Plan B: What are the side effects 2 weeks later?

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Overview

Plan B One-Step, typically known as Plan B, is an oral tablet form of emergency contraception. It contains levonorgestrel, a synthetic version of the naturally occurring hormone progesterone.

This hormone works to prevent pregnancy by preventing the release of an egg from your ovary. This can help prevent pregnancy in the event of sex without a barrier method, as there is no egg for a sperm cell to fertilize.

You can take Plan B up to 3 days after sex without a barrier method, or if you’ve missed a pill, or a condom has broken. But the sooner you take the medication, the more likely it is to be effective. Some emergency contraceptive pills, such as ulipristal acetate (Ella), can be taken up to 5 days after sex without a barrier method.

Common brand names of Plan B include:

• One Step
• Take Action
• AfterPill
• Aftera
• EContra

As Plan B introduces a menstrual hormone into your body, you may experience some side effects. These side effects may take 1 to 2 weeks for you to notice and often affect your menstrual cycle.

Here are some of the side effects that can occur after taking Plan B.

Irregular periods

Although Plan B and other levonorgestrel medications are safe, they can cause your menstrual cycle to fluctuate.

Experiencing changes to the timing of your next period is a common side effect. Plan B is up to 89% effective in preventing pregnancy as it delays the release of an egg from your ovary. This is a key moment in your menstrual cycle. It triggers natural changes in your hormone levels, which lead to the start of a period or the fertilization of an egg.

Taking Plan B can delay your next period. This varies significantly between individuals, and there is no single rule for knowing whether Plan B will have this effect.

After you take an emergency contraception medication containing levonorgestrel, your next menstrual period may be different. You may notice that your flow is heavier and lasts longer than usual.

You may also notice lighter flows and bleed for a shorter time frame.

If you experience any changes in your next menstrual cycle, it may be a good idea to take a pregnancy test to confirm that Plan B was effective.

Some people can be sensitive to the effects of Plan B. If you notice that it has a significant effect on your menstrual cycle, you may want to speak with a healthcare professional about your options.

Spotting

After you take Plan B, you may experience some minor bleeding before your actual period. This is called spotting. Spotting is a common side effect of Plan B. However, keep in mind this is not a sign that Plan B is working to prevent pregnancy.

Spotting can also be a sign of pregnancy. After a sperm cell fertilizes an egg, the egg implants into the lining of your uterus, which can cause some bleeding. Implantation bleeding can occur 10 to 14 days after fertilization and last from a few hours to 3 days.

Pregnancy symptoms

You can take emergency contraceptive pills up to 5 days after sex without a barrier method. But it is more effective if you take it within 24 hours. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), emergency contraceptive pills can prevent 95% of pregnancies if you take them within 5 days of sex without a barrier method.

Many side effects of taking Plan B, like spotting, are similar to very early pregnancy symptoms. If you do not get your period for 3 weeks after you take an emergency contraceptive pill, consider taking a pregnancy test.

Symptoms of pregnancy and Plan B side effects include:

• sore breasts
• dizziness
• spotting

Other Plan B side effects

Other side effects you may notice after taking Plan B medication include:

• dizziness
• headaches
• upset stomach
• lightheadedness

If you vomit within 2 hours of taking a Plan B tablet, call your doctor to find out whether you should take another one. Taking an anti-nausea medication, such as ondansetron (Zofran) or meclizine (Bonine), may help reduce the risk of vomiting after taking Plan B.

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How long does it take for Plan B to leave your system?

It takes your body nearly 28 hours to use the medication and reduce its amount by half. This is known as the half-life of a medication. Often, the half-life stage of a medication is when a medication is most effective.

Emergency contraception takes just under 6 days to leave your system completely. However, this does not mean the medication will be effective for 6 days. It’s important to continue to use a barrier method of birth control during this time if you are having sex and want to prevent pregnancy.

When should you speak with a doctor?

Plan B can cause irregularities in menstruation. Most periods return within 1 week of their usual time frame. If your period doesn’t return within a couple of weeks, consider taking a pregnancy test or talking with your healthcare professional.

If you take emergency contraception and become pregnant, it’s important to speak with a doctor about your next steps.

Summary

Emergency contraceptive pills, such as Plan B, prevent pregnancy after sex without a barrier method, or if you’ve missed a pill, or a condom has broken. Some side effects, like nausea or vomiting, may be immediate. But you may only notice other side effects, like an irregular period, 1 or 2 weeks later.

Some side effects of Plan B are similar to symptoms of pregnancy. If you take emergency contraception and do not get your period within a couple of weeks of the due date, consider taking a pregnancy test or talking with a healthcare professional.