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Detailed Answer:

Hello,

What you are describing is not uncommon after taking a hormonal emergency contraceptive. The morning after pill is a high dose of progestin (like the main hormone of pregnancy, progesterone). This prevents pregnancy by making the cervical mucus thicker, and less chance of ovulation.

Adding in progestin to your usual cycle of hormones is going to throw off the cycle somewhat. The period can come later or earlier than usual and sometimes is skipped entirely that cycle. The duration of flow can be shorter or longer, lighter, or heavier. Basically, it's just different because of having had a different proportion of estrogen and progesterone at different times. In general, more progestin is going to make the period lighter.

Women who take progestin-only contraceptives for regular use - the XXXXXXX Pill or the implant or depo-provera shot, often experience a change in their periods, and sometimes over time stop having periods or just have spotting. But all of those progestin-only contraceptives have very low doses of progestin. The morning after pill has a very high dose of progestin, so it is more likely to have side effects and throw off your period. Then, it can be nerve-wracking to know if you are pregnant or not. Better for you for the future to get on a regular form of birth control that you like, such as a combination pill (taken daily) or IUD.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh
General & Family Physician

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Brief Answer:
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Detailed Answer:

Hi,

It may go on another 2-3 more days. It is hard to know because you probably didn't actually ovulate this past cycle. If you aren't losing a lot of blood and at risk of anemia from continued bleeding, you can let it go for another week or you can contact your doctor (or go to an urgent care clinic) where they can stop it with hormones (contraceptive pill). This is all assuming you don't have any underlying health problems, such as a thyroid disorder. As you didn't mention any problems before this, I think it is pretty clearly due to the morning after pill.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh
General & Family Physician

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Brief Answer:
Information

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

If you are still bleeding and not showing signs of increasing estrogen, which happens prior to ovulation (cessation of bleeding, increased clear cervical mucus/clear discharge), it is unlikely that you will have your next ovulation on time.

In a 28 day cycle, ovulation typically happens 14 days before the 1st day of the next period and 14 days after the 1st day of the last period.

If you are concerned about how things are going, and particularly if you are interested in getting on a daily hormonal contraceptive for future contraception, you might want to talk with your doctor now about this.

Hope I have answered your query.

Regards,
Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh
General & Family Physician

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