A Question About the Morning After Pill and My Menstrual Cycle
i took the morning After pill on january 17th (the 2nd last day of my period) exactly 5 hours after inter course, then a week later my period started again for 2 days after ending a week earlier, it is now febuary 19th and my period is 6 days late, what should i do?
To begin, you stated that you are sexually active. TeenHealthFX recommends that all sexually active teenagers use condoms every time they have sexual intercourse. Condoms are the only form of birth control that may protect from sexually transmitted infections, and should be used in addition to another form of birth control for best protection.
Next, you stated that you took emergency contraception after sexual intercourse. You did not identify which emergency contraception method you utilized. According to Planned Parenthood,
- A levonorgestrel morning-after pill like Plan B One Step, Next Choice One Dose, Take Action, My Way, and AfterPill can lower your chance of getting pregnant by 75-89% if you take it within 3 days after unprotected sex.
- You can take Plan B, My Way, Next Choice, and other levonorgestrel morning-after pills up to 5 days after unprotected sex. But the longer you wait to take it, the less effective it is. These types of morning-after pills are also less effective if you have a higher BMI.
Further, one of the most common side-effects of emergency contraception is getting your period either earlier or later than usual. Many women also experience spotting in between periods. If you are not pregnant, your menstrual cycle should return to normal next month.
TeenHealthFX suggests that women who do not get their period within 3 weeks of taking emergency contraception conduct a pregnancy test. You can purchase this test from your local drug store, or visit your doctor in order to have a blood test done by a medical professional.
If you plan to remain sexually active, you may want to consider talking to your physician and/or gynecologist about birth control options. He/she can help you identify the method best fit for you and your health needs. You can also take Planned Parenthood's birth control quiz to learn more about the best option for you.
If you don't have a doctor and live in northern New Jersey, you can call the Adolescent/Young Adult Center for Health at 973-971-5199 for an appointment with an adolescent medicine specialist or contact your local teen health center or Planned Parenthood. A Planned Parenthood health center is a good option if you have concerns about cost or confidentiality issues. You can also contact your insurance company for a list of in-network providers.
FX recommends the following resources for additional information:
