Plan B One-Step and Next Choice
The FDA has approved Plan B® One-Step, a new one-pill formulation of the emergency contraceptive Plan B.
Plan B® One-Step is one progestin-only pill (1.5 mg levonorgestrel) you take as soon as possible after unprotected intercourse (most effective within the first 24 hours). The i-Pill
is another one progestin-pill emergency contraceptive pill brand, from a different manufacturer.And speaking of new FDA approvals, the FDA also approved Next Choice™, a generic version of the original two-pill Plan B® formulation.
All clear? Let's review:
Plan B -- 2 pills (0.75 mg levonorgestrel/pill); take both pills at the same time as soon as possible after unprotected intercourse, up to 120 hours. **Plan B had been discontinued.**
Next Choice™ [Plan B generic version] -- 2 pills (0.75 mg levonorgestrel/pill); take both pills at the same time as soon as possible after unprotected intercourse, up to 120 hours.
Plan B® One-Step/i-Pill -- 1 pill (1.5 mg levonorgestrel); take the pill as soon as possible after unprotected intercourse, up to 120 hours.
Oh, and in case you forgot:
Although ACOG is encouraged by recent FDA actions, it reiterates its long-held position that there is no valid scientific or medical reason to impose an age restriction on the availability of EC because it is safe and effective for adolescents and women of all ages. ACOG again urges the FDA to withdraw the age restriction altogether and eliminate the behind-the-counter status for EC.
Check out the i-Pill Emergency Contraceptive Pill
at Amazon where it's on sale for only $19.98.ETA: I've added the information about the i-Pill to the original post.
Labels: emergency contraception, i-Pill, Next Choice, Plan B, Plan B One-Step
posted by ema @ 4:05 AM
411 comments
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411 Comments:
I don't understand the opposition to behind-the-counter status for EC. I think that having adequate counselling is important, especially for things like "what if it is after 120 hours" "will this interact with my other tablets" "what if I'm taking antibiotics" etc.
DHS --
As far as I'm aware, allowing Plan B to be available without a prescription doesn't eliminate having adequate counseling for the patient.
With respect to questions like "will this interact with my other medications" or "what if I'm taking antibiotics," a pharmacist may actually be more able to accurately answer those questions than the prescribing doctor, NP, midwife, etc. Doctors, for example, have to know a lot of things about a lot of different aspects of health care. For pharmacists, though, knowing about the effects of different medications is the vast majority of their job.
Additionally, according to Princeton University's EC Site, Plan B is overall a very safe substance. That's not to say that it doesn't produce side effects, but not serious ones -- and "medical experts agree there are no situations where the risks outweigh the benefits of being able to prevent pregnancy after sex."
In a place where everyone has easy access to a doctor 24/7, over-the-counter Plan B might not matter so much. However, that doesn't describe real life for everyone. Personally, I've had 2 IUDs expel on 2 separate Friday nights -- in a town where my only option for obtaining a Plan B prescription would have been to go to the emergency room. Having Plan B available over the counter at that time would have meant I could have driven myself to the 24-hour Walgreens, talked with the pharmacist, purchased and taken Plan B, and saved myself a lot of anxiety.
Tori,
I agree entirely. That's why I support Plan B being available without prescription, but behind-the-counter: you must request it personally from a pharmacist, so that counselling can be performed.
This is the situation with albuterol locally; it is kept behind-the-counter but available without a prescription.
DHS,
The behind-the-counter status of Plan B has nothing to do with the availability of/need for counseling.
The finding of the FDA medical panel was that Plan B should be sold OTC (not behind-the-counter) because the drug met the standards set by the FDA for drugs going from Rx-only to OTC.
(Without help, users should be able to:
1. Diagnose the problem themselves.
2. Can be trusted to treat the problem effectively.
3. Can understand the drug's label.)
The only reason Plan B is available behind-the-counter is because of a politically-based age restriction.
What ACOG opposes is the use of political criteria to determine drug availability.
DHS,
I'm still stuck on the statement, "medical experts agree there are no situations where the risks outweigh the benefits of being able to prevent pregnancy after sex."
If this is true, can you explain why there would still be a need not to put Plan B out on the shelves?
If this is not true, can you provide an example where the risks of taking Plan B would outweigh the benefit of being able to prevent pregnancy?
Any way u slice it...Plan B, is better than Plan D&C!!!!
I just recently took Next Choice and wanted to know if both pills are the same or are they both different. The directions say take pill #1 first but I accidently took pill #2 first. So are both pills the same or is pill #1 different than pill #2?
Anon @ 5:25 PM,
Both pills are the same so you're OK. Next time you use Next Choice just take both pills at the same time.
Why do you recommend to take Both pills at the same time?? although it says take 1 first and the second one 12h after??
Anon @1:56AM,
Because research shows that taking both pills at the same time is as effective/safe as taking the two doses.
By taking both pills at the same time you reduce the risk of forgetting to take the second dose.
Is it safe and still effective if you are over 18 and take the generic brand, b/c that is what the pharmacy sold me even though the box says different. Is it still the same drug as the original.
Is it ok for you to take both the plan b pill and the birth control pill at the same time? When are you suppose to take the birth control pill after plan b pill?
Anon @ 3:36,
Yes, it's both safe and effective.
hai,
No, you shouldn't take Plan B and the birth control pill at the same time. If you're taking the Pill regularly you don't need Plan B.
When are you suppose to take the birth control pill after plan b pill?
Usually, just continue taking the Pill (or start a new pack, as the case may be) on the regular schedule once you've taken the Plan B dose.
The next "period" might be a bit off and there might be some breakthrough bleeding/spotting but that's normal; no need to worry.
I took one pill and had sex after well he did cum inside me and took the next pill at the 12 hour mark. Is the pill still gonna work?
Anon @ 3:06AM,
Most likely no. Take another full dose (1.5 mg--two pills, at the same time, if you're using Next Choice; one pill if you use Plan B One-Step or i-Pill) as soon as possible.
You might experience some breakthrough bleeding/spotting but that is normal; nothing to worry about.
Then talk to your Ob/Gyn about starting a regular method of birth control and consider using condoms.
One dose of emergency contraception is only effective against one act of unprotected intercourse and the timing of the regimen is important.
I took the next choice pill after having unprotected sex and had to take the next pill 12hrs laters but in the middle of the 12 hrs I had sex with a different guy and the condom broke am I still ok from not getting pregnant from the first guy, also this was less than 5 days of just getting off my period
I actually am ok with being pregnant from the guy I had sex within the 12hrs considering we are together but I need 2 know that the pill took care of the first gut just in case I do come out pregnant. He wants 2 have a baby and I don't want 2 go 9 mths wondering so I need 2 make sure I'm not pregnant from the first guy I had sex with and took the pill right after
I really want to know more on the last comment posted. Is it possible for her to get pregnant from the first guy she had sex with and is trying to prevent that pregnancy by taking the pill the way it was suppose to be taken
Anon @ 3:17AM,
Got it: unprotected sex, took first pill, condom accident took second pill w/in 12 hrs, all less than 5 days after finishing period. And the question is, do the ECPs offer protection from the first act, if not the second?
Most likely, no. The problem is that there were 2 acts of unprotected sex in a short time span (same, different partner, that's irrelevant as far as ECPs are concerned). All that matters is the timing.
The condom accident happened before you took the second pill so the full dose of ECP didn't have a chance to work.
Now, since all this happened w/in 5 days of finishing the period, you're most likely still in the follicular phase (the egg is still being matured in the ovary and hasn't been released yet) so fertilization is unlikely.
However, just to be on the safe side, if you're w/in 120 hrs (5 days) from when the condom accident happened, take 2 NC pills at the same time (one full ECP dose).
Your next period might be a bit off but that's to be expected.
Also, for the future, if you need to use ECP, either use a one-pill brand like Plan B One-Step or the i-Pill, or TAKE BOTH Next Choice PILLS AT THE SAME TIME. Don't wait for 12 hrs between the two pills.
Anon @ 3:57 AM,
Yes, unfortunately it's possible. You need a full dose (2 pills for Next Choice) for full protection against ONE act of unprotected sex. By taking one pill and then introducing more sperm into the equation, you diminish the ECPs protective effect against both the initial act of unprotected sex and the subsequent condom accident.
i want to know does (next choice) work the same way as the (plan b pill)? and at the time this happened she was on her period for her 2nd day.
alex33,
Yes, Next Choice works the same way as Plan B. NC is just the generic form of Plan B.
Hey i have a question. Ok If you took the Next Choice's first pill. But the second pills 24hrs later does that affect the process of stopping the pregnancy, like could their be a chance the pill WONT WORK??and could be pregnant....
Does anyone have any answers or thoughts of what could happen?
Anon @8:40 PM,
Most likely it's OK. Research shows that progestin-only brands like Next Choice are equally effective if you take the two doses at the same time, take them 12 hours apart as recommended, or wait as long as 24 hours to take the second dose.
Okay so i had unprotected sex the guy didn't cum inside me but i still decided to take Next Choice just in case. I took the first pill but the second one instead of taking exactly at 12hours i took it like 15hours later. is there any chance the pill wont work? should i take the pills again?
Anon @ 2:29AM,
You should be fine; no need to take the pills again. Just keep in mind that, should you have the need to use ECP in the future, you can take both pills at the same time and you don't have to worry about the second dose.
i used next choice about a month ago and had spotting/bleeding which was normal. its time for my period bit i havent gotten it for this month. should i be worries or that bleeding was an early period?
actually, you're not supposed to take both pills at the same time, you're supposed to take one and then take the second 12 hours later.
Anon @ 6:50 AM,
It sounds like the spotting/bleeding you had after taking the pills was the period; hard to tell without knowing the time sequence. In any case, if you are concerned about the possibility of pregnancy, take a home pregnancy test and consult your Ob/Gyn.
Anon @ 6 PM,
That's incorrect. Research shows that taking both pills at the same time is equally effective to taking the pills 12 hrs apart.
Taking both pills at the same time, as soon as possible after the act of unprotected intercourse, makes it less likely to forget to take the second dose 12 hrs later.
I have a question...I started using Ortho tri cyclen lo..I take the pill everyday at the same time without missing a pill...I had unprotected sex on a Sunday in witch I start the dark blue pill on the pack..On Monday I did NextChoice took the first pill took the other pill 12hours later..I started my placebo pills..but I have only spotting no period am I at risk?????
Anon @ 6:27 PM,
If you've been taking the Ortho pill regularly without missing any of the active pills, no you're not at risk of pregnancy.
Because you took the Next Choice (an extra progestin dose on top of the E/P of your regular pill) your withdrawal bleeding is going to be a bit off--in both timing and character. This is to be expected, no need to worry.
I know this post is old but I have a question. 4 days after multiple unprotected sex encounters (right within my ovulation window}, I took pill 1 of the Next Choice. I waited 12 hours and went to take my 2nd pill only to discover my clueless boyfriend accidently thew away the pack!! I'm freaking out. Should I get another pack or do u think I'm ok w/ just the one dose??
Naomi,
A full dose (2 pills) of Next Choice covers only *one* act of unprotected intercourse so even if you had taken the full dose you'd be at a disadvantage.
So, no, you're not protected. Get a new pack immediately and TAKE BOTH PILLS AT THE SAME TIME (I'm not yelling, just emphasizing; time is of the essence here!).
In addition, keep an eye out for your next period. Make sure you get it within 1-2 weeks. If there's no bleeding w/in 2 weeks, take a pregnancy test.
Hope this helps.
I had sex yesterday around 7pm come to find out they guy didn't use protection so I panicked and we went to buy next choice i took one pill at 1030pm and the other at 1030am. please tell me im not pregnant!
Anon @ 3:16 AM,
Heh, I'm quite good but I'm still not able to accurately diagnose pregnancy over the Internet.
On a serious note, it sounds like you took the first pill relatively shortly after unprotected intercourse, and the second pill w/in 12 hours, so you should be protected. For the future, 1) birth control/condom :-), 2) take both pills at the same time, should the need arise for emergency contraception.
should I take another full dose to be safer?
Anon @ 9:06AM,
No, one dose (2 pills) is enough to do the job and protect you from pregnancy. Taking additional doses will not make it that more potent (unfortunately, that's not the way it works*) but will probably succeed in making you nauseous.
I realize it's easy for me to say this, but just relax now; you've taken the appropriate precautions. Keep an eye out for your next period and everything should be fine.
*If you're wondering if you should take an additional pack because you read my response to Naomi, keep in mind that hers is a very different situation, one that does not apply to you.
ok thanks and im just scared that's all I have to be more careful but things like this make me want to stop having sex. I wanted to know how effective is this pill and how many women ended up pregnant even though they took the pill?
Here is a good explanation of ECP's effectiveness:
Usually, if 100 women have unprotected sex one time during the second or third week of their monthly menstrual cycle, 8 of them will get pregnant. But if those same 100 women use Plan B, only one will get pregnant. Put another way, this is an 89% reduction in the expected number of pregnancies. And if you take these progestin-only emergency contraceptive pills within the first 24 hours after sex, they reduce your risk of pregnancy by up to 95%.
(If you have the time and interest, some more on the effectiveness of emergency contraception; a bit of meadspeak, but not too bad.)
how will i know if the pills worked within the 3 day period?
is anyone going to answer my question???
Anon @ 1:29PM,
We blog at your disposal :-). Which 3 day period do you mean?
I took next choice a few days ago. I forgot to take the second. So I only had half a dose. What could that mean?
Anon @ 3:11 AM,
Unfortunately, it means you won't be protected. Make sure your period comes when it's suppose to come (you can take a home pregnancy test for your peace of mind) and, for the future:
1) Consider using a regular method of birth control like the Pill or the IUD.
2) If the need for ECP arises again, *take both pills at the same time*.
What if your under the age of 17 and you still take the pills without a doctor's permission?
Anon @ 6:40 AM,
Not sure what you're asking? Will the ECP work if you're younger than 17? Yes, of course it will.
A prescription is required for those 17 and younger for political and religious reasons, not medical ones.
Once a person is past menarche (first period) she's biologically sexually mature. This doesn't mean one should have sex. It means the physiological processes are the same as in a more mature person and ECP has the same effect.
ok...last month i had just finished my period then, then i took next choice b/c the condom tore, a week later i had my period again. fast forward a month...i had been spotting about 4 days then finally started my period, now that my period is over (5 day cycle) i am still spotting 2 days later. is this a side effect from taking next choice?
Also i had unprotected sex w my bf on the 7th day of my 28day cycle (he didnt cum in me) is there a chance i could get pg?
Anon @ 3:37 PM,
Yes, it's normal for the first regular period after ECP to be a bit different than usual.
Yes, there is a risk of pregnancy. Have you considered using a method of birth control on a regular basis, like the Pill or the IUD?
To Ema & the other girls wondering if plan b/next choice would work if a guy released inside of you in the middle of the 12hr regime. YES! You would STILL be protected. The pills kill any sperm that is released inside of you up to I believe 24/48 hours. (might want to double check that timeframe). But a woman is still protected from the time she takes the 1st pill to 12hrs later when she takes the second pill and then to 24/48 hours AFTER 2nd pill is taken. OR if both pills were taken at same time then the girl has a 2-3 day window in which she will continue to be protected.
Also this is in regards to the anonymous woman who had sex w/ two different men. You had unprotected sex w/ 1 man, took the EC, had unprotectd sex w/ the 2nd man, then took the 2nd pill. YES you ARE (or WERE) STILL protected, for TWO reasons. One, because the pills work for a 2-3 day time period AFTER taking second (or both) pills. So it wouldn't have mattered if a guy cummed inside of you 9 times, the pills were effective & working in your system during that time, you're fine.
And Two, because a woman's & man's bodies are so amazing!!
Get this: When a man releases his sperm inside of a female, think of it as sorta "marking his territory", so if a woman has sex w/ another man, the 2nd man's sperm acts as an intruder & the 1st man's sperm actually KILLS the 2nd man's sperm. It's a natural defense system that occurs inside of a woman if two seperate man's sperms enter inside of a woman in a close time period. So whomever man's sperm FIRST entered the woman, then HIS sperm is the "man of the house" and will terminate any other sperm that enters thereafter (within an alloted time of course-sperm usually lives up to 5 days inside of a woman, so after that then 1st man's sperm would have died off by itself, allowing 2nd man's sperm to become dominate). Our bodies are amazing in that a woman's body is capable of handling this so called "battle of the sperms" inside of her. Isn't that awesome? Check it out in full detail on like the discovery website or something. it's crazy cool. So Ema my dear, I believe you've been misleading to these women & need to do some MAJOR research!!!!!! Pick up a phone & call a local women's clinic, they'll tell u the same thing!!!
rosemary,
So Ema my dear, I believe you've been misleading to these women & need to do some MAJOR research!!!!!! Pick up a phone & call a local women's clinic, they'll tell u the same thing!!!
I appreciate you informing us of your personal beliefs but, when it comes to medical matters, you have to take care and avoid confusing your beliefs, odd as they may be, with facts.
Briefly, the main mechanism of action for the ECP brands under discussion is ovulation inhibition.
Furthermore, these pills have no effect on sperm; the levonorgestrel in ECPs does not kill sperm.
Last, but not least, the efficacy (pregnancy protection ability) of ECPs is based on *a single act* of unprotected intercourse.
It's not enough to believe that ECPs have some magical extended protective effect and can kill sperm with just a dirty look. You need evidence for that. Of which there is none.
(This would be a good time to remind everybody that progestin-ony ECPs make for quite unreliable regular use contraceptives, with an >20% failure rate.)
Bottom line: While we can speculate that ECPs would probably still be protective if a new act of unprotected intercourse occurred *immediately* after taking them, it would be irresponsible to assume it is true.
so, i took next choice after fooling around with my boyfriend, first tuesday night, then wednesday. i have taken the first dose and will take the second around 2am because i wanted to truly follow the directions on the package. will i be protected just as well as if i took both at once? by the time i take the second, it will still be before the 72 hour window from the tuesday. are the odds that i'm fine? i did not have straight intercourse with him; it's truly a precaution from taking a romantic bath together. i talked to planned parenthood and told them everything, including that he didn't ejaculate but got an erection (precum?) and they suggested i take the EC.
so, long story short, what are my odds? very good that nothing will be wrong? there's even 80 bajillion answers about what happens to possible sperm in a bubble bath anyway.
Anon @ 10:54 PM,
If you follow the package instructions and take the second dose 12 hrs later, you are protected and odds are that nothing will be wrong.
And, for the future, maybe consider using a regular method of birth control like the Pill or the IUD.
So me and my boyfriend fooled around on a Monday night.. We didn't have sexual intercourse but he did cum and some got in he's hands.. He wiped them on a chloth and then touched me down there n fingered me.. We were worried that maybe some of the sperm got inside me so I took Next choice on the 3rd day after that night. Do you think that i'll be safe or I may have some risk in gettin pregnant?
Anon @ 2:11 AM,
Yes, you should be safe since you took it within 72 hrs. (In the future, don't wait so long; take it as soon as possible. Also, consider using a regular method of birth control.)
Thank you so much :) ..
Hello, so I'm not sure but I think I may have been ovulating and I had unprotected sex. I took Next Choice(both pills) 24 hours after sex but then had unprotected sex again a few hours after taking the pills. Is it likely that I am pregnant even though I took the pill?
Hi, I'm very concerned right now. So i'm on BC right now and I had unprotected sex with my boyfriend on Sunday. I took the first Next Choice pill on Monday at 11PM, then the second one on Tuesday at 11AM. I'm supposed to be on my period this week since i'm on my last row on my BC. Will I have my period anytime soon?
Anon @ 4:01 PM,
Yes it's possible, but hard to tell how likely.
You took both pills w/in 24 hrs of the first unprotected sex episode--very good, and you're most likely protected. (The fact that you might've been ovulating complicates things a bit as ECPs work better in the first half of the cycle vs. the second part, after ovulation.)
You then had unprotected sex again a few hrs later. This can be a problem because one dose of ECP (two pills) is designed to protected only against *one* act of unprotected sex, the first one in your case. Now, if you had sex again immediately after you took the pills, you're most likely protected. The problem is we have no studies to tell us how long after you took the pills you can have sex again and be protected (30 minutes, 1 hr, 2 hrs?).
Bottom line: Watch and make sure you get a period now and, for the future, 1) start using a regular method of birth control and consider using condoms, and 2) take the ECPs as soon as possible after unprotected sex. The sooner you take them, the better.
Anon @ 6:29 AM,
If you're on the Pill and you're taking it properly (one pill a day without skipping) you are not unprotected. The Pill protects against pregnancy for as long as you take it and there's no need to take Next Choice.
Since you already took ECPs it's likely that your next period will be a bit off (both in timing--it might not come at the expected time--and character--the flow and duration might be different than your usual). This is to be expected and it's not something to be concerned about.
For the future, just remember that if you take your Pill regularly you are protected against pregnancy; there's no need to take ECPs.
I didn't take the second pill because I lost it and now... I can't get another pack of next choice pills. I don't know what my chances are can you help?
Anon @ 3:01 AM,
Are you still w/in the window period and do you have any friends who might have Next Choice? If yes, borrow one Next Choice pill and take it (not a good practice to borrow meds from friends; this is an exception!). How about any Planned Parenthood clinics in your area?
excuse me,on the second day of my period I had sexual relations with a friend..He didn't cum inside me( so he informed me) so as a pre- caution I took the generic version of Plan B...now its been 9 days and I still have spotting/bleeding...And I'm unaware of what is going on..Please help...
Anon @ 3:25 PM,
So you took ECPs at the start of your period and now you're still spotting/bleeding (how long does your period usually last?). Most likely just a nuisance side effect from the ECPs, nothing serious.
Expect the spotting/bleeding to subside in a few days and for your next period to come on time and be of regular duration.
And next time, consider using a regular method of birth control like the condom, or the Pill.
i took next choice a little over a week ago around my ovulation time..just a few days after i had unprotected sex again still within my expected ovulation time. That time I went without buying or taking the pill. I am expecting my period in a week but i got it today and it is not normal, it is very light and i'm not sure its going to last more than today. is this a sign of spotting or is my period just early and off?
Hello me and my boyfriend had sex and we used a condom but it ripped :/
and we bought the plan b next choice i took the first pill right away at 4:00p.m but forgot to take the next pill at 4:00 in the morning so i took it 5 hours late what will happen?
Anon @ 11:44 PM,
Most likely you're OK, as you took the second dose w/in 24 hrs. Next time, take both pills at the same time, or, if available, take a on-pill brand like Plan B One-Step or the i-Pill.
Ok so this girl and i had protected sex. During intercourse i accidently ejaculated in her. I pulled out and checked the condom, it didnt appear to slip down, damaged or leak. From the looks of things it had all the "content" still in it. Went and got her Next Choice and she took in the next morning. Think we are ok?
Anon @ 1:21 AM,
Yes, you are OK.
Ema, can you explain why you think we will be ok?
Anon @ 1:55 PM,
Sure. Two reasons, 1) a condom was used, properly as per your account, so low likelihood of wondering sperm, and 2) ECP was taken w/in a reasonable time-frame (I estimated "next morning" to be 8-12 hrs post coitus) so, even if we assume a defective condom/improper use, the ECP's protection is in effect.
Yes everything appeared ok, doubt any leaked on top if it did it was tiny amount. The act happened around 4pm and she took the first pill at 11am the nextday. Idk if this matters but she had just finished her period a day ago, will that affect anything?
No, not as far as the ECP's effectiveness. (It does, however, stack the odds in favor of no pregnancy; it's unlikely for ovulation--the release of a mature egg from the ovary--to occur on day 1 after end of menses).
One note, for the future: Both Next Choice pills should be taken at the same time (disregard package instructions), or use a one-dose brand like Plan B One-Step or the i-Pill.
I had unprotected sex, he penetrated me only two times. No ejaculation inside because i was within my ovulation time. I took the ECP next day-24 hrs one pill and 12 hrs later the next pill. would be any chance of pregnancy?
Ok i had sex about two nights ago. im not sure if my bf came in me or not. but i took the 1st pill at 3 p.m the next day and forgot to take it at 3 a.m, instead i took it at 10:00 a.m....omg please tell me if im still covered?!!
Had unprotected sex. He withdrew, but I'm aware that there could still be semen released before then. I believe I had sex on my 11th day of ovulation, so I'm very concerned about the rise in fertility then. I took the first pill approximately 7 hours after sex, and the second 12 hour later per the instructions. Should I continue to be as worried as I have been?
I had unprotected sex on Saturday, took my last inactive bc pill on saturday. Started new bc pack on Sunday at 1, took one next choice on sunday at 3:15. Will be taking second next choice at 3:15 am. What is the possibility of pregnancy?
Anon @ 5:28 PM,
You took the first pill w/in 24 hrs from the unprotected intercourse and then, 12 hrs later, you took the second dose? If yes, you are protected.
Anon @ 5:47 PM,
Although there are no hard data on this, most likely if the delay between taking the first and the second pill is less than 24 hrs you are still protected.
Anon @ 7:12 AM,
No need to be worried, just vigilant. Just make sure your period comes w/in ~3 wks.
Anon @ 3:22 AM,
You are on the Pill, correct? If yes, no need to use ECP.
Yes, I am on the pill, but wasn't sure if I should take ECP since I was on the last day of inactive pills. So should I still take the second next choice pill? The 12 hours is up at 315 am
Anon @ 3: 58 AM,
No need. If you're on the Pill (and you took it regularly) you are still protected, even during the 1 week of placebo pills.
The 3 weeks of active pills suppress the function of the ovary, so no eggs are matured/released. This ovarian inactivity carries over into the 1 wk of inactive pills, so you are still protected.
Just continue taking the regular Pill as instructed and you should be fine. Because you already took one dose of the ECP, on top of the Pill, your next withdrawal bleed might be a bit off (in timing and/or character) but that's nothing to be concerned about.
I just had sex about four days ago and the again two days ago, i just took the NC pill, both of them, will that cover for both days? he didn't finish inside me but is that irrelevant? also i have a very irregular period, it is usually up to two every two months and i'm not close to my next period. how will i know if it worked?
hi. i had unprotected sex with my girlfriend one hour after she ahd finished her period. but i did not ejaculate, but after i left that night i went and bought the next choice pills, and she took the first dose 13hrs after sex and then 12 hrs later the second dose. then six days later she started having cramps and heavy bleeding for 4 days and one day of spotting, is this normal, can the hormonal blast of the pills cause this. was it her period? shes also highly irregular and has mentioned to me several times before that some months she misses her period..its been a month since that "4 day period" can she be pregnant?
Okay so if I was on the last day of my period and had sex but I'm not sure if he pull out but but I took next choice like 6 hours later and then the second does 12 hours late ... Am I okay??
I took the next choice pill 7 days ago and have been having lower abdominal cramping and frequent urination are these common side effects or do u think there is some kind of problem
Anon @ 6:15 PM,
No, the full dose of NC you took only covers one episode of unprotected intercourse (the one you had 2 days before).
Because you have irregular periods, you have to be even more vigilant than if you had regular periods. If the NC worked, you should expect a bleeding episode w/in 3 weeks from the time you took it. Make sure you have one and, if not, take a home pregnancy test and consult your Ob/Gyn.
For the future, it would be best if you could use a regular method of birth control. Maybe discuss the available options with your Ob/Gyn.
sammysilenced,
Yes, the 4-day bleeding episode could be the result of the NC. If there's a concern about pregnancy, a home pregnancy test is a good idea, as well as a consult with an Ob/Gyn. Also, a discussion about using a regular method of birth control.
Anon @ 3:35 AM,
Yes, you're OK.
Anon @ 5:10 PM,
The cramping could be related to the NC, less so the frequent urination. A UTI (urinary tract infection) is a possibility. Any way for you to consult with your Ob/Gyn to rule that out?
I took the nc pill and you had told me that it only covers the first time I had sex. I was the 615. I had a four day period, or so I thought, did you mean that meant I was okayy or it was just the side effects of the nc?
Made a mistake the other day and had unprotected sex- thought that I was on my period and that it was unlikely for me to get pregnant. Realized that the bleeding was just spotting-- not real period, so I decided to do emergency contraceptive to be safe. Yesterday, I paid 45$ for Next Choice, took the first pill at 6:30PM, and then took the next one this morning around 7AM. I had been sort of contemplating having unprotected sex while still taking the pill- thinking "well, it's like a really expensive condom!"- and so, we had sex again around 9 AM, unprotected. I was fairly confident I was in the clear until I read this board--- an earlier poster did something similar and people warned her that she's not being protected against a second pregnancy-- but a post after that claimed that it's okay to take the second pill up to 24 hours later.... Please help me understand-- do I need to go buy more ECP's?
Thank you!
Hi. I had sex on Sunday with a condom and I fingered her and I think I had some precum on my fingers. I got her next choice on Tuesday. Is she pregnant?
i took Next Choice pill and it says to take the 2nd pill 12 hours later.
would it still work if you took the 2nd pill 5 hours later?
Anon @ 8:59 PM,
Assume the 4 day period means NC worked this time, but, and this is important, make sure you keep an eye out for your next period. Make sure it comes w/in 4-5 wks (you already have irregular periods so it might be a bit difficult to properly estimate when you're supposed to get the next period).
In any case, just to be on the safe side, if nothing happens w/in 6 wks, take a home pregnancy test to confirm you're not pregnant.
Last, but not least, it goes without saying that if you use NC again during this interval, all bets are off (the bleeding schedule will be thrown off even more, making it even more difficult to predict, based on bleeding, if the ECP worked).
Your best bet: abstain from intercourse, or use a regular method of birth control like, say, a condom.
Anon @ 2:47 PM,
Heh, a very expensive condom indeed. Nice idea but not grounded in science.
The NC dose (two pills) you took only covers the first act of unprotected intercourse, not the second, the 9AM one. Now, because the second act of intercourse occurred only 2 hrs after you took the 2nd NC pill, most likely you are still protected.
However, and this is the important point, we have no studies to tell us how long after you took NC you can still have sex and be protected. Maybe 1 hr, 2 hrs, maybe more? It's an educated guess that you're still probably protected, but I have no data to back that up, just a clinical consensus.
So, what to do now? Watch and make sure you get a period w/in 3-4 weeks. If at all possible, start using a regular method of birth control, like the IUD, the Pill, or the regular condom :-).
For the future, always keep in mind that one dose of ECP only covers one act of unprotected intercourse, make sure you have ECP handy (best to use one of the new one-pill brands like Plan B One-Step, the iPill, or ellaOne so you don't have to worry about taking a second pill at a later time).
Anon @ 1:51 AM,
Most likely, no (I'm very good, but still I cannot diagnose pregnancy over the Internet). The NC was taken w/in 48 hrs so it's still effective.
Anon @ 12:40 PM,
Yes, it's fine you took the second pill 5 hrs later. In fact, for the future, just take both pills at the same time or use one of the one-pill brands (Plan B One-Step, the iPill, or ellaOne).
Hi on July 3rd - 9th I was on my period n it was extremely heavy then I had another period on July 26th I can't remember if it was light or heavy and on the 29th I had unprotected sex with my boyfriend he said he thinks a little might of come out in me well on august 4th around midnight I had a one night stand we did n did not use a condom the guy claims he did not go in me so on Friday the 6th at 7pm I took the first next choice pill and then the second one on Saturday at 330pm because I forgot. Then on august 12th I had some very light spotting I also threw up this night and my boyfriend n I had unprotected sex & he came inside of me. Lately I haven't been feeling to well do u think I'm protected from the one night stand and could I be pregnant from July 29th or could I be showing pregnancy symptoms from the one night stand already
Alright, I have a question. Well first of all I'm a dude with a question. My girlfriend and I had sex for the first time and I didn't use protection twice, first ike at 4 am then again at 6 am. Later that day, we went to buy "Next Choice" she took the first pill at 2:30 pm and took the other one at 2:30 am. Is she at risk of getting pregnant?
ok so me and my gf had sex for the 2nd time and the condom broke, but i pulled out and cam. so should we be totally worried because we are going to use the next choice pill. should i be worried or not?
Not sure how often this is checked, but I have a question.
My periods usually come within 4-5 weeks. My last period ended on 8/7. My boyfriend and I had sex on 8/13, and for the first time ever in my sexual life, the condom broke. He did NOT ejaculate, but we were worried about pre ejaculation. We picked up NextChoice and I took it about 12 hours after the incident (8/14). I started bleeding today (8/20). According to what I've read on here, it's fairly common to bleed for 2-4 days. My main concern though, is with my period ranging 4-5 weeks apart, how late is too late for it to come? It should be here between 9/4 and 9/11. When would be the best time to get a pregnancy test to ensure I'm not pregnant (I know it's highly unlikely to get pregnant from pre ejaculation, but I am in no financial condition to have a baby right now). I also know I should get some kind of regular birth control, but unfortunately I am unemployed, do not have health insurance or the money to get on the pill.
Please let me know as soon as possible, and thank you so much for answering all of our questions :)
Anon @ 9:33 PM,
So, period on July 26 (until when?), then unprotected intercourse on July 29 and Aug. 4. You took NC Aug. 6 @ 7PM and Aug. 7 @ 3:30 PM. Then Aug. 12 light spotting and unprotected intercourse.
Now, for July 29th you were probably still on your period, so pregnancy highly unlikely. For Aug. 4th you're covered by the NC (you took the second pill about 8 hrs later than indicated, but should still work. Next time just take both pills at the same time!)
As for Aug. 12th, you are not protected. Take a home pregnancy test to check you are not pregnant now. Then, if you're still not feeling well, you need to check with your Ob/Gyn. If you're feeling fine, OK to wait and make sure you get a period.
Most important, you need to seriously consider using a regular method of birth control.
Anon @ 8:43 AM,
Most likely, no, your girlfriend is not at risk. However, keep in mind that NC only protects against *one act* of unprotected intercourse so you're taking a chance with repeat episodes, even if they're in close proximity.
Now, for the future, first and foremost, discuss with your girlfriend which of the many available regular methods of birth control would be suitable and start using it correctly and consistently. Second, should the need for EC arise in the future, both NC are to be taken at the same time, or use one of the on-pill brands like Plan B One-Step, or the i-Pill.
Anon @ 9:07 AM,
If she took the NC, no you shouldn't be worried. About the NC's protection, that is.
Now, you used a condom, so that's good. But, as you well know, accidents happen. So, maybe talk to your gf and see if she might consider using another method of birth control, like the Pill, or the vaginal ring.
Anon @ 12:29 PM,
Because of the NC and bleeding on 8/20 it's possible for the next period to come later than between 9/4 to 9/11 (a bit of a reset, if you will). It's hard to predict the onset of your next period accurately, but, if nothing happens by the 18th-20th, take the home pregnancy test.
Now, regarding the regular birth control, any Planned Parenthood or City Health Department clinic near you? They usually have a sliding scale and can provide, say, the Pill for very little cost. Alternatively, do you have an Ob/Gyn who might provide free samples?
This is the anon from 12:29, just wanted to say thank you for such a fast response! :)
Hi, I started loestrin for the first time in my life yesterday. My boyfriend and I are planning to have sex (we live in different cities, and I couldnt get a prescription earlier) for the first time in 3 days. I know we are supposed to use back-up protection. What happens if the condom breaks? Should I take Plan B?
Anon @ 11:16 PM,
Yes, take Plan B One-Step (one pill), or Next Choice (both pills at the same time).
Above all, relax and enjoy.
Thank you ema! That was a quick response! :)
we had unprotected sex on aug. 22. around 11 pm she took both next choice pills around 3:oo pm on the 23rd her last period was aug. 10th-14th. could she be pregnant? and when should she have her next period?
KJ,
First, well done for taking both pills at the same time. Second, assuming regular cycles, in theory we're still in the follicular phase of the cycle (before ovulation). Between that and the NC, pregnancy is highly unlikely.
As to the next period, sometime w/in the next 3 weeks.
I have a question...I had sex 2 times one night within 30 minutes of each other (a condom was used both times). The condoms did not break, but I was worried that maybe some of the ejaculate seeped out the bottom of the condom, so I took the first dose of Next Choice 12 hrs after the encounters and the second dose 12 hours later as directed. I'm freaking out at the possibility of being pregnant because this happened day 10 of my cycle which is right around the fertile period. What do you think my chances are of being pregnant?
I have a question I had sex at about 1:45 AM on September 4th in the morning and found out today he "came" inside me. I went and bought Next Choice and took the first dose at 9:16am (September 7th) Do you think I still have a chance of it working?
I had unprotected sex with my boyfriend on friday(sept 3rd) then 2 times again on saturday, and the first Next Choice pill monday and the second exactly 12 hours later. I believe i was in the 72 hour mark, but now i am confused about the ECP only protecting againt one unprotected sex encounter. the 3 times my boyfriend came in me were before i took the pill, and never after, and i took it pretty much in the 72 hour window, not even an hour outside of that. please share your thoughts. Also, at the time I had sex, i think i had already ovulated, so its possible the ovum had disintegrated by the time i had sex.
hi, thank you so much for answering all these questions, i have one myself.
I took the one dose of Next Choice, two pills 12 hrs apart, and have yet to see and spotting or bleeding. Is this a sign that it did not work? I had some red wine in between doses, does this do anything to the effectiveness?
Does next choice dissolve? I put it in my mouth and ran to get water and it wad somewhat dissolved. Is that ok?
Also I took first at 715 pm. Next at 730 am. Can I still take my birth control pill in AM???
Anon @ 7:57 PM,
Between the intact condoms and the NC, the likelihood of pregnancy is negligible.
Anon @ 4:41 PM,
Yes because you took the NC w/in the 5 days window.
HB,
If the encounters happened in the second part of your cycle (well after ovulation) then, yes, the likelihood of pregnancy is minimal. However, for the future, keep in mind that the ECP only protects against *one act* of unprotected intercourse, not several over a few days.
You should've taken 3 doses of NC (2 pills each time) to cover the 3 incidents. However, using ECP in that manner--repeat doses over a short time interval--is not a good idea for two reasons. ECP is not as effective a birth control method as a regular method, and the repeat doses would cause a serious disruption to your menstrual cycle.
Best to use just one dose for *one act* if need be, then consider using a regular method of birth control to eliminate the need for ECP.
Anon @ 5:02 PM,
Not spotting/bleeding immediately after the NC is not a sign that the ECP didn't work. You have about 3 weeks to see the onset of spotting/bleeding. If nothing happens after that period, then consider taking a home pregnancy test and calling your Ob/Gyn.
No, a small amount of alcohol between doses shouldn't be a factor.
Anon @ 2:10 AM,
Yes, that was from the interaction with saliva (I'm assuming it didn't fully dissolve which would be abnormal).
Yes, continue taking the Pill on the regular schedule. (Where you on the Pill before? And if yes, why the NC?)
just in case you care to know if the women who ask you for advice get their periods, i DID get mine :D
i am relieved, and i will not be having sex again with my boyfriend until i am on the birth control shot
HB,
Great and thank you so much for the follow-up.
During sex my boyfriend's condom broke. Took NC within an hour. I have a 28 day cycle, the "accident" happened on the 18th day! I am protected?? I took the second pill exactly at 12 hours. What are the chages of getting pregnant?? I am scared!!!
me and my boyfriend had sex on the 4th i went in got nxt choice the nxt day i took it at 5:30pm an the other 1 at 5:00am i been haveing some cramping bt no period or spotting im i protected just want to knw im freaking out.
Hi, I got off my period and I had unprotected sex with my boyfriend on 10/6. I took the first NC pill on 10/7 and the 2nd pill 12hrs later. I had sex again later that day. I didn't have sex again until 10/11 and then today on 10/12. After sex I noticed that I was bleeding but it had appeared to stop. I had sex again maybe 2 hrs later and noticed several hrs later that I was bleeding heavier and I started having slight cramps. What's going on! Is something wrong with me?
10/8 me and my husband had unprotected sex.10/10 i took next choice first pill and after 12hrs i took the second one. today is 10/15 and my period hasn't started yet. do you think i am pregnant????
Hi. I had sex for the first time on september 30th. My last period was on september 14th. I have this app that tells you when your ovulating and according to that, at the time i had sex my ovulation period had been over for 3 days. The sex was unprotected but he did NOT cum inside me. I took next choice on October 3rd. I was expecting my period to start around october 14th, but i am now 2 days late. I have been feeling like i am going start but i havent yet and i am starting to freak out!!
My girlfriend took the first pill at 1:30 pm, now what if she takes the pill later then the 12 hours for the second dose? What if she takes it closer to 24 hours instead? (She took the first pill within a hour of use fooling around.)
I had my period a week before the unprotected sex. Then had the sex and took the pill and the next week i was on my period again. Is this a side effect of the pill?
I'm 39, married with four kids, and completed chemo for breast cancer in 2009. Not having regular periods and had a high fsh. After having sex with my husband on a Saturday night, I get a call tueday from my MD saying my fsh was 6.1!!!! I took next choice that afternoon (almost 72 hrs later), and am worried about pregnancy. Would I be covered? I did have somewhat of a period on October 14th and I am concerned about the sex on the 23rd.
My boyfriend and I were home alone day before yesterday and we started fooling around. We didn't have sex, because he never went in, but he did rub his penis up and down my vagina. He never cummed on me, he also said he didn't think he had any precum. I was still worried to he got me the next choice pill. He's giving them to me today and I think I'll take them both at once. Does it sound like I'm pretty much safe from pregnancy?
Hi,
I had my period 8 days before failed condom. I went to the drugstore to buy Next Choice and took them within a 24 hr window(about 15 hrs after 'the act').
Now, about a week later I've experienced light spotting and slight cramping. Is this normal or am I confusing it with implantation bleeding.
Thanks,
Shelley
Ok i had sex with a guy he mightve come a little bit inside so i took next choice pill within 3 days but the second pill i took it after 15 hrs...After 5 days i had sex with him again and he came a little inside again so i took the next choice pills again...am i protected? I dont know how it works taking it so soon twice in a week..please help
Hi so I took next choice about a month and a week ago. Prior to taking "next choice" I had my period about 2 weeks before.. then after taking "next choice" I had my period within the next week. A little after this I started spotting for about 6 days. Now.. a little less then a month later, I am spotting again. This time (that I'm spotting again) is the time I would normally have my period. Could I be pregnant or is this a side effec of "next choice"?
Hi I had unprotected sex with my boyfriend he didn't cum inside me. But I took the next choice pill anyway to be safe. Except after 12 hours after taking the first pill I had an allergic reaction to it. My face started to swell up. I also took the second pill. So I went to the doctor the next day and he game me some prednisone. Will the pill still work?
I had unprotected sex with my boyfriend and took next choice 3-4 hours afterwards and then took the 2nd pill exactly 12 hours later. a few days after that i had what i thought was my period but it only lasted for 3 days. i took a pregnancy test a week and a half after the unprotected sex and it said i was not pregnant, am i ok? please answer because im freaking out.
hi, i took next chance right after unprotected sex, but i took the second pill, 15-16 hours after the second one, as opposed to the 12 hours specified. So i took the second pill 3-4 hours late. Am i still protected?
On Tues evening (9th) I had unprotected sex and he came inside of me. On Thursday late evening had unprotected sex (with a friend) condom broke, so yes, there was come inside of me.. Friday I had an ovulation test in my cabinet I tested and was ovulating.. I wasnt able to take Next choice until Sunday morning and followed the 12 hour step.. Basically, 5 days after the 1st unprotected sex on Tuesday was when I took Next choice in between i was ovulating.. I had unprotected sex with the 1st guy again mon-wed (17th) into the following week.. coming inside. About 3 days later Friday night or Saturday morn.(20th) I had a full period for exactly 1 day and then it just stopped all of a sudden.. What does this mean and what are my chances of being pregnant from this main guy? When is the right time to take a pregnancy test since I had one day of bleeding, was this my period? The guy I was with, with the condom was a mistake.. and I am hoping to be pregnant with the 1st man.. Such a mess I know.. Thank you for your help.
I know it says the Next Choice pill shouldnt have any significant change on your next period, but it's been 5 weeks since my last period and 4 weeks since i took the EC. I am wondering how great of a chance I have to be pregnant and if there is any exceptions for the pill to make your period extra delayed?
Hi, I need help. my period ended 10/29, I had sex right after it ended around 4am 10/30. it was unprotected so and he said he did not come inside but i still got paranoid so sunday 10/31 around 4pm my bf and i bought the pill and i drank it around 6pm. i took the second pill at around 830am (like 2hrs 30min late). i was bleeding/spotting starting nov 6 till the 9th. today its nov 28. havent gotten my period yet. should i be worried? im experiencing the signs when my period is about to come, like, heavy breasts, haggard looking, and now my nipple is A LITTLE sore. i'm just really worried my period hasnt come. when will it come? i'm not pregnant right?
Question: I started my period on Nov. 17 and it ended on the 21st. On the 25th we had sex at 8p.m. with a condom and when he pulled out there was some sperm around the ring of the condom and im guessing some in me. We took Next Choice like 30 to 45 min later, around 8:50p.m. and took the second pill at 8:50a.m. Could I be pregnant or should I be okay?
I wanted to know how effective is the NextChoice if you completely forget to take the second pill? My significant other and I had intercourse and he did ejaculate inside me and from what I check on a ovulation calender it was when I was most fertile. We had intercourse on a Wed. took first pill on a Thurs. but I never took the second pill and we actually had intercourse again on Thurs. and he did ejaculate inside me again. If I can possibly be pregnant when is the earliest I can take a pregnancy test?
Thanks it would be greatly appreciated if answered I been wondering for days now.
The other night my boyfriend came into me.Even though I am on birth control I decided to take the 2 pill Next Choice because I had missed taking a bc pill a few days back (so I know my bc regimen is off). An hour after taking the Next Choice pill we had sex and I believe my boyfriend came into me. Am I still safe of protection or should I go buy another Day after pill?
this might be a stupid thing to say, but me and my boyfriend had unprotected sex, he did cum inside, but im on brithcontrol but that month i was on antibiotics , and this happend one day before staring my placebo pills, so two days later i took the two pills are directed but i still havent got my period. will it come before i start my new pack?
;/ worried..
so, the other night one day before i was supposed to start my placebo pill me and my boyfriend had unprotected sex.
i am on birth control, but i was on antibiotics this month, so i was very worried. i took next choice two days after it happend. it was before the 3 day window after
but i wanted to know if i was going to start my period this week before i start my new pack of pills. :/
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I have a question...I took a plan b pill after having unprotected sex. Took both pills at the same time. Three weeks past and I had unprotected sex again two days before my expected period.when the time of my period came, all I did was spot I only seen blood when I wipe. I been feeling nauses, headache and stomach pains.and body feeling very achy can I be pregnant
is it ok to take both pills @ the same time after having unprotected sex...or should i have waited the whole 12 hours??
i had sex with my girlfriend on sunday lets say around 8:30 to 9 and the condom riped and i didnt know it and i accidently cummed inside,i was freaking out and i told my sister to go get some pills and it was next choice, so right when she got home she took the pill which was around 12 when she took it and the next day she took it at 12 noon exacly 12hrs apart, she took them as right away and followed the directoins correctly should we be covered???????? please tell me somethong good and how effective are the pills???????
Hi! I've been on Loestrin 24/Fe for a few yrs now, and maybe missed 2 doses, ever. Ive been in a monogamous relationship for 6 months, so we don't use condoms - but he also never finishes inside me as an extra precaution. I took a 5-day Z-pack of antibiotics, last dose on Tuesday. The antibiotics state they're in your system for a week after the last dose. I had sex last night, which was 4 days after my last dose. Ive been taking my BC pills religiously, but I got nervous and took Plan-B One Step today, about 12hrs after intercourse. My MAIN question is: should I (a) continue my pack of pills? (b) start a new pack tonight, or (c) start a new pack tomorrow? HELP! Thank you!
Anon @ 6:39 AM,
Just continue taking your current pill pack. Also, if your next withdrawal bleeding is a bit off, that is to be expected because of the Plan B one-Step.
I had protected sex two days after my period but just in case I took next choice pill just like indicated n two weeks later I had sex again and after having sex I was bleeding just spotting and the next day I was bleeding like I were to be on ma period. Is dis normal???
Hi, I have a question..I had my period the week of New Years. It ended on Friday. I had sex on 4th and 5th. He pulled out before he ejaculated, and he put a condom on. Then went back. We did this twice. Do I need to take 2 doses of the pill or am I alright. I took one dose, and I did at the correct times. I'm just worried. Please help!
i took the next choice about a month ago after having unprotected sex...i took it as directed, i did not know i could take both pills at once till now. anyways i was suppose to start my period last week. but i havent yet. iv only been cramping with back aches as i usually get when im starting & during period. & iv spotted jus a few times. but its very little spotting & very light. COULD I BE PREGNANT??
Hi Ema,
You have a lot of knowledge about this topic and i truly salute you.
With that, i really need your help.. I took Next Choice pills twice (4 tablets total) in one cycle last month and i just got my period. I am planning to get an IUD as a contraceptive method. will i still get the full effect of other contraceptives with or without levonorgestrel because i took loads of contraceptifve hormones? i am planning to use patch or iud.. thanks.
Anon @ 10:20 PM,
I don't have enough info to offer an opinion. If you had protected intercourse 2 days after your period *and* took Next Choice (NC), the likelihood of pregnancy from that encounter is negligible. Also, as a rule, you should expect your period to come about 3-4 weeks after NC use.
Now, the intercourse 2 wks later, still protected (are you on the Pill?)? If yes, a bleeding episode a bit earlier than expected is not unusual.
For the future, if you are already using a regular method of birth control, there's no need to use ECP.
Anon @ 2:27 PM,
No, one dose should be OK. While one ECP dose only covers one act of unprotected intercourse, and while I don't have any studies to back this up, the clinical consensus is that one dose should be sufficient for 2 unprotected acts as long as they occur in close proximity.
saniity,
Based on the timing of the cramping/spotting it's likely that what you are experiencing is a period. You can always take a home pregnancy just to alleviate any concerns.
Anon @ 2:39 AM,
Thank you. The fact that you took NC x2 in one cycle will have no effect on the effectiveness of any future contraceptive method, like the IUD or the patch. The progestin (levonorgestrel) in NC will be long gone from your system.
Ok my boyfriend and i had sex with a condom but the condom totally ripped. We checked to see if their was any cum in the condom and their was none. i went to the bathroom and i think some came out when i went to the bathroom. after discovering this, well having sex, we bought the next choice pills and i took it but for got to take the second one since some how it was thrown away!! What are the chances of becoming pregnant?? I should be starting my period in the next week.
hi ema
i had my period 12/31/10.. had unprotected sex 1/10/11, took ecp 1/11/10... but then had unprotected sex again on the 1/13/10. So I took ecp again on 1/15/10...but only the first pill... im too sick to take second one.. is there a chance I can still be pregnant?
hey there, i have had my periods start nov 11th 2010 and then dec 15 2010, on 01/13/2011 i had unprotected sex. my boyfriends condom slipped out accidentally.He had ejaculated roughly 20 minutes before this incident while wearing a condom and pulled out within plenty of time. This second time, 20 minutes later, his condom acidentally slipped and he believes to have come in me a bit while pulling out. This was at approximately 6pm the 13th. I took Next Choice on the 15th at 8:30 pm. and then the second one at 8:30 am on the 16th. What are my chances?
I had unprotected sex on the 1st then 8 hrs later took plan b one-step. Later that night I had unprotected sex also on th 3rd and 5th. Two days later I started bleeding and it wasnt as heavy as my other periods. Could I still be pregnant?
Yesterday, I took the Next Choice first dose at around 12:55 pm (which was only about 4 hours after I had unprotected sex) but I fell asleep before I took the second pill. So I took the second pill at around 6 am when I woke up. I know the time gap is pretty large so I was wondering if I should take another pill or if it will still be effective enough to prevent pregnancy.
does anyone know if ema still answers on this page?
Anon @ 7:17 AM,
So, you had sex, condom broke, you took 1st NC dose shortly after [I assume], then missed the second dose, and are ~1 wk away from your expected period.
The bad news: missing the 2nd NC dose renders the ECP regimen ineffective.
*This bears repeating, for the future, always take BOTH pills at the same time or, better yet, use one of the 1-pill only brands like Plan B One-Step or Nextime.*
The good news: assuming regular cycles, it sounds like you're past ovulation, so low likelihood of fertilization.
Now, because you did take that 1 dose of progestin, your next period might be a bit off. So, make sure you keep an eye on the timing of your next period--should be around the expected time/a few days off. If it's more than 10-14 days off, take a pregnancy test and consult with your Ob/Gyn.
Anon @ 6:24 PM,
Hi! Ugh, assuming regular cycles, the 2nd time you had unprotected intercourse was right around ovulation time.
Now, the 1/11 full dose (and even the fact that you are sick) could work in your favor (by off tracking the ovulation). By the same token, they would make it difficult to accurately predict the risk of pregnancy.
Bottom line: Yes, there is a chance of pregnancy, but no need to panic. First, do whatever you need to do to get better. Then, keep track of when the next period is coming. Some delay is to be expected but, if nothing is happening in 10-14 days from when you expected it to come, take a pregnancy test and see your Ob/Gyn.
Anon @ 11:22 PM,
You are good. You took a full dose, in time, and were at the end of the cycle.
spanishmomma,
It depends on where in your cycle this all happened. Was your period supposed to come around the 7th? (The Plan B One-Step you took would not cover the later acts of unprotected intercourse.) Best to take a pregnancy test to double-check.
And for the future, you may want to consider using a regular method of birth control.
Anon @ 7:51 PM,
No, don't take another pill. While you did take the second dose 5 hrs later, you should still be protected. (For the future, take both pills at the same time or use a one-pill brand, if possible, like Plan B One-Step or Nextime.)
hi ema it's anon 6:24 again.. i acutally didnt take the first pill of ecp till 1/16/11... but does that make a difference in effectiveness?? and thank you for responding..
hi again this is anon at 11:22. Im expecting my period to come any day now, however taking the EC could possibly delay it correct?
btw thanks for the quick response.. this blog is very helpful, regardless of what happens sometimes its best to speak to a total stranger about certain things.
Thanks
Anon @ 4:11 AM (6:24),
You took the one NC pill on 1/16 rather than 1/15, correct? The one day delay doesn't matter; what matters is that it wasn't a full dose.
Anon @ 4:28 AM (11:22),
Yes, a delay of up to 3 wks is possible. However, on average it should be less than that (1 wk to 10 days), so just make sure to keep an eye on the timing of the next period to make sure the delay is not excessive.
My last period was around the 28th I believe, aside from the bleeding that began on the 7th. When should it be a good time to take a test? Im hoping to be pregnant!
Hi ema,
My fiance and I had unprotected sex about two weeks before my period was supposed to begin (I usually have a 29-31 day cycle). He did not come, but I took NC (2 pills, 12 hours apart), IMMEDIATELY after (within 1 hour).
Then we had sex again about a week before my period was supposed to begin; we used a condom, which broke. I took NC (2 pills, 12 hours apart), IMMEDIATELY after (within 1.5 hours).
My period started 2 days after it was supposed to. It was lighter than usual, but more painful. I'm pretty sure that it was an actual period (it lasted about 3-4 days, my usual period is about 5-6 days). I've had a day or so of extremely light spotting (like, literally just 1 or 2 spots). I have an appointment on Monday to get regular birth control pills.
From reading all the posts on here, it sounds like I am covered, but I just want to be sure... Can you give me some reassurance? Thanks!!
spanishmomma,
If you're planning a pregnancy do not use the ECP. Anyway, assuming regular cycles (off by about 10 days because of the ECP), if nothing happens by the middle of next month take the pregnancy test and consult with your Ob/Gyn.
EK,
Yes, you're fine and great to hear about the planned appointment.
I had finished my period about 3-4 days prior to having unprotected sex, he came inside me and I hadn't been on the pill in roughly 2 weeks. I also should mention that I have a short cycle. While I did take next choice at the recommended time, I'm still worried. Since my family is highly fertile, I'm a little concerned. what are my chances?
i had unprotected sex and im sure i was ovulating. I took the first pill the following morning but havent taken the 2nd pill yet. will the pill still work if i was ovulating when i had unprotected sex? and if i only take the 1st pill and not the 2nd will I still be ok? If not why?
hi...
my boyfriend and i shared a bath together on Wednesday 1/19th but i had a tampon on...so i am pretty sure nothing happened then. Last Saturday (1/22)..we fooled around sometime around 4:30 PM...he did a lot of rubbing but never really went inside me...but the next morning i woke up feeling light-headed and nauseous....so, i panicked and got the next choice pill...took the first pill at 8:10 PM and the next one at 8:10 AM....the nausea went away...and i am feeling better...but i am still concerned since i had my period around Jan 5th.....and so i may have been ovulating during the incident.....would you say that i am still ok since my body seems to be behaving pretty "normally" again. PLEASE HELP!! Thank you in advance!
Dear Ema,
I had my last 'start date' period on 1/01/11. Im currently a virgin, but on 1/27/11 @ 9pm, me & my bf were fooling around but only had his penis rubbing on my "V"... NO intercourse at all! He did not cum, but felt pre cum. So i worried since THEY RUMOR VIRGINS GET PREGNANT, right? So i was suppose to get my period on 1/29/11 due to the 28 day Menstrual Cycle yet we are on 1/31/11 and i still havent got it. I did take two Next Choice pills [same time] 69hrs after "1/27/11 @ 9pm", Which is three days after [on 1/30/11]. Should i be expecting my period soon? IM REALLY WoRRIED! :( Ive never done this in my life! [Im 23yrs old]! Reply Asap Ema. </3
Ok my boyfriend and i had sex with a condom but soon after he came in me he pull out and realize that the condom had ripped and he had came in me. An Hr. later we had unprotected sex but he didnt cum in me then 10 hrs later i took the next choice pills as directed...do u think i have a chance of not getting pregnant since my last "first day" of period was 1/11/11 and had unprotected sex 1/28/11 am really stressing it please help :(
Is it still possible to get pregnant if I was on birth control, and the day after my last pill I had sex two hours before the next pill of a new packet...I took plan b the following day. Should I be worried?
Hi so here's my deal I had unprotected sex on the january 19th I took next choice the same day and 12hrs later my last period was on the first of January and on the 30 I starting bleeding but it only lasted 2 days was that a period could I still be pregnant?
Im having the same problem..I wrote a few weeks ago.. took plan b on 1/11..then had to take it again on the 1/14. But I was sick n couldnt take the second pill on the 1/14. I was suppose to get my period on the 1/28.. but ended up bleeding a week earlier then my period was due but only for 2 days, and that was it... now Im not sure if i could be pregnant?
Kind of irregular period; around 1/23/11 period.
2/5/11 unprotected sex, uncertain of ejaculation. 2/6/11 4:00PM took both Next Choice pills 2/5/11
to be safe(r). (both partners did not notice ejaculation but paranoia was getting to us)
2/8/11 Condom slip around 5:30AM Precum is plenty but urinated before sex. Unsure of ejaculation(if any)inside but;
30-60 minute after slip, handjob ejaculation with plenty of seminal fluids.
(again both partners did not notice ejaculation.)
NC taken 2/6/11 4PM covers 2/5/11.
2/8/11 condom slipped during intercourse but no notice of ejaculation by both partners. Ejaculated outside of vagina with plentiful seminal fluids.
to ema,
We believe the possibility of ejaculation during both intercourse is low. If there is any sperm then the amount would be lower than a fertile ejaculation if it originates from precum.
There was plenty of seminal fluids for the handjob 30-60 minutes after the slip. So what is the chance of ejaculation during the 'unprotected' sex?
Chance of pregnancy?
should be around the time of ovulation. Would the 2/6/11 ECP prevent ovulation, fertilization, or implantation for 2/8/11?
No side effects from 2/6/11 ECP yet. Should there be side effects by now?
Should ECP be taken for 2/8/11?
Sorry for all mixed questions, Paranoid/Worried.
hi ema.. it's anony 1:08am just seeing if you have read my 1st post.. really nervous n not sure what to do.. still really didnt get a "real" period yet.. it was due 1/28/11 started bleeding just 1/22 and 1/23 and that was it..and my normal period is at least 5 days..
Anon @ 10:05 PM,
You should be fine (you took NC on time and it's unlikely you'd be ovulating 3-4 days into your cycle).
Le'Shaun,
Unfortunately, LNG ECPs like NC work best if taken before ovulation. Also, their action is dosage-dependent (you need a certain amount of LNG to prevent/delay ovulation).
Anon @ 10:31 PM,
Yes, you should be OK. Sperm are sturdy but not enough to survive bath water, a tampon, and NC.
Isis,
It's normal to experience a delay in the onset of your next period after taking NC. Expect your cycle to shift a bit, meaning your period should now come 1 wk to 10 days later.
For the future, perhaps you could discuss condom use with your boyfriend?
Anon @ 8:55 PM,
You took NC w/in 10 hrs, you should be fine.
Anon @ 12:15 AM,
No, you should be fine. (No need to take Plan B if you're on the Pill.)
As long as you take one BCP every day (at about the same time) you are covered.
Anon @ 2:57 PM,
Yes, that was a period. (It's not uncommon for the fist period following ECP use to be different in character vs. your usual period.)
Anon @ 1:08 AM & 5:03 AM,
Most likely you are not pregnant and that 2 days of bleeding was the period.
Best thing to do is to relax, and keep an eye on the timing (and character) of your next period. If you're still concerned, you could take a home pregnancy test and be reassured that you're not pregnant.
Anon @ 4:36 PM,
If there was no ejaculation in the vagina during the 2/8 episode the chance of pregnancy is low.
It's not a given that you'll experience side effects from ECP (only about 1/3 of patients do). Since you haven't had any SE from the 2/6 dose you're all set.
The 2/6 ECP would not cover 2/8.
For the future, maybe consider using a different brand of condoms.
This comment has been removed by the author.
I had sex with my husband yesterday around 8 pm and the condom broke. I took the nc pill this morning around . and the other one about 7 hours later. Am i at risk of being preggo?
Hello! Anon- thanks for all of your helpful comments - hopefully you can provide insight into my situation. I have been on the pill for about 6 years, and my husband and I had unprotected sex (withdrawl only) on Friday. Unfortunately, I forgot to take my pill on Friday and forgot the pack at home when we left for the weekend. SO, I missed 3 days, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I returned yesterday (Monday) and took 2 of the missed pills, and I took 2 more of my birth control pills today. We had sex last night, and then I started worrying about my missed pills, so I went and got Plan B and took that as well. How likely do you think it is I become pregnant? I am in the 2nd week of my pack of pills. Thanks for any info1
Do you still answer questions or help people get off their worries? If so, I have 2 main question but minor questions involved within! Please Help!!
1st Question: If a 15 year old had sex & the condom broke & they waited a couple hours to get help or such as Next Choice to prevent pregnancy happening. Does or will it really help? And, usually her period comes around the 20's but she hasn't got it yet, is Next Choice causing that to happen??
2nd Question: Having sex the day before your period and getting your period the next thing in the morning then taking Next Choice, can anything happen from that?? Is everything safe and working?? Having bad cramps, is that from Next Choice?
Do I make sense? Please help! I've been stressing about these two situation lately! :((
Okay i got my girlfriend the ec pills, she took one of them like ten hours after sex, but she took the other one 15 hours later instead of 12 hours as recomended. Will that be a problem???
Ok i bought my girlfiend the ec pills shortly after sex, she took the one pill about 15 hours after unprotected sex but she took the second one 15 hours later, and not 12 hours later as recomended
Ok, After having unprotected sex, I went and bought Next choice within a couple of hours. I took the first dose at 12:45 A.M and forgot to take the second pill after. When I did remember, more than 24 hours later. 35 hours to be exact.. had passed by already. What should I do? Am I still safe? Should I take another dose, just in case?
okay..i was fooling around with my bf and we didnt have a condom so he just went in like 4 inches, and then pulled out, i was worried about the small amount that could of gotten in. so i took next choice 2 and a half days later. i only took one, and im wondering if i can take the second one 6 hours after instead of 12 hours after. so can i? and will it still be effective?
okayy, i had sex they came inside me and the next morning i had sex agian and came inside me again, i took the 1st pill about 1:30 that afternoon and forgot to take it 12 hours later i took it about 5 am should i be fine ?
Will the Next Choice pill work if I took the first pill 58 hours after unprotected sex ?
So, me and my boyfriend had sex and the condom had a huge tear in it (2:15 Sunday). We ran straight to CVS but we're under 18 so we couldn't buy the EC right away. We got spermicide foam and i used it about 4 times in the next 6 hours. Im not very good at tracking my period but around 6 that night I started to bleed. I got really excited but it wasnt a normal period, I haven't bled in 3 days. We got next choice and I took both pills at 7:30 on the 3rd day. I should be on my period now and still havent started it. The condom was spermicidal, and I want to know my chances of getting pregnant. I am underage, and very worried. What are my chances?
Okay sooo, I know I'm about to start my period. I should get it later on today or tommorow, but I had sex with my boyfriend and the condom broke. He says he pulled out and then came and that's when he noticed it was torn. If I take the next choice pills will I still get my period ? Or throw everything off?
Okay so I need answers. Please. :/ I had sex with my boyfriend. 2/28. I didn't take the first pill until the third day. Before 72 hrs. But the second pill was 12 hrs later after the 72 hour period. Am I pregnant? I'm actually spotting but I'm not suppose to get my period until the 24th of this month. What's going on??
hi well I had sex on Monday night around 1 and the condom ripped I took next choice first tablet at 2:30 pm on Tuesday. And then took the second tablet at 3 am on Wednesday. I wanted to know if I'm ok?
Hi I had sex on Monday night at 1am the condom ripped so I got next choice and took it at 2:30pm the first pill on tuesday, then I took the second one at 3am on Wednesday. when I had sex I just finished my period but after I had sex I noticed that I was bleeding a bit, while having sex it did hurt kinda like a burning feel. I want to know if I'm ok?? I DON'T want to be pergent. Also will I get my period a week later?? I'm not suppose to get it until 28 days.
Hi I know this post is old but I'm hoping you can answer my question... I had sex on the very last day of my period 2/28/11 at around 10 pm but the condom broke as he came inside of me. I learned about EC & took Next Choice on 3/3/11 at around 7 PM. (The pharmacists said I was within the 72 hour time frame.) I took the first pill then the 2nd 12 hours later as directed. I haven't had sex since. My question is how likely is pregnancy in this situation??
I took Next Choice for the first time. First pill immediately after the incident and the second 12hrs later. About a week after I took the doses, I started noticing spotting. Would this be considered day one of my period?
(It just seems early because I'm not supposed to be getting it until a week and a half from now)
I had protected sex around 17 hours after i took Next Choice, what's the chance of being pregnant?
I had protected sex with my boyfriend last month on the last day of my period and the condom failed. Ugh. I took Next Choice a few hours afterwards (as directed on the box). I'm supposed to start my period today (a month since the incident) and there are no signs of it starting except for some minor abdominal pain. I know it can mess with menstrual cycles, but I was wondering how often it does and how worried I should be if it doesn't start in the next couple days. Thanks in advance for any information!!
So how long after taking both doses of next choice can you start having protected sex?
I haven't seen anyone talk about
This but I'm concerned. I was 16 weeks pregnant and had a miscarriage two weeks ago ab had the d&C. Tonight I had a quick unprotected sex is it ok to take the plan B pill? I am on an antibiotic an was waiting till that was finished to start my birth control I just want to make sure it's ok to take plan B pill
Ok so..... I didn't have unprotected sex but there was some rubbing going on. The next morning, I took next choice and followed the directions. The next morning, we only had oral sex. I can remember him having precum and wiping his penis with his hand at some point to remove it. Somewhere in there he also fingered me, should I be concerned that cum could've been on his hand when he fingered me? Should I take next choice again? My period is about a week away. What do you think?
I took the first pill the next morning at 10:26 a.m. after sex and my second dose that I needed to take at 10:26p.m I took it at 10:56 pm. thats like 30 minutes later, will it still work?
Okay so I had unprotected sex twice...same night with in 2 hours of each other. In the 36 hour range I took the NC 2 pill dose at the same time. Will it work?
I had sex with my boyfriend two days ago he didn't bust inside me that much I took nc to be in the safe side. But then yesterday aswell both unprotected. I took nc again. Will that aftect the procces of the pill workinng? I tookthe first pill and 12 hrs later the second one. Am I at risk of the pill not doing what it's supposed to do?.
The other day me and my girlfriend were fooling around and i know this is stupid but i put it in only about 3 times then i got a condom but i did have pre-***...it was 4-5 days before her expected period and i have bought the Next Choice pill for her but she is scared to take it because she thinks her period might be coming but not sure its been 4 days since the sex and she told me she took it but idk why but she didnt so its 4 days after we had sex i did not fully *** in her but there was a little pre *** please anything will help...what are the chances shes pregnant? should she take the pills even tho its after the 72 hrs? will it mess up her period? and i dont know im not too smart about this but if she takes it will she have to go to the gyno and be on birth control? but please anything will help
hi. i had unprotected sex with my bf two 3 days after my peiod was done.He ejaculated, but after i left that night i went and bought the next choice pills, and i took the first dose right after i had sex and then 12 hrs later the second dose. then 10 days later i started having heavy bleeding , is this normal, can the hormonal blast of the pills cause this. is it my period?
PLEASE HELP ME!!! about tuesday i had unwanted unprotected intercourse and was afraid but guy said he didnt ejaculated & i don't think he did but i still went and got NC for safety about 4 hours later (only time could get it) than i took 1 same time i got it ( 4 hr after intercourse) and took the next around 4: AM. & unfortunately i totally slip out on my last period date but i reckon about 2_3 wks before end of March. its been 4 days and no sign of period yet so i was just wondering if i will be fine cuz am going insane thinking of negative possibilities. (if period dont show in 2 weeks i wil do a test but i just want it to come because test is way scarier). & if i am fine after this is over am going to get birth controls just in case. & about how long does egg takes to fertilize ?????
any help will be fine, thanks
I have a question I have unproctected sex twice on saturday n once on sunday I bought the plan b pill but only took one should I be aware of bein pregnant?
I have a question. About 5 days ago I had sex and the condom broke so I took next choice the following day and took the second pill exactly 12 hours later. Unfortunately last night the condom broke again. Is it bad to take another dose of next choice in such a close period of time?
I hope you can help me.. Im soo confused.. If my last period was april 13, 2011.. and my cycle is normally 28 days.. when exactly do I start ovulating? and how long does ovualtion last? Im trying to figure out my "safe" days and my highest conception days..
hey. my girlfriend and i had sex with a condom on wednesday and a came inside her in the condom. i didnt check for sure if it had busted but i know that there was some cum in the condom when i took it off. she had been on her period all week but said she was done. turns out she wasnt and had to wear a tampon the next day. then we had sex again the following saturday with the same brand condom and it busted and i came completely inside her. that was at around 12:45 a.m. we got the next choice pill the next day and she took the first one at 12:30 p.m. and the next at around 11p.m. what do you think about this?
I had sex unprotected but am on an antibiotic for a sinus and ear infection. I took next choice within 7 hours. Will the antibiotic cancel out next choice? The people at planned parenthood said it wouldn't but they didn't sound absolutely positive. please help, thankyou.
Ema!! Please help.. I got my period on 5/7/11... Had unprotected sex on the 5/15/11. My cycle is usually 28 days.. is there a chance I could be pregnant? or ovulating at the that time? Also if I take Ecp does that mess up your ovulation?
Anon @ 10:20PM,
Yes, there is a chance, unfortunately. For a regular 28d cycle, the 15th is still ~1 wk away from ovulation, in theory. In practice, hard to tell when you ovulated w/out actual tests.
It's already the 19th, so, if you do decide to use ECP, the sooner the better (you have up to 5 days/120hrs from the act of unprotected intercourse).
If you take ECP, it resets your cycle so in that sense, it does affect your ovulation.
To All Others,
Sorry I haven't been able to keep up. Real life has a way of interfering with my blogging. If you still have questions, post them and I'll try to answer in a timely manner.
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