Experience with emergency contraception?

July 28, 2013 6:17 PM

What is your experience with taking Plan B One Step or other emergency contraception?

I'm looking for anecdata from women who have taken emergency contraception or their partners. Under what circumstances did you take it? Was it easy or painful for you? What kind of symptoms did you have? If you had symptoms, were you able to go about your normal schedule while on it? How long did your symptoms last?

A side question: were you able to get pregnant after taking EC in the past? Did EC affect your fertility at all?

posted by horizonseeker to Health & Fitness (33 answers total)

Condom broke.

Woke up early the next morning (maybe 6 hours after the Event) and Dude walked me to the neighborhood drugstore. I don't recall if we split it, or he paid, or what. We went back to his place and I took it. I don't remember him being insistent that I take it in front of him or anything, but I definitely wanted it to be a situation that we were facing together rather than something for me to "take care of" and never be discussed again.

Then I took the second pill whenever the instructions said to take the second pill.

I experienced no side effects and went about the rest of my weekend in a normal, yet slightly anxious, fashion. However, I had an unusually long cycle that month and didn't start my period for a scary amount of time (I want to say it was going on six weeks). I took a pregnancy test and it was negative, but I was nervous that I peed on the stick wrong.

Finally I started my period a few days after the negative pregnancy test. I was very relieved. I also feel like it was an unusually heavy period, but that could be confirmation bias or feeling off kilter about the whole thing.

I don't see how EC could possibly affect anyone's fertility (for longer than a couple of days, anyway), as it's the same type of hormones that are present in the daily birth control pill. People get pregnant after quitting the pill all the time.
posted by Sara C. at 6:26 PM on July 28, 2013 [4 favorites]

I took it a couple of months ago. I felt fine. My next period was little delayed and lighter, which combined with the omg am I really pregnant anxiety was disturbing. I was not pregnant of course.
I took the one step plan b.
Its really like taking a mega dose birth control pill.
You should have no problems conceiving in the future, when you are ready.
posted by TheLibrarian at 6:29 PM on July 28, 2013

I felt kind of grumpy, mildly depressed and slightly numbed out. Of course feeling grumpy, depressed and mildly numbed out while not my everyday demeanor, is hardly out of character for me. Felt basically fine after 2-3 days. Physical symptoms were non-existent. Totally carried on with my normal life except did it while a bit bummed out. Boyfriend of the time said the difference is my mood was definitely noticeable.

Also took it because condom came off.

I've heard of people throwing up with it, but that never happened to me.
posted by whoaali at 6:30 PM on July 28, 2013

I've never taken Plan B personally, but two of my friends have (and have told me about it). Friend A has taken it a couple times - at least two times, possibly more - and she has never had any side effects - I'm sure of this. Friend B has taken it once that I know of, and didn't tell me about any side effects, but it's possible that she had some minor ones.

I agree with Sara C. that there's zero indication that EC does or could affect fertility.
posted by insectosaurus at 6:30 PM on July 28, 2013

I've taken it twice--both times I was in a committed long term relationship and we made the decision as a couple that it would be smart for me to take Plan B. Both times we felt it was a good idea to use Plan B because our primary form of birth control failed: I forgot to reinsert my Nuvaring promptly, the condom broke.

It was really easy both times. I didn't notice any symptoms from it.

I got the Plan B from my local Planned Parenthood. They kindly gave me three boxes of it last time I was in. I used two and gave the third to a friend in need. I love Planned Parenthood.
posted by gumtree at 6:30 PM on July 28, 2013 [1 favorite]

I've taken it twice, way back in the day when it was pretty new. Both times, the primary contraception failed. Both times, my partner and I discussed it and decided it was the best course of action and I never had any qualms about using it. Unfortunately, I didn't react well at all. Hours and hours of vomiting after both times I took it, and I was in college at the time, so I missed some classes and work. Everyone thought I had the flu. I didn't end up pregnant either time.

I've had a total of four pregnancies, two of which carried to term. I've never had an issue conceiving, and my rate of miscarriage is well within the norm; I only knew I was pregnant both times (had yet to miss a period) because I was tracking closely. There is zero evidence, as stated above, that EC affects future fertility.
posted by cooker girl at 6:41 PM on July 28, 2013 [1 favorite]

If anything just prepare yourself for some possible nausea. Just lay low for 24 hours.
posted by TheLibrarian at 6:48 PM on July 28, 2013

I took it somewhere around...11, 12 years ago or so. It was still pretty new and you had to call a hotline (1-888-NOT2LATE) to find a clinic where you could get it. (It was not available over the counter at the time.) Condom broke late on a Friday night - went to a walk-in clinic that carried it when it opened Saturday morning. Followed the directions, felt very queasy for the rest of the weekend, after that I was fine.
posted by SisterHavana at 6:53 PM on July 28, 2013

Plan B wasn't widely available at the time, so I used an emergency combo of the BCP that I had lying around (long story). Totally easy. No side effects. No anticipated issues with fertility.
posted by unknowncommand at 6:53 PM on July 28, 2013

From an anonymous commenter:

I have used EC around four or five times. Most times it was because I did not use birth control with my partner and one time because the condom failed. This was over a period of several years, in different circumstances. I recall that many years ago I had to take two pills. More recently, it was just one pill. Each time I felt no side effects. One thing of note is that in some cases I was in a different location (outside of the USA) and the price was much much lower.
--

posted by restless_nomad at 7:04 PM on July 28, 2013

I took EC once (Plan B One-Step) due to a condom slipping off. I was kind of nauseated for a few hours, but otherwise felt fine.

In case you're interested in data in addition to anecdata, some folks at Princeton have put together a pretty great review of emergency contraception information, including stuff about safety. A lot of it is in plain English and it has good information about the incidence of side effects.
posted by SugarAndSass at 7:08 PM on July 28, 2013 [1 favorite]

I've taken it twice, after some risky sexytimes with my husband (once planned, once unplanned). I didn't notice any side effects or period disruptions.
posted by Fig at 7:13 PM on July 28, 2013

Took it twice, both times in an instance of condom-breakage.

The first time I took it, it was before the days it was available over the counter so I had to get it from my doctor. It was a two-pill thing- my doctor explained it was just a mega-dose of birth control pills that would either stop ovulation, or prevent the fetus implantation if I had conceived; it wouldn't affect my future fertility, it would only affect this one possible pregnancy. (Think about it - women who take birth control pills and then stop can then go on to conceive after a few months when the regular pill has worn off.)

I only felt a tiny bit nauseous for a day the first time, but that was it. The second time I took it was the over-the-counter Plan B - it made me a week late for my period, but that was it.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:14 PM on July 28, 2013

I used the two step version a few years back and had a slightly longer than normal period after (7 days instead of 5) and have since had a child and have another on the way.
posted by julie_of_the_jungle at 7:34 PM on July 28, 2013

I took it about six years ago, had to get it from Planned Parenthood, which was really easy. The condom slipped, so we decided taking Plan B was a good idea.

I have problems tolerating many types of birth control pills, they make me really nauseous. The nurse practitioner at PP suggested I eat some bland food, noting spicy or anything that would potentially bother my stomach. I felt nauseous, but that was it.
posted by inertia at 7:34 PM on July 28, 2013

I used it years and years ago because of primary birth control failing. I had to get a prescription but it was of course just a megadose of BC. I had absolutely no side effects, but just in case, my doctor had prescribed me an anti-emetic to go along with it.
posted by Tandem Affinity at 7:37 PM on July 28, 2013

I've taken it twice (broken condoms and will never ever use One brand again) a few years ago and I don't remember any side effects.
posted by bibliogrrl at 7:38 PM on July 28, 2013

Took it one time after a condom slipped off. I had some nausea, but otherwise no symptoms and I think my next period was actually a little early, but otherwise normal. No other side effects and I have had two normal planned pregnancies since.
posted by goggie at 7:50 PM on July 28, 2013

I've taken it twice, both times when the condom slipped/broke. I felt slightly nauseated both times. Make sure you take it with food. I've taken both the one pill and two pill version and both seemed quite similar. I was worried that the one pill version would make me feel more nauseated, but I don't remember that being the case. I was never close to vomiting or anything like that -- just mild nausea.
posted by peacheater at 7:51 PM on July 28, 2013

Many years ago, I was dating a lady, and we engaged in "risky behaviour" quite early on, i.e. condoms just weren't fun and bareback fucking felt too good. We wisened up quickly and got tested for STDs, got her started on birth control, etc. and chose to use Plan B to deal with the potential consequences of our initial mischief. She suffered from some temporary nausea as a result, but she didn't mention any other side effects. And she has a kid now with her current partner. Seems like she's just fine.
posted by wutangclan at 7:56 PM on July 28, 2013

I took it twice about 20 years ago. It was easy to obtain and I took the pills and continued with my day with no interruptions (I think was vaguely nauseous the first time but I am not sure if I remember that right). I went on to have four pregnancies/births with no difficulty conceiving. I had no moral objections to it and I am glad I had it as an immediate option instead of a more invasive abortion (not to mention weeks of worrying between the broken condom and the anticipated period).
posted by saucysault at 7:58 PM on July 28, 2013

I've taken it twice. First time, I had unprotected with a boyfriend. I felt a little queasy but that was it. The second time I was trying Nuvaring but had taken it out so I got EC out of an abundance of caution. I don't remember side effects but I was also coming off of HBC so who knows. Both times after taking it, I went about my day as normal and my cycle was not affected.
posted by kat518 at 8:15 PM on July 28, 2013

I took Plan B after 24 hours after sex. Boyfriend forgot I had stopped my BC pills two weeks prior (hadn't seen him since then). No side effects. Uneventful.
posted by KogeLiz at 8:21 PM on July 28, 2013

I had a hormonal emotional meltdown that including public screaming and sobbing but it passed within two days. If I'd known to expect that, I would have just stayed home until it was over.
posted by Jacqueline at 8:57 PM on July 28, 2013

I took it once, about ten years ago, the two pill prescription version. I had recently stopped taking my bc pill (for various reasons) and had unexpected, unprotected sex. It made me very, very nauseated and felt like I had really bad pms for like, a week. It was pretty rough. As far as my fertility since then, I have pcos, so is been sketchy my whole life.. can't really help you there, I'm sorry.
posted by ApathyGirl at 8:58 PM on July 28, 2013

I've taken Plan B One Step twice, both because of condom slippage. Both times I took the pill before 24 hours had passed. I felt no nausea, no side effects of any type. My cycle was normal (I was on Tri-Sprintec, was taking EC to be safe rather than sorry). Very uneventful.
posted by sarahgrace at 8:58 PM on July 28, 2013

I have taken it a couple of times from unprotected sex. Never experienced any kind of pain or sickness or discomfort whatsoever exept in my wallet because it ain't cheap. I guess it worked I mean, I never got pregnant anyways. These instances were all around five or six years ago. A++, would contracept again.
posted by windykites at 9:42 PM on July 28, 2013 [2 favorites]

Also, both instances were just plain old, irresponsible, slutty unprotected (drunk? Probably) sex with previous sexual (no known std's) partners. Still worked.
posted by windykites at 9:45 PM on July 28, 2013 [1 favorite]

were you able to get pregnant after taking EC in the past? Did EC affect your fertility at all?

I've been on the pill for as long as I've been sexually active, so I've never taken EC, but:

-Emergency contraception is essentially a super dose of hormonal BC. Which does not affect fertility.
-The reason that people might think that emergency contraception affects fertility or has horrible side effects is the ridiculously stupid, overblown right wing rhetoric around birth control, women's sexuality, and reproductive rights. Plan B is not dangerous, but it has a bad reputation thanks to political bullshit.
-Pregnancy will affect your body wayyy more than one dose of emergency contraception.
posted by ablazingsaddle at 10:46 PM on July 28, 2013 [1 favorite]

I took it once about eight years ago, following a condom malfunction with my then boyfriend who is now my husband. Contraception, including Plan B, is free on prescription in the UK, and I think at the time Plan B was prescription-only. So we went to our local walk-in clinic the morning after, explained the situation, was given a prescription, then went to a pharmacy to collect the tablets. I think things have changed since then, and there's now the option to get the tablets without prescription, (meaning there's no need to see a nurse/doctor), but at a price.

I had some nausea and PMS-style moodiness but that was all. As for fertility, I gave birth six weeks ago to a healthy boy.
posted by altolinguistic at 3:50 AM on July 29, 2013

I took Plan B about a year ago. Condom slipped. It wasn't a big deal at all. I had some cramps but no biggie.
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 7:38 AM on July 29, 2013

Condom broke, and I knew I was real close to ovulating, but this was many years ago so I had to wait until the next day. I was sitting in the waiting room at PP when I got implantation cramps. Took the Plan B anyway, had zero side effects. Exactly as designed, it didn't work, and I had to move on to Plan C.

As others have said, Plan B is basically several days of hormonal birth control. It is not an abortifacient. Depending on the point in your cycle, it can either interrupt/delay ovulation or prevent a fertilized egg from implanting. After that - after viable pregnancy begins - it does nothing. It has as much effect on future fertility as taking hormonal birth control for less than a week.
posted by Lyn Never at 9:15 AM on July 29, 2013

Response by poster: We also had condom slippage, like many of you. I took Plan B at 8:45 AM today, and am physically feeling fine and mentally feeling much more at ease. Thanks for sharing, Mefites! Your experiences and knowledge helped diminish my fears about taking it.

Also, I really appreciate all the extra information about contraception in general.
posted by horizonseeker at 3:11 PM on July 29, 2013 [1 favorite]