For those people who find themselves repeatedly using emergency contraception pills, the manufacturer recommends considering other contraceptive options 3. ACOG does not recommend using emergency contraception pills as a long term contraception option because overall a person would be exposing themselves to repeated higher levels of hormones than they would normally receive using regular combined hormonal birth control or progestin-only birth control 4.
Plus, frequent use could also lead to more frequent bouts of side effects and menstrual disturbances see below 4. In contrast to these recommendations, a group of researchers studied how well the levonorgesterel emergency contraception pill worked for people having infrequent sex 6 days or less per month used it as primary contraception.
For women younger than 35 years, rates of pregnancy for exclusive perfect use within 24 hours of intercourse in this study of emergency contraceptive pills was 11 pregnancies over 1 year per women.
The rates were even lower for typical use if combined with other forms of contraceptives or taken late with only 10 pregnancies over 1 year per women 5. While manufacturers of the levonorgestrel pill do not recommend taking an emergency contraceptive pill more than once in a cycle 3 , The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists ACOG and manufactures of the progestin-only pill contradicts this and states that it is okay 2,4.
More research is needed into determining if there are any effects from consistent repeated use. If the emergency contraceptive pill is being used repeatedly, especially during the same cycle, it is advisable to use a different form of contraception that is more reliable. Remember, when you take an emergency contraceptive pill, ovulation will be delayed by a few days or prevented Because of this, your current cycle may be affected, and can be either a few days shorter or longer 2,3.
Irregular bleeding patterns are common among people taking levonorgestrel emergency contraceptive pill 5. If your period is more than one week late, it is recommended to take a pregnancy test 3. Plan B is an emergency form of contraception, which is not what you want to use regularly. So, relying on it could make you more likely to get pregnant than, say, using condoms or taking a daily birth control pill. The hormones can also make your periods irregular, making it harder to track when you have a higher chance of getting pregnant.
People call it the morning-after pill for a reason: Plan B works best when you take it as soon as possible after having sex without a barrier method. And while you can technically wait as long as 5 days, the quicker you move, the better.
A single dose of Plan B consists of two pills that you take within a day. Take the first pill ASAP and the second one 12 hours later. The only exception? They might recommend that you take another dose. First, the good news. The downside? You might not feel awesome after taking it. Around 1 in 4 women feel nauseous after taking the morning-after pill, though thankfully, the queasiness only sticks around for a few days.
Other than that, you might feel tired, dizzy, have a headache, abdominal cramping, or breast tenderness. Your period might also be a little funky.
Other forms of contraception are more reliable than Plan B at preventing pregnancy. People should speak to their doctor about the best form for their needs.
The birth control implant Nexplanon, Implanon is a small, thin rod that a healthcare professional inserts into the arm. It protects against pregnancy for up to 5 years. It does not protect against sexually transmitted infections STIs. An IUD is a tiny device that a healthcare professional inserts into the uterus.
The Depo-Provera shot is an injection that a person receives every 3 months to prevent pregnancy. It releases the hormone progestin to prevent ovulation. It is important to get the shot on time to avoid pregnancy. The NuvaRing birth control ring is a small, flexible ring that sits inside the vagina.
It releases hormones to prevent pregnancy. Individuals can wear a birth control patch on certain parts of the body, such as the stomach, arm, or back. The patch releases the hormones estrogen and progestin through the skin to prevent pregnancy. Birth control pills prevent pregnancy by releasing hormones — usually synthetic forms of estrogen and progesterone — into the body.
It is necessary to take 1 pill each day. Some types of pills include a 7-day break after 21 days to allow for a menstrual period. It is important to take the pill on time to prevent pregnancy. A condom is a barrier method of contraception. It is a thin, stretchy pouch that a person wears on their penis during sex. How much less effective is unclear but according to one small study :. It can be tricky to know if you've already ovulated or not if this isn't something you typically track.
Ovulation happens about a week after the last day of your period and you might experience symptoms like:. Despite being less effective if you've just ovulated, plan B also thins the uterine lining. So even if you have recently ovulated, you should still take it since your chances are better at preventing pregnancy than if you don't take it, Butler says.
Plan B can be very effective at preventing pregnancy if you take it within 72 hours of unprotected sex, and preferably even sooner. While you can take Plan B multiple times, it is meant to be emergency contraception and not a replacement for birth control.
If you find yourself using Plan B often, talk to your gynecologist about long-term contraception options. World globe An icon of the world globe, indicating different international options. Get the Insider App. Click here to learn more. A leading-edge research firm focused on digital transformation.
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