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EC Plan B contraception twice in same month + menstrual period

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jem905

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Joined: 07 Nov 2007
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EC Plan B contraception twice in same month + menstrual period
Posted: 11-21-07 22:09pm

I took plan B on November 7 and had some brown spotting the day of and day after I took it.

On November 12 I got really heavy bleeding and I'm assuming it was my period, which lasted till November 15-16. 5 days is usually the number of days it lasts, so I'm pretty sure it was my period.

I had sex on November 21 and the condom broke.
I think I'm going to take plan B tomorrow.. and I know, please don't tell me I'm stupid because I know I am, but do you think I should take a test first? I'm so scared of taking it EC twice in the same month...

My periods are really irregular, in October I had it from 19th to 24th, should I not expect my period for quite some time?

Just any information at all would help please, I'd be so grateful..
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Katrinadoodle

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Joined: 02 Nov 2007
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Posted: 11-21-07 22:33pm

I don't know how Plan B works... I went to their website and they said it shouldn't be used as the main for of birth control, but I couldn't find anything about any health reasons why it couldn't be used again.

I say, take it, and get on the pill, so you're protected even if the condom breaks again.

And it doesn't matter if you take a pregnancy test, it will come up negative for a few more weeks.
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jessamyn

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Posted: 11-22-07 14:31pm

Please dont do this.. test first because seriously I have gone through the whole plan B ordeal with people and you should NOT take it twice in one month it even advises you of you of that.. it is intended in case of emergency and on occasion.

why are you not on birth control?
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Katrinadoodle

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Joined: 02 Nov 2007
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Posted: 11-22-07 17:23pm

By the time she'd take a test and get an accurate result it'd be too late to take the Plan B, so what's the point?
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prettygirlygirl

Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 28 Mar 2006
Posts: 213

Posted: 11-22-07 20:01pm

I'm no doctor, but I do beleive it is safe to take plan B twice in one month. You should call a pharmacist, hotline, or planned parenthood and ask them first though.

Are you sure the bleeding you had from Nov 12 -15 was your period? Is that the time it was scheduled to show up? Plan B doesn't actually give you your period, but it can give you withdrawl bleeding a few days later that looks like a real period. You still should have had your period on time (maybe a day or two early or late depending on what time in your cycle you took it).

Anyway, go to planned parenthood (or wherever it is you get your plan b) and ask if it's okay to take again. Make sure you give them all the same info you gave us.

Good luck
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PixieKat

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Joined: 20 Nov 2007
Posts: 201
Location: UT,

Posted: 11-22-07 21:13pm

I have a friend who took the plan b, but she still ended up getting pregnant and didnt even know it for a while, We dont know why exactly it didnt work when she took it. but if it would make you feel safer you can take a pregnancy test, if you got pregnant from the nov 7th time than you should beable to tell.. Because if you did by chance get preg from the 7th, the planned b would just be a waiste of money because it wouldnt work now anyways.. if that makes sence. I say take a test (you can find some pretty cheep ones at walmart) and if it comes back - than go buy a plan b
AND just wanted to let you know you are not stupid. You were being safe and using a condom, how were you to know it would break?

Good luck to you, happy turkey day
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Verizon-y

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Posted: 11-22-07 23:39pm

All it takes is a free phone call to 1-888-NOT-TOO-LATE, to find out exactly how you can take Plan B.

You must take it as soon as possible if you do take it, because it works if you take it BEFORE you ovulate.
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prettygirlygirl

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Joined: 28 Mar 2006
Posts: 213

Posted: 11-23-07 02:02am

futureshock wrote:


You must take it as soon as possible if you do take it, because it works if you take it BEFORE you ovulate.


Really? Is that why the success rate is only 87%? If you've already ovulated is it a lost cause? Does that mean that if a pregnancy would have occured (due to the timing of sex and ovulation) Plan B will not do anything to prevent it? Do you have a link with more information? I did a quick google search and didn't see anything. Sorry, I hate to question your information (and I promise I'm not doing it to be a jerk, I'm genuinely curious), but I hate to be ignorant on something as important as emergency conception should I end up in a position to have to use it.
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Carifairy

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Posted: 11-23-07 10:47am

PLAN B ONLY prevents ovulation.

Here is a great study that was done.

Volume 75, Issue 2, Pages 112-118 (February 2007)

Effectiveness of levonorgestrel emergency contraception given before or after ovulation

Natalia Novikovaa, Edith Weisbergab, Frank Z. Stanczykc, Horacio B. Croxattod, Ian S. Fraserab

Received 3 July 2006; received in revised form 28 August 2006; accepted 29 August 2006 published online 30 October 2006.

Abstract
Background
Although widely used, the mechanisms of action of the levonorgestrel emergency contraceptive pill (LNG ECP) are still unclear. There are increasing data to indicate that LNG is particularly effective as an ECP by interrupting follicular development and ovulation. An important outstanding question is whether it has any effect on fertilization or implantation.

Method
Ninety-nine women participated; they were recruited at the time they presented with a request for emergency contraception. All women took LNG 1.5 mg in a single dose during the clinic consultation. A blood sample was taken immediately prior to ingestion of the ECP for estimation of serum LH, estradiol and progesterone levels to calculate the day of ovulation. The specimens were analyzed in a single batch. Based on these endocrine data, we estimated the timing of ovulation to be within a ±24-h period with an accuracy of around 80%. Women were followed up 4–6 weeks later to ascertain pregnancy status. The effectiveness of ECP when taken before and after ovulation was determined.

Results
Three women became pregnant despite taking the ECP (pregnancy rate, 3.0%). All three women who became pregnant had unprotected intercourse between Days −1 and 0 and took the ECP on Day +2, based on endocrine data. Day 0 was taken as ovulation day. Among 17 women who had intercourse in the fertile period of the cycle and took the ECP after ovulation occurred (on Days +1 to +2), we could have expected three or four pregnancies; three were observed. Among 34 women who had intercourse on Days −5 to −2 of the fertile period and took ECP before or on the day of ovulation, four pregnancies could have been expected, but none were observed. We found major discrepancies between women's self-report of stage of the cycle and the dating calculation based on endocrine data.

Conclusion
These data are supportive of the concept that the LNG ECP has little or no effect on postovulation events but is highly effective when taken before ovulation.

Keywords: Emergency contraception, Pregnancies, Ovulation, Timing of intercourse, Timing of emergency contraception
http://www.contraceptionjournal. org/article/PIIS0010782406003611/abstract< /a>
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janie xoxo

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Joined: 24 Jul 2007
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Posted: 11-23-07 18:50pm

dont be worried just take it before its too late. i took plan b twice in the same week..
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PenguinsRus

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Posted: 11-23-07 18:54pm

janie xoxo wrote:
dont be worried just take it before its too late. i took plan b twice in the same week..


Why would you take plan b twice in a week?

It is great you were being responsible to prevent pregnancy, but did you really not use protection twice in a week?

Maybe you should buy some condoms or get on birth control. It is much less harsh on your body and more effective at preventing pregnancy.
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young Girl

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Joined: 21 Jun 2007
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Posted: 11-23-07 18:56pm

janie xoxo wrote:
dont be worried just take it before its too late. i took plan b twice in the same week..


yeah
thats not good
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janie xoxo

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Joined: 24 Jul 2007
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Posted: 11-23-07 18:59pm

i know. thats why im on bc pills now.
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Tylanas

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Posted: 11-23-07 19:14pm

Just now? If this is the first week you have ever taken them, please make sure to use condoms this first week or just plain ABSTAIN. Once you have taken birth control for a full week you will be safe every day of every month, even during the Placebo (sugar pill) week.
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