How long does plan b mess with your cycle?

Now, ladies, I know a few things about a few things. But one thing that still confuses the heck out of me is how long does Plan B really mess with our cycles? Well, fear not my lovelies because I have done some digging and trust me when I say you will get your answer in this article.

The Basics of Plan B

First off let’s discuss what exactly is Plan B. Plan B is an emergency contraceptive made up of levonorgestrel (a synthetic hormone) that can be taken after unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy.

When it’s taken within 72 hours of having unprotected sex or birth control failure, emergency contraception like Plan B can significantly reduce the risk of pregnancy by as much as 89%.

How It Works

So how exactly does this little pill work its magic? Let’s break it down:

  • Levonorgestrel stops the release of an egg from the ovary.
  • If fertilization has already occurred, levonorgestrel interrupts implantation by altering cervical mucus and preventing sperm transport.
  • Within 24 hours after taking plan b there is no increase in luteinizing hormones (LH), meaning ovulation isn’t happening anytime soon (thank you, science!)

While it may sound scary to alter the natural production process our bodies undergo each month – think again! In fact research shows that using this type of contraception doesn’t lead to any long-term effects on fertility. Phew!

What Changes Can You Expect After Taking It?

Okay! So now we’re onto the nitty-gritty details everyone wants to know. Let’s talk about changes associated with taking plan b:

Short term Side Effects

Like all medication for women we take in order to stop babies being conceived or getting periods are known for their side effects…yaaaay us! However, the overall though is that we rather suffer some short term side effects (if they do happen to you) then get pregnant… right? Short-term changes post using Plan B can include;

  • Spotting or bleeding
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea and vomiting/vomiting and nausea
  • Breast tenderness
  • Headaches

Disclaimer: This is just a list of commonly reported symptoms; not everyone experiences these, so don’t freak out as soon as you pop the pill.

Long Term Changes

But what about long term changes – how does plan b affect our cycle in the long run? Honestly, much like Sherlock Holmes with this one, we cannot be 100% certain. It’s one of those subject matters where it affects every woman differenty. The reason for any inconsistency’s when taking Plan B might have due to a few things:

  1. Hormonal Balance: If your hormones are already unbalanced before intake of Plan B , expect anything at all causing a domino effect on our lady parts.
  2. Stage In Menstrual Cycle: When did you take Plan B in regards to your monthly cycle?
  3. Age: Ladies tend to change dramatically after 18yrs + . A younger woman may experience different lasting effects compared to an older woman.

A study published by Kendra Rosner M.D., concluded that post-pill usage women had 17 percent more luteal phase defects, which adds up since there was also 20 percent less progesterone present released during p-luteal phase cycles.

So Exactly How Long Does It Last – My findings!

Drum-role please….It really DEPENDS! Sorry ladies but it seems like my detective work didn’t give me exact results that applied across the board because at times no two woman even ovulate similarly!

The vaginal discharge paints a good picture too – whatever occurs down below could be an obvious indicator. It’s normal to experience more than usual vaginal discharge during the days post taking Plan-B.

With all that being said, statistically speaking ..

1 in 4 women may notice changes in their periods afterwards,
2 out of 3 women will receive their period later than expected or not get it at all for up to a week beyond its due date,
the remaining lucky few (around 15%) will receive theirs on time.

From my digging around and considering all factors involved when using plan B, it can take anywhere from 1-3 months for your cycle to return back into its natural order- ain’t that peachy? (Please note: this is entirely dependent on how frequently you use.) Within these months cycles can become irregular or any other side effects such as increased headaches could also occur – so brace yourselves ladies!!

What You Can Do To Help Things Along + Recon:

Now I’m no superhero but here are some tips guaranteed to help you come out victorious after using Plan B

Keep Track Of Your Cycles:

Firstly being aware of your cycle ensures you won’t miss if something new does go astray with your lady parts!

Charting Basal Body Temperature:

The most efficient moment used would be the morning right before rise! Women tend to record higher temperatures within luteal phase showing knowledge on our bodies’ level of progesterone (Jenny McCartney M.D., Naprotechnology). In lamens terms; our body temperature increases when ovulation has occured detecting whether there was proof present via basal body temps!

Check For Ovulation Signs:

Your cervical fluid makes major transformations throughout every cycle. If observation shows egg-white consistency/clear mucus then boom – your chances of conception goes up (and thus determines if ovulation took place).

So let’s wrap things up…sounds gross sure but knowing these indicators made all the difference to me and my daily routine, but don’t be grossed out – only a true sista would understand this.

Conclusion

All humor aside ladies, at the end of the day we all want control over our own cycles. Plan B is becoming increasingly popular due to its effectiveness rate compared to others on the market now allowing women in their prime child-bearing years say “nope.” So if you ever take Plan B there shouldn’t really be anything for you to worry about. Let your body do what it needs to do naturally; things might get hectic during those few risk days afterward — but ultimately everything should return back into order!

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