Here’s a not-so-fun scenario for you: The condom broke (or was never on in the first place), your partner finishes inside you, and you’re not on any type of birth control at the moment. It happens! So if your next move is to find the nearest drug store to snag a quick Plan B, it makes sense. What might be a bit more unclear, though, is what to expect after taking a Plan B, especially with all the confusion around its side effects and the endless misinformation about the medication as a whole.
That said, let me quickly clear up some things. Plan B, which is casually known as "the morning-after pill," is a type of emergency contraception that comes as an over-the-counter pill (meaning you don't need a prescription for it). It contains a high dose of hormones to block a pregnancy from happening after unprotected P-in-V sex. “When taken correctly, Plan B prevents a pregnancy from ever occurring and cannot prevent or end a pregnancy that is already taking place,” explains ob-gyn Tia Jackson-Bey, MD, a reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist at Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York. Meaning Plan B is absolutely *not* the same as the abortion pill.
If you're here because you're getting ready to pop that Plan B, or considering buying one, but want a full picture on how it will effect your body first, then we got you. Keep scrolling for everything you need to know about Plan B side effects, who they effect, how long they last, and more.
What happens when I take Plan B?
Plan B is *not* the same as an abortion pill. It works with your body to prevent a pregnancy from ever occurring, not end one that's already taken place. In short, it does this by delaying ovulation, says Raegan McDonald-Mosley, MD, MPH, who is the CEO of reproductive health non-profit Power to Decide. It's recommended to take Plan B within 72 hours after having unprotected sex, and if so, it can decrease a chance of getting pregnant by up to 89 percent, according to Planned Parenthood. "It won’t work if you’ve already ovulated," adds Dr. McDonald-Mosley.
Plan B’s active ingredient is levonorgestrel, a synthetic form of the hormone progesterone that’s found in many hormonal birth controls. The difference here, per Dr. Jackson-Bey, is that there’s a much higher dosage of levonorgestrel compared to regular contraception. “This large, concentrated dose disrupts the body’s normal hormone patterns, which is why it’s so time-sensitive,” she explains. “This is what delays ovulation, and ultimately preventing fertilization.” How? Well, if you’re not ovulating, there’s no egg hanging around the fallopian tubes for the sperm to meet up with.
And if you had unprotected P-in-V intercourse around the time you normally ovulate? “Don’t push the 72-hour rule—you should take Plan B as soon as you can,” explains Dr. Jackson-Bey.
Where can I get Plan B right now?
Read this carefully: Plan B is legal in all 50 states. Local drug stores, like CVS or Walgreens, or even retailers like Target, usually carry Plan B. You don’t need a prescription for it, says Savita Ginde, MD, former chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, and it’ll likely cost you between $35 and $50 at the checkout counter. You can get the morning-after pill for free if you have Medicaid, and you can access low-cost or free emergency contraception from your local Planned Parenthood or reproductive health clinic (provided those are still open, of course). If there’s no way of accessing Plan B near you, don’t worry. You can order emergency contraception online with super-fast shipping from services like Nurx, Favor, and Wisp.
Dr. Ginde notes that it’s safe for you to take emergency contraception as often as needed, but you don’t wanna rely on your stock of Plan B pills as your regular form of birth control. “These pills are also less effective than other forms of regular and routine birth control,” says Dr. Ginde. “If you find yourself using them more than a couple of times, talk with your provider about the many (more effective) forms of birth control that can be reliably used on a regular basis.”
What are the side effects of Plan B?
I’m so glad you asked! While Dr. Jackson-Bey stresses that they do vary from person to person, general side effects of Plan B include the following:
- Changes in your menstrual cycle (like irregular bleeding or late periods)
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Gastrointestinal problems (constipation, diarrhea, bloating, etc.)
- Tender breasts
- Headaches
"If you throw up within an hour of taking a dose of Plan B, it’s best to take it again," says Dr. McDonald-Mosley. I know—these symptoms are suuuper similar to early pregnancy symptoms, which is the last thing you want to hear after taking emergency contraception. Luckily, when taken correctly, within 72 hours of intercourse, Plan B does its job. But if you’re still stressed about getting pregnant, pop by your provider for extra security. It can’t hurt, right?
How long do Plan B side effects usually last?
Again, it totally varies from person to person—but here’s what Dr. Jackson-Bey says you might expect:
- Day 1: After taking the pill, you might have some mild side effects. Some people experiencing nausea may end up vomiting within a couple of hours of taking the pill, so it’s important to take another dose to make sure it’s effective.
- Days 2 to 3: You’ll continue to feel mild side effects like headache, fatigue, breast tenderness, etc.
- Days 4 to 5: At this point, most people are no longer feeling their side effects, but you may have some lingering breast tenderness or headaches.
- The next few weeks to a month: Menstrual changes are super common here. Depending on when you took the pill in your cycle, you may skip your period or have irregular spotting.
However, if you’re continuing to feel the same side effects after a week—or if they have gotten worse and include severe abdominal pain on one side or excessive vomiting—pick up the phone and see your doctor. Or if you are experiencing extreme symptoms of an allergic reaction, like hives, trouble breathing, or swelling in your face, lips, tongue, or throat, that’s a rare but serious red flag to seek medical attention ASAP, Dr. Ginde says.
And before you stress, Plan B will *not* eff up your menstrual cycle in any way. "Your next period may be a little early or a little late, and it may be lighter or heavier than normal, and some people experience no change at all," says Dr. McDonald-Mosley. If there are any changes, your cycle should return to its normal self after about a month or so.
How can I relieve Plan B side effects?
Yeah, if you’re feeling even remotely sh*tty, I get that you wanna find a quick fix. The most important thing Dr. Jackson-Bey suggests is to stay hydrated. Meanwhile, any headaches or breast tenderness can be treated with an OTC painkiller like Advil or Tylenol.
Otherwise, just rest up! Feeling fatigued? Acknowledge that you’re feeling off for a reason and curl up with a good Netflix show. Remember that this is totally temporary and you *will* be back to normal soon.
Who can use Plan B?
One thing to note: Unfortunately, Plan B may be less effective in people with a weight of 155 pounds or higher, which is extremely limiting. “If you’re worried that Plan B may not work for you because of your weight, consider reaching out to your ob-gyn and using an alternative form of emergency contraception, like the copper IUD,” suggests Dr. Jackson-Bey. Going this route "is the most effective emergency contraception out there," says Dr. McDonald-Mosley, "plus you can keep it in if you are interested in it as long-term birth control." You have a five-day window after unprotected sex to get a copper IUD, adds Dr. Ginde.
If you don’t wanna go through an IUD insertion (especially since they can be wildly painful), there are other brands of emergency contraception besides Plan B that may be more effective if you weigh more than 155 pounds. And if you don’t have a regular medical provider or if you’re feeling nervous about speaking with any reproductive health care providers right now (understandable), check out Bedsider for more info on the emergency contraception options out there for you.
The bottom line
Plan B is a perfectly safe and easily accessible pill to take when you’re in need of emergency contraception. While you might feel a few side effects, overall you’ll probably find them to be super mild and manageable. Still, if you’re nervous that the emergency contraception didn’t work for whatever reason or your side effects are lasting longer than a handful of days, make an appointment to see your provider.
Christen A. Johnson is the senior lifestyle editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers health and wellness, home, sports, astrology, food, travel and more for print and digital. She also dabbles in culture writing, and wrote Cosmo's first-ever digital cover story. Before joining the magazine, Christen was a lifestyle features reporter at the Chicago Tribune. Several of her health and style stories made the paper's front page. When Christen isn't digging through antique stores, she's likely drooling over home renos on HGTV, sharing her latest therapy revelation, redoing old workouts from her college basketball days, or trying to perfect her homemade buttermilk biscuit recipe. Follow her on Insta for BTS ~ editor life ~ tingz!
