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Plan B & Bleeding

shanrocks posted:

I was supposed to get my period on the 20th (but I'm pretty irregular; it can come a few days late). 3 days later I had unplanned sex with my boyfriend for the first time. I know my hymen already broke due to sports, but I bled a little after it. He didn't use a condom. We immediately went to get Plan B. After taking the first pill, I bled. It's like a period but lighter. Can it be my period and that it's just a few days late? or is it Plan B causing the bleeding? If it's Plan B, how long does the bleeding last? My periods usually lasts 6-7 days. (I've read that many women bleed after taking Plan B and some consider it as a regular period.) Could it be both? Also, how long do the side effects of Plan B last? I've been having the nausea and abdominal pain side effects since the 24th.

1 Replies |Watch This Discussion | Report This| Share this:Plan B & BleedingI was supposed to get my period on the 20th (but I'm pretty irregular; it can come a few days late). 3 days later I had unplanned sex with my boyfriend for the first time. I know my <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.healthresource4u.com/hymen-definition-location-pictures-repair-broken-hymen-surgery-hymen.html">hymen</a> already broke due to sports, but I bled a little after it. He didn't use a condom. We immediately went to get Plan B. After taking the first pill, I bled. It's like a period but lighter. Can it be my period and that it's just a few days late? or is it Plan B causing the bleeding? If it's Plan B, how long does the bleeding last? My periods usually lasts 6-7 days. (I've read that many women bleed after taking Plan B and some consider it as a regular period.) Could it be both? Also, how long do the side effects of Plan B last? I've been having the nausea and abdominal pain side effects since the 24th.

Jane Harrison Hohner, RN, RNP responded:

Dear shanrocks: I have not personally used Plan B the emergency contraceptive pill (ECP), but there have been published studies which can answer some of your questions.

In a study of over 4,000 women using a Plan B type regimen (vonHertzen, 2002) the majority of women had their periods within 48 hours of the expected date.Given that ECPs work by impacting ovulation, the time in one's cycle when ECPs are used might influence when menstruation is likely to return. Two small studies have shown that when a Plan B type is used about three days before ovulation, onset of flow may be delayed. When taken closer to ovulation, or later, periods came earlier or near their expected time (Okewole, 2007 & Hapangama, 2001).

Shanrocks, in your specific case your flow was due 7/20 (or perhaps slightly thereafter). You used Plan B on 7/23 so it is very possible that the bleeding was your "real period". However, the dose of synthetic progesterone used in Plan B MIGHT have an effect on the pattern or amount of your period.

In terms of the nausea, the half life of the synthetic progesterone if Plan B was taken as one dose is 24 hours plus or minus 5 hours. This means that drug should be out of your body in 48 hours or so. If the nausea or abdominal pain persists or escalates you should see your GYN or local family planning clinic for follow up. Hopefully it will abate soon.

Yours,
Jane

Report This| Share this:Plan B & BleedingDear shanrocks: I have not personally used Plan B the emergency contraceptive pill (ECP), but there have been published studies which can answer some of your questions. In a study of over 4,000 women using a Plan B type regimen (vonHertzen, 2002) the majority of women had their periods within 48 hours of the expected date.Given that ECPs work by impacting ovulation, the time in one's cycle when ECPs are used might influence when menstruation is likely to return. Two small studies have shown that when a Plan B type is used about three days before ovulation, onset of flow may be delayed. When taken closer to ovulation, or later, periods came earlier or near their expected time (Okewole, 2007 & Hapangama, 2001). Shanrocks, in your specific case your flow was due 7/20 (or perhaps slightly thereafter). You used Plan B on 7/23 so it is very possible that the bleeding was your "real period". However, the dose of synthetic progesterone used in Plan B MIGHT have an effect on the pattern or amount of your period. In terms of the nausea, the half life of the synthetic progesterone if Plan B was taken as one dose is 24 hours plus or minus 5 hours. This means that drug should be out of your body in 48 hours or so. If the nausea or abdominal pain persists or escalates you should see your GYN or local family planning clinic for follow up. Hopefully it will abate soon. Yours, Jane

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