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Is Bleeding A Week After Taking Plan-B Emergency Contraceptive A Concern?
Question: I am on the birth control, Lo Loestrin Fe. I started taking it in February. Last month at the beginning of the month (pill two) I had sexual activity. I became nervous and took Plan B two days later. I continued my birth control pills but started bleeding a week after taking the Plan B. I finished out my birth control pills but did not have a period. Is this an issue? I have taking eight or so First Response and Clearblue tears all have been negative.
Brief Answer:
Pregnancy is unlikely.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Please do not worry, pregnancy is unlikely.
Irregular bleeding after Plan B (evonorgestrel emergency contraceptive pill) is a common side effect.
Pregnancy risk is high when you have a sex within a period when you have ovulation: it is 12 to 16 days after the first day of your last period (if 28 days cycle). Lo Loestrin Fe cannot prevent pregnancy 100%, but it is a very effective pregnancy prevention pills. Missing periods or experiencing very light periods can happen in woman taking Lo Loestrin Fe contraceptive pills.
First response and clear blue pregnancy test are based on urine hCG level. First response has about 95% sensitivity and clear blue is 80% sensitive to detect pregnancy when used the day after a missed period. False negative results of these tests are very rare.
Considering the time of sex you had you were on contraceptive pills and taking emergency contraception pills 2 days after the sex and several negative urine pregnancy tests suggest the pregnancy is highly unlikely even you missed a period. If you are really think you may be pregnant, please consult with your doctor. You may be ordered blood hCG test, which is more sensitive than urine based hCG tests.
I hope the above information will be helpful for you. Please, feel free to ask me if there is anything else you need to know.
Thank you.
Pregnancy is unlikely.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Please do not worry, pregnancy is unlikely.
Irregular bleeding after Plan B (evonorgestrel emergency contraceptive pill) is a common side effect.
Pregnancy risk is high when you have a sex within a period when you have ovulation: it is 12 to 16 days after the first day of your last period (if 28 days cycle). Lo Loestrin Fe cannot prevent pregnancy 100%, but it is a very effective pregnancy prevention pills. Missing periods or experiencing very light periods can happen in woman taking Lo Loestrin Fe contraceptive pills.
First response and clear blue pregnancy test are based on urine hCG level. First response has about 95% sensitivity and clear blue is 80% sensitive to detect pregnancy when used the day after a missed period. False negative results of these tests are very rare.
Considering the time of sex you had you were on contraceptive pills and taking emergency contraception pills 2 days after the sex and several negative urine pregnancy tests suggest the pregnancy is highly unlikely even you missed a period. If you are really think you may be pregnant, please consult with your doctor. You may be ordered blood hCG test, which is more sensitive than urine based hCG tests.
I hope the above information will be helpful for you. Please, feel free to ask me if there is anything else you need to know.
Thank you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
I continued my Lo Loestrin Fe throughout the month and started with the dark string (sometime clumpy) discharge occasional bright blood mixed in the week prior than the expected period (beginning of 3rd week of pills). Is this due to taking the Plan B with my birth control pills and bleeding last month very early in my cycle? Would this be considered this month’s period? I actually was very sick the Sunday of the third week start (throwing-up and diarrhea).
Brief Answer:
Yes, it is the side effect of Plan B
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Yes, it is the side effect of Plan B.
Plan B may cause irregular spotting and bleeding after taking it. It also affects the time of upcoming periods: the period may be earlier or later than expected date. The bloody discharge and feeling sick (diarrhea and vomiting) on that time was your menstrual period. It occurred a week earlier than expected time because of plan B.
Please, do not worry; Plan B affects only the menstrual period that it is used. Your subsequent periods should occur regularly on expected time.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Thank you.
Yes, it is the side effect of Plan B
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Yes, it is the side effect of Plan B.
Plan B may cause irregular spotting and bleeding after taking it. It also affects the time of upcoming periods: the period may be earlier or later than expected date. The bloody discharge and feeling sick (diarrhea and vomiting) on that time was your menstrual period. It occurred a week earlier than expected time because of plan B.
Please, do not worry; Plan B affects only the menstrual period that it is used. Your subsequent periods should occur regularly on expected time.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Thank you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Well, this is not the month that I used Plan B. I used Plan B the prior month. The month that I used Plan B, I started my period seven days later on the second week of my birth control pills.
This is the month after using Plan B. I started with dark stringy discharge the beginning of the week prior to my last week of birth control pills. Is this still due to taking the Plan B last month? I didn’t know if because my period was so early last month that it also caused this period to be early?
This is the month after using Plan B. I started with dark stringy discharge the beginning of the week prior to my last week of birth control pills. Is this still due to taking the Plan B last month? I didn’t know if because my period was so early last month that it also caused this period to be early?
Brief Answer:
It is likely a breakthrough bleeding.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
This is how I understood the days of menstrual cycle and their relationship with Lo Loestrin Fe tablets:
Let’s say the cycle you took Plan B is the 1st cycle.
On the 1st cycle you had periods 7 days later than expected time. At that time you were on your expected 2nd cycle and were taking second week of Lo Loestrin Fe tablets. On this cycle the periods came 7 days before (you were taking 20-21st tablets of Lo Loestrin Fe).
I assume that the menstrual cycle is 28 days and was regular before taking PlanB.
It is more likely a breakthrough bleeding. Breakthrough bleeding happens when bleeding occur while taking active tablets (initial 24 tablets are active). Lo Loestrin Fe may cause irregular bleeding. The reasons are not taking Lo Loestrin Fe at the same time every day or skipping tablets, or taking other medications that interfere with Lo Loestrin Fe. Or it may simply be the disruption of the regular menstrual cycle after using Plan B (as I explained in my previous answer it usually disrupts the menstrual cycle that it is used).
Please, continue taking Lo Loestrin Fe. Usually regular cycles should resume in 2-3 cycles. If you still experience irregular menstrual bleeding in 3 cycles you will need gynecologic exam.
I hope the above information will be helpful for you. Please, feel free to ask me if there is anything else you need to know.
Thank you.
It is likely a breakthrough bleeding.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
This is how I understood the days of menstrual cycle and their relationship with Lo Loestrin Fe tablets:
Let’s say the cycle you took Plan B is the 1st cycle.
On the 1st cycle you had periods 7 days later than expected time. At that time you were on your expected 2nd cycle and were taking second week of Lo Loestrin Fe tablets. On this cycle the periods came 7 days before (you were taking 20-21st tablets of Lo Loestrin Fe).
I assume that the menstrual cycle is 28 days and was regular before taking PlanB.
It is more likely a breakthrough bleeding. Breakthrough bleeding happens when bleeding occur while taking active tablets (initial 24 tablets are active). Lo Loestrin Fe may cause irregular bleeding. The reasons are not taking Lo Loestrin Fe at the same time every day or skipping tablets, or taking other medications that interfere with Lo Loestrin Fe. Or it may simply be the disruption of the regular menstrual cycle after using Plan B (as I explained in my previous answer it usually disrupts the menstrual cycle that it is used).
Please, continue taking Lo Loestrin Fe. Usually regular cycles should resume in 2-3 cycles. If you still experience irregular menstrual bleeding in 3 cycles you will need gynecologic exam.
I hope the above information will be helpful for you. Please, feel free to ask me if there is anything else you need to know.
Thank you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Remy Koshy
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Yes, if you have decided you can switch to another brand. Changing the brand of birth control pills is one of the options which may help with irregular bleeding. But, I would advise you to wait one more cycle on the current pills.
Hope it helps.
Thanks
Information
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Yes, if you have decided you can switch to another brand. Changing the brand of birth control pills is one of the options which may help with irregular bleeding. But, I would advise you to wait one more cycle on the current pills.
Hope it helps.
Thanks
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
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