[lizzardb63]

Okay, I just have a general question out of curiousity. My roomate took plan b on Sunday less than 12 hours after having unprotected sex (condom broke 'so she says' :P) anyway, she was asking me and I honestly did not have an answer for her so I thought I'd ask you ladies since I know many of you are very educated about birth control and ovulation. So here's my question: She's got regular cycles anywhere from 28-33 days each month. She took the plan b on day 26 of her cycle and she said that today would be her day 30. She hasn't gotten her period yet so she is wondering if the Plan B would delay her period...and she also asked what the likelihood of her ovulating during that time in the first place.

I've heard women can ovulate during any time of their cycle making pregnancy possible at any time, but I've also heard it's typically mid-cycle, especially if you have regular cycles. Any info for me to relay back to her? I know she'll take a pregnancy test in a week or so if she doesn't get it but I think she wants some answers to calm her down a bit, lol.

Thanks ladies!

[ItsASecret]

Since she took Plan B within 12 hours it is going to completely stop any chance of pregnancy, unless of course she is the like 0.001% of the failure rate but that is extremely unlikely as Plan B does a good job doing what it is in intended to do. However Plan B also messes up your cycles so much that it is not uncommon to spot for the next 3 months after taking it. It is an emergency method for a reason, it contains several times the dose of regular birth control and it does mess with cycles and that is the point. Make sure you tell her not to be taking Plan B just willy nilly because her cycles are without a doubt now going to be off of her regular schedule. She will eventually get her period but it is probably going to be next month, she may skip this month entirely and then spot all of next month and be completely out of sync with her regular cycle for awhile.

From now on she needs to find either better condoms that may be sized properly for her partner or look into using a more reliable method of birth control like the pill. Do not be taking plan b unless it is absolutely necessary.

[lizzardb63]

I don't think this is something she takes on a regular basis. I did suggest the condom size change because my fiance and I use XL Magnums and if we use any regular size it will break. I think she's just worried she was ovulating that day and that Plan B might fail.

[ItsASecret]

Ovulation most often happens in the middle of a woman's cycle, it can happen before or after the middle of the cycle by a few days but most often it is in the middle. Pregnancy can also occur at any point in the cycle as long as the egg is there however ovulation is the most likely time to become pregnant. Your friend is asking if the day she took Plan B which was day 26, so her period week, was also a time of possible ovulation...yes there is a chance but if she has been having regular periods before that then she is most likely ovulating in the normal middle of the cycle time.

Plan B works extremely well so the chance of failure is very very slim. The window to take it is 72 hours after intercourse but the earlier the better. It really does not matter at what point a woman is in her cycle if she takes Plan B as it goes to work no matter what and eradicates the chance of pregnancy basically in all instances. There is room for error and failure like anything but with Plan B it is extremely unlikely but she can still take a pregnancy test in a few weeks to ease her mind.

[lizzardb63]

Great! Thanks! I'll talk to her tonight and let her know. I'm sure she'll still freak out until she gets it, lol...but maybe this will help a little. I've been there myself and I know how frustrating it can be.

[DreamP346]

Actually, emergency contraceptive has a pretty high failure rate, that is why it is emergency only. It can be anywhere from 5-12%.

Most likely, on day 26, your friend would not have been ovulating. But something else to consider is that sperm can live up to 5 days in the uterus. Anything is possible, but at this point, not likely

[lizzardb63]

Well, I just told her that on day 26 she most likely wasn't ovulating PLUS she took plan b, so she SHOULD be fine, but that anything is possible...but that's all I had to offer her.

[lizzardb63]

BTW- she got her period yesterday.