Morning after pill has messed up my cycle - confused!

[cyclequestion]

Hi
Posting for a bit of advice as I’m really confused about what is going on with my cycle. I did post in women’s health but no replies.

I had a contraceptive failure on day 9 (condom split). 24 hours later on day 10 I took levonorgestrel emergency contraceptive pill. A week after that, around day 17, I started to bleed, and proceeded to bleed heavily like a period for about 6/7 days - the bleeding only really just stopped yesterday (I am on day 24 now).

My question is - was that my period and my cycle has now been “reset” by the MAP? Or was that just extra bleeding caused by the pill and should I expect my period as normal in 4-5 ish days when it’s usually due? I’m so confused and just want to know where I’m at with it if anyone has any similar experience or advice.

Yes, very common for your period to be earlier or later than usual after taking the MAP. You’ve just taken a huge dose of hormones in one go!

Take a pregnancy test also.

It was likely a period. Oral emergency contraception can cause your period to either come a bit early, or delay it (depending on where you were in your cycle when you took it). It can also cause spotting mid cycle.

It has no long term effects on your cycle, and your next period should come as per your usual cycle

Edit to add - I would do a pregnancy test 3wks after the condom failure (it does sound like you had a normal, if slightly early period) but I'm very cautious that way

Thank you both.
@MrsFinkelstein when you say my next period should come as part of my cycle, so I should still expect to bleed in 4-5 days time, as opposed to recounting from the additional bleeding on day 17 and calling thet day 1 of my cycle? So in effect, this was an “extra” period? If that makes any sense whatsoever…

No, I would count the 1st day of your "early bleed" as the 1at day of your new cycle. So next period 28 days after that (or whatever your cycle is).

No one can tell you, OP. It’s common it will cause irregularities and you’ll just have to wait for it to settle and be prepared.