After Taking Plan B

After Taking Plan B
Medically Reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD on April 17, 2020
Levonorgestrel is a hormone that can be used for emergency contraception. Emergency contraception should not be used as a routine method of birth control.
Levonorgestrel can prevent pregnancy after unprotected sex. People sometimes call it the "morning after pill." But you don't have to wait until the morning after sex to take it. In fact, levonorgestrel is more effective the sooner you take it. It is a one-dose regimen: you take one pill. The pill contains 1.5 milligrams of levonorgestrel , which is used in lower doses in many birth control pills .
Levonorgestrel brands include Econtra EZ, My Way, Next Choice One Dose, Plan B One Step, Preventeza, and Take Action. These are given as a one pill emergency contraception or as 2 pills taken separately within 72 hours of unprotected sex.
Depending upon where you are in your cycle, levonorgestrel helps prevent pregnancy after unprotected intercourse. It may prevent or delay ovulation .
Levonorgestrel is not the same as RU-486, which is an abortion pill. It does not cause a miscarriage or abortion. It will not work if you are already pregnant when you take it. Learn more about how emergency contraception works .
If you take the pill within 72 hours after you've had unprotected sex, levonorgestrel can reduce the risk of pregnancy by up to 87% if taken as directed. If you take Plan B One-Step within 24 hours, it is much more effective.
But you should know that Plan B One-Step is not as effective as regular contraception . So don't take it as a form of birth control . And, it does not protect you against sexually transmitted diseases. Think of it as a backup -- not for routine use. That's why it's called Plan B. Get more information on emergency contraception and its effectiveness.
Plan B One Step can be purchased over the counter at drugstores without a prescription or proof of age. Because it is most effective when taken as soon as possible (up to 72 hours after unprotected sex), consider having a ready supply in your medicine cabinet. Better yet, use a reliable form of birth control, and plan for a backup method of birth control.
Remember:Plan B will not protect you from getting pregnant if you have unprotected sex after taking it. To protect you against getting pregnant, you need to take it right after you have unprotected sex and use a form a contraception when you have sex
Many women have taken emergency contraception without serious complications. But it's a good idea to ask your doctor about possible interactions with other medications .
Levonorgestrel is considered safe for most women. You should not take it if you are pregnant because it will not end the pregnancy.
Potential side effects of levonorgestrel include:
If you vomit within two hours after taking the drug, call a healthcare professional to find out if you should repeat the dose.
With levonorgestrel, you may also have some unexpected bleeding. It should go away by the time of your next period. However, it is possible that levonorgestrel may cause your next period to be heavier or lighter than usual. It may also come earlier or later than is normal for you. If you don't get your period within three weeks, get a pregnancy test to make sure you're not pregnant. Read more on emergency contraception side effects .
FDA: "FDA's Decision Regarding Plan B: Questions and Answers" and "Plan B (0.75mg levonorgestrel) and Plan B One-Step (1.5 mg levonorgestrel) Tablets Information."
The National Women's Health Information Center: "Emergency Contraception (Emergency Birth Control)."
Planned Parenthood: "Emergency Contraception (Morning After Pill)."
Office of Population Research, Princeton University: "Get Emergency Contraception NOW."
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: "Plan B One-Step Emergency Contraception."
UpToDate.com: "Emergency Contraception." "Intrauterine Contraception."
What you should know to prevent pregnancy.
© 2005 - 2022 WebMD LLC. All rights reserved.
WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

All

Select the section you want to search in

All
Consumer
Professional
Pill ID
Interactions
News
FDA Alerts
Approvals
Pipeline
Clinical Trials
Care Notes
Natural Products

Browse all medications:

a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
0-9

Advanced Search

CSA Schedule*
Not a controlled drug
N/A

Approval History
Drug history at FDA

Some Pharmacy Chains Limit Morning-After Pill Sales to Avoid Potential Shortage

Ad Choices

We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information.

Copyright © 2000-2022 Drugs.com. All rights reserved.

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Mar 26, 2022.
Note: This document contains side effect information about levonorgestrel. Some of the dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Plan B.
Applies to levonorgestrel : oral tablet
Along with its needed effects, levonorgestrel (the active ingredient contained in Plan B ) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking levonorgestrel:
Some side effects of levonorgestrel may occur that usually do not need medical attention . These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.
Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Applies to levonorgestrel: intrauterine device, oral tablet, subcutaneous implant
The most commonly reported adverse effects are alterations of menstrual bleeding patterns, nausea, abdominal/pelvic pain, headache/ migraine , dizziness, fatigue, amenorrhea , ovarian cysts , genital discharge, acne /seborrhea, breast tenderness, and vulvovaginitis. [ Ref ]
Very common (10% or more): Irregular menstrual bleeding (67%), infrequent menstrual bleeding (up to 57%), ovarian cyst (31.2%), menstrual changes (up to 31.9%), decreased uterine bleeding (23.4%), prolonged menstrual bleeding (22%), vulvovaginitis (20.2%), amenorrhea (18.4%), genital discharge (up to 14.9%), heavier menstrual bleeding (13.8%),vaginal infections (13.6%), vulvovaginal infections (13.3%), lighter menstrual bleeding (12.5%), increased scheduled uterine bleeding (11.9%), breast tenderness (10.7%)
Common (1% to 10%): Dysmenorrhea, breast pain/discomfort, upper genital tract infection, genital tract bleeding, pelvic inflammatory disease , endometritis , dyspareunia, pelvic discomfort/pain, delay of menses more than 7 days, vaginal discharge, bleeding not related to menses
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Uterine spasm, cervicitis/Papanicolaou smear normal class II, change in vaginal secretion
Rare (less than 0.1%): Uterine perforation
Frequency not reported : Breast enlargement, vaginal candidiasis , changes in cervical erosion, changes in cervical secretion, ectopic pregnancy
Postmarketing reports : Oligomenorrhea, irregular menstruation [ Ref ]
Very common (10% or more): Nausea (up to 23.1%), abdominal/pelvic pain (up to 22.6%)
Common (1% to 10%): Diarrhea, vomiting
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Abdominal distension
Frequency not reported : Bloating, abdominal cramps [ Ref ]
Very common (10% or more): Fatigue (16.9%)
Common (1% to 10%): Partial/complete IUS expulsion, weight increased
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Edema , change in body weight
Very rare (less than 0.01%): Face edema
Frequency not reported : Decreased weight, sepsis , group A streptococcal sepsis
Postmarketing reports : IUS breakage, procedural bleeding [ Ref ]
Very common (10% or more): Headache (up to 16.8%), dizziness (11.2%)
Postmarketing reports : Stroke, syncope , IUS insertion related vasovagal reaction or seizure [ Ref ]
Common (1% to 10%): Depression/depressed mood, mood changes, mood swings, decreased libido, nervousness
Frequency not reported : Changes in libido [ Ref ]
Very common (10% or more): Acne/seborrhea (15%)
Common (1% to 10%): Alopecia , hirsutism
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Pruritus , eczema , pigmentation changes/hyperpigmentation
Rare (less than 0.1%): Rash, urticaria
Frequency not reported : Chloasma, melasma
Postmarketing reports : Angioedema [ Ref ]
Postmarketing reports : Increased blood pressure, arterial/venous thrombotic events, pulmonary emboli, deep vein thrombosis , stroke [ Ref ]
Common (1% to 10%): Back pain [ Ref ]
Frequency not reported : Benign/malignant liver tumors
Postmarketing reports : Breast cancer [ Ref ]
Frequency not reported : Contact lens intolerance [ Ref ]
Frequency not reported : Diabetes mellitus [ Ref ]
Frequency not reported : Allergic reaction
Postmarketing reports : Hypersensitivity reactions [ Ref ]
1. "Product Information. Mirena (levonorgestrel)." Berlex Laboratories (2003):
2. "Product Information. Plan B (levonorgestrel)." Women's Capital Corporation (2003):
3. Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0
4. Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0
5. "Product Information. Skyla (levonorgestrel)." Bayer Pharmaceutical Inc (2013):
6. "Product Information. Liletta (levonorgestrel)." Actavis Pharma, Inc. (2016):
7. "Product Information. Kyleena (levonorgestrel)." Bayer Pharmaceutical Inc (2018):
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.
Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA .
The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. Available for Android and iOS devices.
Subscribe to Drugs.com newsletters for the latest medication news, new drug approvals, alerts and updates.
Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Data sources include IBM Watson Micromedex (updated 5 July 2022), Cerner Multum™ (updated 27 June 2022), ASHP (updated 16 May 2022) and others.
Help support Drugs.com by allowing ads...

Thanks for visiting! GoodRx is not available outside of the United States. If you
are trying to access this site from the United States and believe you have
received this message in error, please reach out to
legal@goodrx.com
and let us know.

Tyflas Foot
Impreg Tumblr
Fantasy Teen Sex Stories

After Taking Plan B

Report Page