Plan B, an over-the counter emergency contraceptive, should be used within 72 hours. Emergency contraceptives come in many brands including Plan B One-Step, Aftera, Econtra EZ, Take Action, Preventeza, and more.
Here are the side effects of taking a Plan-B pill.
The way emergency contraceptives work is that they contain a large dose of levonorgestrel. Levonorgestrel (a synthetic hormone) is designed to mimic the sex hormone progesterone. It prevents ovulation, and thus, pregnancy.
Plan B and other emergency contraceptives contain 1.5 milligrams of levonorgestrel. That’s three times more than what you get in a regular
birth control
pill. As a result, this large, concentrated dose can cause side effects like:
Less common side effects include:
While plan B side effects can be uncomfortable, they shouldn’t feel excessively extreme or severe. The most serious side effects of plan B should include pelvic pain and disruptions in your cycle.
You should consult a doctor if side effects persist beyond these symptoms or worsen over time. If you are experiencing irregularities in your periods that persist for more than one cycle or if they worsen after a few days, consider a pregnancy test.
“The duration of side effects is variable from woman to woman,” says Nina Carroll, MD and OB-GYN of Your Doctors Online. Here’s what Plan B could look like.
Unfortunately, there’s nothing you can do to make the side effects resolve more quickly or prevent them from happening in the first place.
You may be able manage your symptoms. To reduce your discomfort, doctors may recommend an anti-nausea medication or pain relief.
Plan B side effects shouldn’t last more than four days, however, some women experience changes to their period which may last one menstrual cycle. You may experience nausea or vomiting within the first two hours after taking the pill. This is likely to be a sign that your body has not absorbed levonorgestrel. In this case, you will need another plan B.
Plan B should not serve as regular birth control. It should only be used for emergency situations. Unprotected, ejaculatory sexual activity when you and your partner aren’t on birth control.