Can plan b make you start period early?

Are you feeling anxious because after taking the pill, your flow started earlier than usual? Don’t panic! Let’s get to the bottom of it and unearth whether or not Plan B can cause an early period.

What is Plan B

Plan B is a brand name for emergency contraception, also known as the morning-after pill. The medication uses hormones to prevent pregnancy if used within 72 hours (3 days) after unprotected sex or contraceptive failure. It contains Levonorgestrel which is a synthetic hormone that prevents ovulation by inhibiting luteinizing hormone production in women.

How does Plan B work?

Let me break it down for you anatomically speaking mate! You see, typically pregnancy occurs when sperm fertilizes an egg (ovum) in one of your fallopian tubes during ovulation. Once fertilized, the egg travels through each tube into the uterus and implants on its wall where it grows into a baby over time.

If fertilization has already taken place before using emergency contraception like Plan B, then no need to worry since this will not affect an ongoing pregnancy but inhibit future ones from happening.

However, If there was no fertilization yet – here comes PLAN-B grand entrance onto our stage!

Step What happens upstage with plan b
1 Prevents Ovulation
2 Makes cervical mucus thicker
3 Thins lining of uterus

In other words ‘Levonorgestrel’ – which is now playing estrogenic roles – acts by stopping ovaries from releasing eggs. Besides that,the pills thickens cervical mucus making them difficult for sperms to travel up their way towards finding any worthy eggs swimming around while thinning simultaneously the endometrial lining thus making it difficult for an impregnated egg to attach (Step 3).

Can Plan B make you start period early, mate?

Incomprehensible truth or myth? Let’s find out!

A brief menstruation crash course

Before we go any further, let’s have a quick recap of your monthly visitor. Menstrual cycles are roughly 28 days long, sometimes shorter and other times longer with the first cycle beginning at puberty lasting till menopause – which signals the death of your nth eggs left in ovaries after years of service rendered (Sad). In each menstrual cycle, there are changes in hormonal levels either to prepare you for pregnancy (in case it occurs during this period) or hostility since no fertilization took place.

These hormone fluctuations cause our organs – if you’d allow me to be technical-involved in ‘period things’ such as the ovaries which produce estrogen and progesterone; these hormones stimulate changes involving thickened uterine walls followed by shedding off them later on when resulting into periods. The brain also plays a role here: The hypothalamus releases gonadotropin-releasing hormone(GnRH) depending on estrogen concentration causing pituitary gland triggering secretion Follicle-Stimulating Hormones (FSH)& Luteinizing Hormone(LH).

{Also Read: Me & My Period Problems | An Interesting Journey With Taboos}

That said’ When exposure happens to synthetic progesterone like Levonorgestrel introduced through morning-after pills (PLAN-B) amongst others tends tamper with hormonal balance hence subsequent bleeding termed breakthrough that may appear earlier than expected!.

If that was too much info written geeky style– Using Plan B can affect the natural flow/production/cycle/length/etc., of hormones definitely leading up-to surprisingly abnormal bleeds shortly after taking them.You might experience changes in bleeding including earlier onset or light to heavy bleeding than what you considered your norm. ‘Abnormal’ is relative here, mate!

A hormone buffet.

What leads to early periods after using Plan B?

Breakthrough Bleeding – This kind of random spotting could be happening since exposure synthetic progestin like the one present in Emergency contraceptives tends not affect your follicles which are always waiting for a green light (LH Surge) to start producing estrogen needed thickening them lining walls as well triggering ovulation later too.. kinda ticks). So yeah these shots contain high hormone levels compared organic ones leading up-to this adverse effect .

Can Plan B mess with my menstrual cycle?

Now that we know ‘early period’ from emergency contraception isn’t quite an aberration,it’s conspicuous There can be changes brought by it onto frequency and flow .

Most people don’t report any long-term impact on their menstrual cycles after taking Plan B. However, some people may experience shorter or longer periods or irregular breakthrough bleeding before their next cycle occurs.

Irregular Intervals – These intermural gaps might come about if hormonal fluctuations at play within same hormonal timing margins upon consuming plan-b pills.

When should you expect your period?

Naturally(Ahem!), calculating arrival time requires understanding length and consistency previous months/years among others.
But let’s briefly explore possible timeline scenarios;

Day Description
Day 1 The first day of menstruation
Day Ovulation happens halfway through menstrual cycle
Day Endometrial lining thickens preparing itself
Day Hormone production increases during pregnancy
Day 28-29 Typical endtime-mark.For gals averaging same days each month

Bear in mind variations exist due differences individuals lifestyle,giving birth/history PCOS or hormonal imbalances

When to expect the next period?

After having taken Plan B, some people experience a shorter or longer menstrual cycle than usual. Other possible changes are:

  • Late Periods – Exposure to higher levels of synthetic hormones could affect time needed for LH Surge required by follicles synthesize estrogens at endometrial lining readying themselves fertilization.It can result in delayed periods

  • Early Periods –As we’ve presented earlier.

One thing’s sure-different strokes folks!

In summary,’early periods’ after consuming ‘Plan-B’ pills is another side effect of this medication. It’s quite normal but may occasionally occur depending on individual differences (yep… biodiversity again!). Making it an odd occurrence when you don’t get your regular monthly flow ,so dont worry too much about spotting earlier instead look forward and take care!

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