Emergency contraception and its effect on future fertility
How many times can you safely take Plan B in a year?
You can safely take Plan B multiple times in a year from a medical standpoint — there’s no official “cutoff” where your body suddenly taps out. The hormones clear from your system within days, and current evidence doesn’t show long-term fertility damage from repeated use.
That said, using Plan B regularly is a sign that what you actually need is reliable birth control, not constant emergency mode. Side effects like nausea, breast tenderness, and chaotic cycles get old fast. Plus, Plan B is less effective than methods like the pill, IUD, implant, or consistent condom use.
So yes, it’s safe, but also: you deserve sex that doesn’t come with a monthly panic ritual. If you’re leaning on EC often, that’s your cue to look at better options — not to shame yourself.
Can Plan B cause infertility if I already have irregular periods?
Irregular periods are usually a sign of something deeper — like PCOS, thyroid issues, stress, weight changes, or coming off hormonal birth control — not the cause of future infertility by themselves. Taking Plan B on top of that can absolutely make your bleeding patterns look even messier for a cycle or two, but it doesn’t turn “irregular” into “infertile.”
The pill’s hormone surge might delay ovulation or trigger a withdrawal bleed, which can make it harder to know what’s your baseline vs what’s Plan B fallout. But once that dose is out of your system, your body goes back to its usual pattern, whatever that is for you.
If your cycles are consistently all over the place for months, that’s your sign to push for labs and an actual diagnosis — not to blame the morning-after pill.
Does emergency contraception work if I am overweight or plus-size?
Weight can affect how effective some emergency contraception options are, but not their security. Research suggests:
Levonorgestrel pills (Plan B and generics) may be less effective for people with BMI over ~25, and especially over 30.
Ella (ulipristal) seems to hold effectiveness a bit better at higher BMI, but may still be somewhat less effective at very high weights.
The copper IUD is highly effective as emergency contraception at any weight and then gives long-term protection.
You still can take Plan B if you’re plus-size; it just might not reduce pregnancy risk as much as we’d like. That’s information you deserve up front, not something buried in fine print. If you can access Ella or a copper IUD, those may be stronger options.
What is the difference between Plan B and the abortion pill?
They are completely different things — on purpose, despite how politicians love to blur the line.
Plan B and other EC pills (levonorgestrel, Ella) work before pregnancy is established. They mainly delay ovulation so sperm and egg never meet. If you’re already pregnant, they do not end the pregnancy and won’t harm an existing embryo.
The abortion pill (a medication abortion) usually uses mifepristone and misoprostol. These drugs end an existing early pregnancy by blocking progesterone and then causing the uterus to empty.
Emergency contraception = prevent pregnancy from starting.
Abortion pills = end a pregnancy that already exists.
Lumping them together is political, not medical. You deserve accurate language, not fear marketing.
If you’re still replaying every unprotected moment and wondering what your options actually are, you don’t have to do that spiral alone. You can always bring your questions, timelines, and “is this normal?” screenshots to Gush and have a real human walk through it with you — no shame, just straight answers.
