Taking Plan B

After taking Plan B, your period might come earlier, later, or right on time. Research suggests that taking EC can make your period last longer than normal, and your flow might be lighter or heavier than usual. You might also experience side effects like nausea, cramps, or headaches, but these symptoms should go away within 24 hours.

How to Tell It’s Your Period and Not Plan B Bleeding

To distinguish between your period and Plan B bleeding, keep tabs on the timing, duration, and intensity of the bleeding. Plan B bleeding usually starts a few days after taking the pill and lasts only a day or two. It’s also typically much lighter than your usual period.

What’s Your Second Period Like After Plan B?

Most likely, your period will return to normal by your second cycle after Plan B. In rare cases, spotting could signal an early pregnancy, so it’s essential to track your cycle and take a pregnancy test if you’re unsure.

What If Your Period Is 2 Weeks Late After Plan B?

If your period is over a week late, there’s a slight chance that you might be pregnant. Take a pregnancy test to play it safe. If it’s been two weeks, your pregnancy odds are even greater, and you should take a test. If your pregnancy test is positive, visit a doctor or midwife to confirm your result and discuss your options.

Can Plan B Delay Your Period for 2 Months?

If your period is still missing two months after taking Plan B, you could be pregnant. It’s unlikely that the EC is still affecting your cycle. Take a pregnancy test and visit a doctor or midwife ASAP to know for sure.

Takeaway

Plan B impacts everyone differently, so it’s challenging to predict how it will affect your menstrual cycle. If your first period after taking EC is a few days earlier or later than normal, it’s probably nothing to worry about. After a week, take a pregnancy test. By your second period post-Plan B, everything should return to normal. If you’re still experiencing irregular periods, talk with your doctor.