Can You Take Plan B And Birth Control

When you need to take emergency contraception like Program B, it'due south usually just that — an emergency. Maybe a condom broke, for example. Or maybe you were taking a hormonal nascency control pill, only after having sexual activity realized you'd missed a few days that month, and chose to have Program B for extra security. This is a full valid and common feel — merely, in that case, you might wonder whether it'southward safe to take Program B on nascence control. Does Plan B abolish out birth control, pregnant y'all should cease taking the pill for the remainder of the month? Or should you go on taking your regular nascency command as usual, and just employ a backup method of birth control (like condoms) until you first a fresh pack? And what virtually if y'all took a different type of emergency contraceptive, like the prescription-just Ella?

These are all mutual questions, which is why POPSUGAR spoke with two OB-GYNs. They answered all our nigh pressing concerns and queries almost Plan B and birth command. More about whether it's safe to take Plan B while taking nativity control, whether y'all should go along taking birth control after taking Programme B, and how long you need a backup method of birth control subsequently taking a forenoon afterwards pill, alee.

What Is Plan B and How Does It Work?

First, some background. Plan B works past interfering with ovulation so fertilization tin't occur, thereby preventing pregnancy. It contains progestin, a synthetic grade of the sex hormone progesterone, and should be taken inside three days of unprotected sex. You tin can purchase it over the counter, and it sometimes causes side furnishings such as nausea, abdominal hurting, and irregular bleeding. Worth noting: Depending on what morning-later on pill you accept, if you are over a certain BMI, there's a chance it may not be equally effective, though the FDA says bear witness for this is limited.

Tin You lot Take Plan B While on Birth Control?

The Programme B website states, "Programme B does non bear on the effectiveness of any regular birth control methods, and so you can continue your regular nascency command right away — or beginning ane, if y'all don't take a regular method." The same goes for other progestin-only morning-after pills. This is the case whether you're taking a progestin-just nativity command, or a combination pill, which contains both estrogen and progestin (and is the more widely prescribed type in the US). "You can take both [Plan B and birth control] at the same time because it actually is simply like additional ovulation blocking. It's not something that is working by a completely different mechanism," explains Wendy Goodall McDonald, MD. "What confuses [people] is they feel like Plan B truly is a substitute for the nascence-control pill, and they'll finish taking their pill pack, which is not what nosotros desire them to practise," adds Natalie Crawford, MD, a board-certified ob-gyn and fertility md. Dr. McDonald suggests resuming your birth control one time a day from where you left off. (That existence said, consulting your ob-gyn, who'southward familiar with your personal wellness history and medication, is always a good thought.)

Tin You Take a Prescription Morning-Later on Pill on Birth Control?

Plan B is OTC, but in that location is a prescription morning-after pill, ulipristal acetate (UPA), which is most usually sold under the brand proper noun Ella. Information technology can exist taken up to five days after unprotected sex. And different Programme B, you cannot brainstorm taking birth control immediately after taking this type of morning-later on pill. Ella is a hormone blocker, and can keep a hormonal oral contraceptive from working effectively, according to Healthline. Then information technology'south suggested that you wait at least five days before yous start back up on your regular birth control (or begin birth command for the first time). Equally ever, though, talk to your doc for specific guidance when taking this drug.

Should I Use Condoms Later on Taking Plan B?

Later on taking Plan B, UPA, or some other type of emergency contraceptive, y'all may demand to use a backup method of birth command when having sex activity, like condoms, to finer forbid pregnancy. Dr. McDonald advises that you use backup contraception for at least a week after starting upwardly on birth control again after taking an emergency contraceptive (and call back that if you took UPA, you likewise have to expect at least v days before taking the pill again). Dr McDonald says that seven days is "a skilful full general window for preventing ovulation going forward," but it's still a good idea to inquire your doc for advice specific to you, your situation, and the pill y'all have, to be on the safe side. (Are y'all sensing a theme? When information technology comes to safeguarding your reproductive health, it's ever a practiced idea to talk to a healthcare professional you trust and so you can go advice specific to you, especially now.)

Condoms are important; y'all tin't count on a morning after pill to protect yous from pregnancy resulting from unprotected sexual activity y'all have immediately after taking the emergency contraception. "The effectiveness of either Program B or UPA is actually preventing pregnancy from an come across that could accept occurred three [with Program B] to five days [with UPA] ago, just that's not necessarily preventing pregnancy for a futurity see," Dr. McDonald says. And Dr. Crawford stresses that nativity command does not protect confronting STIs, so condoms are crucial in that sense also. (You may desire to get screened for STIs if you are taking an emergency contraceptive because your usual bulwark method of birth control, similar a condom, broke, slipped off, or failed.)

What Are Signs Plan B Didn't Work?

Dr. Crawford said she'll run across some patients get concerned that their birth control isn't working later on using Programme B because the morn-after pill can interfere with your period. She typically has to tell patients before they apply Programme B that they should expect an abnormal catamenia afterward due to the loftier dose of progestin, which could trigger menstruation. But if you're concerned the emergency contraceptive didn't work, your best bet is taking a pregnancy test. Planned Parenthood suggests taking one if you haven't gotten a period within three weeks of taking a morning later pill. But, again, y'all can also ask your doctor nigh the best fourth dimension to accept a pregnancy test.

Paradigm Source: Illustrated by Michelle Alfonso