Emergency contraceptive

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-30-2004
Emergency contraceptive
4
Mon, 08-02-2004 - 3:03pm
I took the morning after pill/emergency contraceptive on/around June 22. On June 30 I started to have a lot of brown discharge every day until July 5 or so when I got my real period (the pill made it come a few days early.)First off, what was the brown, is that normal after taking ECP or what could it have been?? I am also wondering if this would change my cycle now, or if my period should come when it would have had I NOT taken the pill. Basically what I'm asking is if the ECP has an effect on my 2nd period after taking it, and not just the one immediately afterwards. Thanks a lot, I'm really confused because I don't know if I'm late for my AG or not!
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Mon, 08-02-2004 - 4:00pm
Brown discharge is old blood in which the iron has oxidized. There wasn’t enough irregular bleeding for it to flow out quickly while red before it oxidized. That can be normal after a large dose of progestin from EC. The schedule of your second period after EC shouldn't be affected by your having taken EC. Let us know how you're doing, ok?

Good luck,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-30-2004
Mon, 08-02-2004 - 4:37pm
Thank you for replying! It helps ease my mind about the brown discharge. So then I would consider July 5 to be the first day of my menstrual period? then would my AF be coming around now, or would it be around the 12th, because that's about when I had it BEFORE taking the ECP. (June 12th I had it, took the pill on the 22nd, got my AF again July 5) That's where I am confused. I'm not sure if it would be back on the cycle I was on before, or if I'd be on the "July 5" cycle. I am so nervous, and I want to take a PT but I have a few more days before I can take one and have it be accurate.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Mon, 08-02-2004 - 5:55pm
From you earlier post you say that AF came on 7/5 a few days late. If AF came on 7/5 then you should be fine. I would base my expectation for your next period on your normal cycle length (28 days for example) starting from 7/5. You know when cycling naturally all sorts of things, illness, diet, stress etc. can delay your period even if you are usually regular so I wouldn't worry yet.

Hugs,

      Jill

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 08-03-2004 - 8:22am
The ECP can totally screw up your cycle, it's supposed to disrupt ovulation if ovulation has not yet occurred or just cause an early withdrawal bleed to prevent implantation. The after-effects are variable for each woman, some women go right back to their normal cycles, and some women will have delayed ovulation afterward, so don't panic if your next period doesn't come when you think it should.

Good luck!

Judie
Co-cl for Birth Control
Judie Cl for Birth Control