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What Causes Vomiting After Taking Plan-B?
Question: I am honestly just curious about this: Please know, I am a male and this question is for a female. I have a friend (female) who had very brief sex (she says maybe only 2-5 minutes of unprotected penetration). Still, she took a plan-b just to be safe about pregnancy. Maybe 24 hours after taking the pill (and about 2 days after the sex) she became sick with stomach virus symptoms. Vomiting was the main symptom and it only lasted about 24-48 hours XXXXXXX I told her I have an active account here and had received good advice about sexually related issues, so I would ask for her here. Here is the basic timeline:
*Had the very brief sexual encounter on a Friday evening - the male didn't finish and penetration really only occurred for a couple minutes as mentioned.
*took pill late saturday night/ possibly sunday morning (since it isn't me I only have the close approximation)
*Sunday night she started feeling ill with vomiting (so let's say vomiting either late Sunday or into Monday)
*felt better by end of day Tuesday - so it resembled a gastrointestinal 24 hour "bug."
So, a couple questions: Everything we looked up together about STDs does not seem to show vomiting as an initial infection symptom. Can it be? Can it manifest as the main symptom so soon after the encounter and end so quickly? She knew vomiting can occur with Plan-B, but she cannot find anything to indicate when the vomiting could start. Can it start 24 hours or so after taking it? It was One Step, by the way.
Sorry, I tend to get a little long winded, but just want to make sure I include enough information to get a great answer. Thanks! She is concerned and this will help!
*Had the very brief sexual encounter on a Friday evening - the male didn't finish and penetration really only occurred for a couple minutes as mentioned.
*took pill late saturday night/ possibly sunday morning (since it isn't me I only have the close approximation)
*Sunday night she started feeling ill with vomiting (so let's say vomiting either late Sunday or into Monday)
*felt better by end of day Tuesday - so it resembled a gastrointestinal 24 hour "bug."
So, a couple questions: Everything we looked up together about STDs does not seem to show vomiting as an initial infection symptom. Can it be? Can it manifest as the main symptom so soon after the encounter and end so quickly? She knew vomiting can occur with Plan-B, but she cannot find anything to indicate when the vomiting could start. Can it start 24 hours or so after taking it? It was One Step, by the way.
Sorry, I tend to get a little long winded, but just want to make sure I include enough information to get a great answer. Thanks! She is concerned and this will help!
Brief Answer:
Vomiting more likely from viral illness not Plan B
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for contacting HCM with your health care concerns
You are concerned about a friend who engaged in unprotected intercourse. The encounter was brief and did not culminate in ejaculation. Your friend was correct in starting the Plan-B for prevention of pregnancy. Though her overall risk of pregnancy was very low this will reduce her risk to nearly zero.
The taking of Plan-B will cause some nausea and vomiting but to the extent that she experienced. The more than likely cause was a flu like illness. The effectiveness of the pills should still be effective as it was absorbed very quickly after taking the medication
The thought as to whether this was a sign of an STD is very remote. Most STD would cause problems much later usually after a week or two after the exposure. I may recommend though that she be checked for STDs to be absolutely sure she did not contract some STD. This may also include STD like gonorrhea, syphilis chlamydia and HIV. Her likelihood of infection is very low because of her limited exposure.
In summary
1. Plan B effective and zero chance of pregnancy after such a brief exposure
2. Plan-B causes only mild nausea and vomiting
3. More than likely a viral flu that lasted only 24 hours
4. Low exposure to STD and very low risk
5. For complete peace of mind get STD screening
I hope I answered your question. Please contact HCM again with your health care concerns or questions. You may contact me again if you have any additional questions or comments
Vomiting more likely from viral illness not Plan B
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for contacting HCM with your health care concerns
You are concerned about a friend who engaged in unprotected intercourse. The encounter was brief and did not culminate in ejaculation. Your friend was correct in starting the Plan-B for prevention of pregnancy. Though her overall risk of pregnancy was very low this will reduce her risk to nearly zero.
The taking of Plan-B will cause some nausea and vomiting but to the extent that she experienced. The more than likely cause was a flu like illness. The effectiveness of the pills should still be effective as it was absorbed very quickly after taking the medication
The thought as to whether this was a sign of an STD is very remote. Most STD would cause problems much later usually after a week or two after the exposure. I may recommend though that she be checked for STDs to be absolutely sure she did not contract some STD. This may also include STD like gonorrhea, syphilis chlamydia and HIV. Her likelihood of infection is very low because of her limited exposure.
In summary
1. Plan B effective and zero chance of pregnancy after such a brief exposure
2. Plan-B causes only mild nausea and vomiting
3. More than likely a viral flu that lasted only 24 hours
4. Low exposure to STD and very low risk
5. For complete peace of mind get STD screening
I hope I answered your question. Please contact HCM again with your health care concerns or questions. You may contact me again if you have any additional questions or comments
Note: Revert back with your gynae reports to get a clear medical analysis by our expert Gynecologic Oncologist. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Answered by
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