The morning after pill is designed to protect women against pregnancy when accidents happen. Condoms break and women forget to take their birth control pills and sex with out protection happens. If you find yourself in a situation where you need to use the morning after pill—an emergency contraceptive that can be used up to 5 days after unprotected sex—you may have a few side effects.
Keep in mind that the morning after pill does not protect you from sexually transmitted infections (such as HIV) and should not be used on a regular basis to prevent pregnancy.
The Most Common Side Effect
Many women use the morning after pill—Plan B—with no problems. Others may experience nausea and vomiting. For most women, this only lasts for 24 hours. There are some over-the-counter anti-nausea and vomiting medications you could start before taking Plan B, but be sure to consider the side effects of these medications and any other medications you are currently taking.
Other Side Effects
Women who use the morning after pill may also experience breast tenderness, irregular bleeding, dizziness and headaches as well as the nausea and vomiting that is more common.
Irregular Periods
The morning after pill is made up by the same hormones in birth control pills. These hormones cause the side effects that women experience, as well as preventing pregnancy.
Women may experience irregular bleeding and spotting during the course of time that the pill is being used. When a woman uses the morning after pill, she can expect her next menstrual period to be different than normal. It may be late or early and may be lighter or heavier than normal. She may also experience some spotting and irregular bleeding during the month as well.
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