When will my menstrual cycle return to normal after irregular bleeding caused by the morning after pill? Progesterone, being responsible for many common pregnancy symptoms, can likewise cause pregnancy-like symptoms outside of pregnancy along with bleeding. The introduction of progesterone outside of the body’s natural cycle also often causes a bit of hormonal imbalance which may lead to irregular spotting. High levels like those in Plan B will also thicken the uterine lining significantly, which would make implantation difficult.Īs it’s a sudden drop in progesterone that usually causes your period, the sudden drop when the dose from an emergency pill dissipates can cause bleeding. In essence, birth control uses progesterone to fake the body into believing it’s already pregnant to prevent ovulation (you don’t ovulate during pregnancy). If you don’t become pregnant, they drop, and this causes your period to begin. If you become pregnant, progesterone levels continue to rise. Normally, after ovulation the rise of progesterone is signaled. Progesterone is a hormone the body produces naturally to maintain the uterine lining and prevent ovulation. It is because the majority of morning after pills, and the most commonly used pill, Plan B, contain progesterone or are only progesterone that bleeding after taking the pill is so common. What causes bleeding after taking Plan B?Įmergency contraceptives work similar to a regular birth control pill except that they contain significantly higher doses of hormones. If any of your side effects are on-going (beyond your next period) or become severe such as bleeding that requires sanitary changes every hour, consult a health care professional. Nausea is the most common side effect of plan B after irregular bleeding occurring in approximately 25 to 50 percent of all woman depending on the particular pill taken. You may also experience spotting and menstrual-cycle-like symptoms such as abdominal cramping, nausea, fatigue, and headache. Yes, a little over 26 percent of all women that use a form of emergency contraception experience irregular periods afterwards being early, late, lighter, or heavier than their normal cycle. Is bleeding after taking Plan B or emergency contraceptives normal? However, chances are if you are searching about bleeding after taking Plan B you already know what it is because you’ve taken it. Plan B, also known as the morning after pill, is an emergency contraceptive that if taken within 72 hours of an unprotected sexual act can help dramatically reduce the chance of pregnancy.