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- Spotting after a positive pregnancy test doesn’t mean you’re miscarrying. About 50% of people who have vaginal bleeding during the first three months of pregnancy will continue their pregnancy. While 50% doesn’t sound like great odds, it’s clear that spotting doesn’t absolutely mean you will miscarry. There’s a good chance things will be fine.
www.verywellfamily.com › implantation-spotting-early-miscarriage-or-what-1959945Vaginal Bleeding: Implantation, Miscarriage, or Something Else
People also ask
What if I have vaginal bleeding after a positive pregnancy test?
Does Plan B work if you take a pregnancy test?
What should I know before taking Plan B?
Positive Pregnancy Test but Bleeding: Causes and When to Get Help. Pregnancy Complications. Miscarriage. Why Bleeding During Pregnancy Doesn't Always Mean Miscarriage. Here's what you...
Feb 12, 2021 · Tested positive around the time my period was due and then started heavy bleeding (no big clots) 2 - 4 days after AF was due. Turned out to be chemical pregnancies. Test again after the bleeding stops and try to go see a doctor .
- Overview
- What are the signs Plan B did not work?
- How soon can you tell?
- How rare is it for Plan B to fail?
- Why can Plan B fail?
- What are the chances of pregnancy?
- What to do
- Summary
Signs that Plan B did not work may include early symptoms of implantation or pregnancy. Examples of these symptoms include light bleeding, tiredness, nausea, dizziness, or a rapid heartbeat.
Implantation occurs when a fertilized egg embeds into the lining of the uterus. It typically occurs 7 days after sexual intercourse, but not everyone experiences symptoms this early. Additionally, many other things could cause these symptoms. As a result, it is impossible to confirm a pregnancy based on early symptoms alone.
A person can be sure by taking a home pregnancy test. People can typically get an accurate result from a pregnancy test anytime after their missed period or 21 days after having sex.
Read on to learn the signs Plan B did not work.
The most reliable signs that Plan B did not work are a missed period and a positive pregnancy test.
While some people may also experience early symptoms of pregnancy, not everyone does, which means they are not a reliable indication that emergency birth control has failed.
If a person does experience early signs of pregnancy, they may have:
•light spotting instead of a period
•vaginal discharge, especially if it is different from their usual discharge
•nausea
People cannot confirm that Plan B has not worked until they take a pregnancy test.
At implantation, the body begins producing a pregnancy hormone known as human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This is the hormone that a home pregnancy test detects.
Implantation typically occurs around 7 days after the fertilization of an egg. At this point, hCG levels start to rise quickly.
In most cases, a person can get a positive pregnancy test by the time they miss their period, or if they are not sure when their period is due, 21 days after having sex.
Plan B is highly effective if a person uses it within 72 hours after sexual intercourse without a barrier method. The earlier a person uses it, the more effective it is.
Plan B suppresses ovulation, which can prevent sperm from fertilizing an egg. Therefore, taking Plan B as early as possible gives the medication the best chance of working. Plan B also makes it more difficult for a pregnancy to implant in the uterus if a person does ovulate.
Some reasons Plan B might fail include:
•Ovulation: Plan B works primarily by delaying or preventing ovulation. If a person ovulates before taking it, they may still get pregnant.
•Weight: Some studies suggest that Plan B works less well in people with a body mass index (BMI) of over 30. There is no official Plan B weight limit, and the drug can still work in people with larger bodies, but it may work less effectively.
•Vomiting: If a person vomits within 2 hours of taking the drug, they need to repeat the dose.
•Drug interactions: A small number of medications and supplements may affect the efficacy of Plan B. They include St. John’s wort, barbiturates, and topiramate. A person should discuss all medications they take with a doctor or pharmacist before using Plan B.
•Timing: Plan B works best when a person takes it as soon as possible after sex without a barrier method. Waiting longer than 72 hours will dramatically decrease its effectiveness.
Pregnancy is not guaranteed after sex without a barrier method, even if a person does not use Plan B. Research from 2022 that has yet to be published found that spontaneous sex without a barrier method has a pregnancy rate of around 18%.
Timed intercourse, which means timing intercourse for when a person is most likely to be ovulating, has a pregnancy rate of 20–28%.
If a person thinks Plan B might not have worked, they should try taking a home pregnancy test on the day their period is late or 3 weeks after they had sex if they are not sure when their period is due.
Alternatively, people can seek testing from a doctor. People who cannot access healthcare may be able to get a pregnancy test at their county department of health, at a discount clinic, or at a local Planned Parenthood.
When doing this, it is important to be aware of “crisis pregnancy centers”. These are facilities that claim to offer free support for people with unplanned pregnancies, and they may offer free pregnancy tests. But these facilities do not give impartial, unbiased advice. Additionally, they may have no medical staff.
Crisis pregnancy centers often appear close to Planned Parenthood health centers. They may also have similar names. Use Planned Parenthood’s official Find a Health Center tool to find the exact address.
If the test is positive, a person should speak with a doctor or midwife as soon as possible to determine how far into the pregnancy they are. The earlier a person does this, the more options they will have when deciding the next steps.
If a person wants to continue their pregnancy or needs more time to decide, they should begin taking prenatal vitamins and avoid alcohol. If a person smokes or is often around secondhand smoke, they should try to reduce their exposure.
Early pregnancy symptoms, such as fatigue, nausea, or mood swings, may suggest that Plan B did not work. However, these symptoms can happen for many reasons, so they are not reliable. A pregnancy test is the only way to confirm Plan B did not work.
It is usually possible to confirm a pregnancy with a home test or a test at a doctor’s office anytime after the first day of a missed period.
Apr 16, 2024 · Just like everyone’s period and vaginal discharge differs, spotting that appears after a positive pregnancy test can vary. Light bleeding and spotting during early pregnancy can appear as: Brown discharge; Light pink and brown spotting; Bright red spotting 3; 6 reasons for spotting in early pregnancy Implantation bleeding
Apr 20, 2020 · Spotting after a positive pregnancy test doesn’t mean you’re miscarrying. About 50% of people who have vaginal bleeding during the first three months of pregnancy will continue their pregnancy. While 50% doesn’t sound like great odds, it’s clear that spotting doesn’t absolutely mean you will miscarry.
Apr 16, 2024 · Just like every woman’s period and vaginal discharge differs, spotting that appears after a positive pregnancy test can vary. Light bleeding and spotting during early pregnancy can appear as: Brown discharge; Light pink and brown spotting; Bright red spotting 2; If you experience abnormal discharge, spotting or bleeding after a positive ...
Jan 9, 2022 · Compare Blood Pregnancy Test Results. A blood pregnancy test can confirm your pregnancy in your provider's office. If your doctor ordered a qualitative pregnancy test, as opposed to a quantitative pregnancy test, your blood test may come out negative while your at-home test can be positive.
