Patient's question:
On the 18th of last month, I had my period. The first day after my period ended, we had sex. After that, I took emergency contraception. A week later, I had another period. But so far this month, my period hasn't come. Could I be pregnant?Doctor's answer:
Hello! It's possible for your period not to come after taking birth control pills, which can be a normal phenomenon. You don't need to panic first. If you take emergency contraception within 72 hours after the event, the success rate is 95%. Emergency contraception can delay the next menstrual cycle due to its effects on inhibiting and delaying ovulation, as well as suppressing the endometrium. Additionally, birth control pills should not be taken excessively, as they can cause menstrual irregularities, but it may take 2-3 months for your cycle to return to normal. Generally, you can take birth control pills a maximum of three times a year. Long-term use of birth control pills can have certain side effects on the body.I suggest you stay calm and wait for a few more days. If your period still hasn't come after more than 10 days, you should go to the hospital for a check-up to identify the cause and decide whether treatment is necessary.
However, in general cases, because long-acting birth control pills contain a large dose and work by inhibiting ovulation to achieve contraception, the effects can still linger even after stopping the medication. This can disrupt ovulation. Since menstruation occurs when an egg isn't fertilized and the endometrium sheds, the lingering effects of the birth control pills can prevent ovulation and, consequently, the onset of menstruation.