After taking emergency contraceptive pills, how many days will it take for the period to come?
A population research study at Princeton University, USA, conducted in collaboration with reproductive health experts in 2017, studied the side effects and the return of menstruation after taking emergency contraceptive pills. The findings are as follows:
Type One Taking a single emergency contraceptive pill (containing 1.5 mg of levonorgestrel)
Counting from menstruation
- Taken within the first 3 weeks after menstruation, it was found that the next period will come earlier than usual. The sooner it is taken, the sooner the period will come.
- Taken in the 4th week of the menstrual cycle, the period will come as usual, but the number of days will be longer than before. However, it will not affect the next month’s period, which will come at the usual time but will last longer.
There may be spotting between periods before the period arrives.
Counting from ovulation
- Taken 2 days before or after ovulation, the period will come as usual.
- Taken more than 2 days before ovulation, on average, the period will come 1 day earlier.
- Taken more than 2 days after ovulation, the period will be delayed by 2 days, causing the next menstrual cycle to be longer.
- Taken 3 days or more before ovulation, the number of days of the period will increase in both this cycle and the next.
It was found that 15% of women will experience spotting before their period, often in those who take the pill before ovulation.
Type 2 Taking emergency contraceptive pills in 2 doses: take the first pill as soon as possible, and the second pill 12 hours after the first (each pill contains 0.75 mg of levonorgestrel)
- Taken before ovulation, it will cause the period to come earlier or shorten the menstrual cycle.
- Taken during or after ovulation, the period will come as usual, and the next cycle will also be normal.
What Uncle Doctor wants to warn young women about is that many take emergency contraceptive pills very often, such as 4 times a month, some even up to 8 times, or as Uncle Doctor has seen, up to 15 times a month. Although the consequences are not dangerous enough to require seeing a doctor, it will cause problems with the menstrual system, leading to confusion and spotting, causing concern. Moreover, it costs more money to buy pills frequently. Uncle Doctor recommends that taking monthly contraceptive pills or using an IUD would be more worthwhile because they are more effective in preventing pregnancy. And if possible, using condoms to prevent sexually transmitted diseases would also be good.
Uncle Doctor Ruangkit ♡
Uncle Doctor Clears Up: Listen to Uncle Doctor answer questions from the webboard
Story by Dr. Ruangkit Sirikanjankul
Uncle Doctor Clears Up, Episode 1: https://rsathai.org/en/contents/25718