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What Causes Bleeding After Taking Plan B?

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Posted on Wed, 22 Oct 2014
Question: After taking the Plan B pill, period came about two weeks early. Also about a little less than a week after my period, I noticed light brown discharge. Im a little nervous of what this means. I also noticed marks on my breasts and that their apparently a little bigger, but they aren't sensitive at all.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Madhuri N Bagde (10 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
most likely due to plan B

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,

Please do not worry. Breast changes and menstrual irregularities are very common with the use of plan B. If the period came then these is no need to worry. The spotting may be due to hormonal imbalance caused as the cycle was disturbed in the middle.

Another reason for discharge may be infection or cervical erosion [ inflammation] or cervical polyp [ unlikely in your case]. So if the discharge is excessive, persistant or foul smelling then you will need to see a doctor, otherwise it may be due to hormones.

Plan B has a very low failure rate and so if taken within 72 hours it offers excellent protection. Also you had a period, so the possiblity of pregnancy is very rare.

About the breast, again most likely due to the pill and the marks may or may not regress [ depends upon what kind of marks they are]. Sometimes they occur due to fluid retention in the breast and so may go away. Sometimes they occur due to over secretion of the melanocyte stimulating hormone or due to excessive stretching [ more than the tissue can bear] and then these may not go away.
Hope this satisfies your query.
Thanks for using HCM.     
Feel free to ask any more questions that you may have.
Dr Madhuri Bagde
Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist     
[You may also ask me direct questions at the following link. http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-madhuri-n-bagde/66844 Thanks!!]
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Madhuri N Bagde (7 minutes later)
Ok thank you, but I had some of the discharge two days ago, it stopped, then had more last night while I was sleeping.. is this still normal from the Plan B?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Madhuri N Bagde (11 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
off and on spotting is rare

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome back,

No, persistant discharge is not normal for plan B. Plan B disrupts the normal menstrual cycle and so some hormone issues are expected and they are transient and self correcting.

So if the discharge is coming and going then it is better to get an examination and check for the cause. It may be an infection or cervical reason for the discharge. Trauma due to sex may also cause spotting so please check if there was any sexual activity at that time. Also it would be better to get a urine test done if 3 weeks have passed from the date of the unprotected sex just to rule out a pregnancy [ this is a part of our routine examination protocol here in such cases].

I understand your concern. Please do not worry as the causes are very common ones and it may be nothing more than a hormone issue. All of them are easily manageable.

So please see a doctor and get a pelvic examination done if the discharge does not go away after the next 3-4 days.

Hope this helps you.

Feel free for any more queries and I would be glad to help.

Take care and do not worry.

Dr Madhuri
Note: Revert back with your gynae reports to get a clear medical analysis by our expert Gynecologic Oncologist. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
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Answered by
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Dr. Madhuri N Bagde

OBGYN

Practicing since :2001

Answered : 1390 Questions

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What Causes Bleeding After Taking Plan B?

Brief Answer: most likely due to plan B Detailed Answer: Hello and welcome, Please do not worry. Breast changes and menstrual irregularities are very common with the use of plan B. If the period came then these is no need to worry. The spotting may be due to hormonal imbalance caused as the cycle was disturbed in the middle. Another reason for discharge may be infection or cervical erosion [ inflammation] or cervical polyp [ unlikely in your case]. So if the discharge is excessive, persistant or foul smelling then you will need to see a doctor, otherwise it may be due to hormones. Plan B has a very low failure rate and so if taken within 72 hours it offers excellent protection. Also you had a period, so the possiblity of pregnancy is very rare. About the breast, again most likely due to the pill and the marks may or may not regress [ depends upon what kind of marks they are]. Sometimes they occur due to fluid retention in the breast and so may go away. Sometimes they occur due to over secretion of the melanocyte stimulating hormone or due to excessive stretching [ more than the tissue can bear] and then these may not go away. Hope this satisfies your query. Thanks for using HCM. Feel free to ask any more questions that you may have. Dr Madhuri Bagde Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist [You may also ask me direct questions at the following link. http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/doctors/dr-madhuri-n-bagde/66844 Thanks!!]