Aftera and Bloating: What Users Say

• Col...
• June 29, 2020

For Emergency Contraception "I am so thankful I am not pregnant and it did the job, but this pill seriously messed up my cycle and had me so anxious for about two months. I wasn’t due to get my period for another two weeks at the time I took the pill. Six days later, I started bleeding, and it lasted about four days. The first two days it was maybe enough to fill tampons, but the other days it was very light, like only there when I wiped. Fast forward to when my period was scheduled to come - still no period. I ended up getting my period ten days late, but I could have sworn I was pregnant. I had been having creamy white discharge for about two weeks and had been feeling bloated with cramps and headaches - this NEVER happens to me! My period is here now, but it’s significantly lighter than it normally is. I have taken Plan B once before in the past, and I never had any problems at all. Ladies, please spend the extra $10, or even better, get on regular birth control! Also, stay off Google to stay sane."

• TTa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 10, 2021

For Emergency Contraception "I took Aftera (an hour post-sex) after I realized I was in my fertile window (5 days before ovulation), and my partner and I had unprotected sex (used the withdrawal method). I remember waking up the next day, and I felt as if I had the stomach flu and my period at the same time. I did not have any sort of bleeding or spotting in between me taking the pill and my period (which came a week early). I had much more discharge, cramps, and bloating for about 2 weeks. I had severe anxiety due to reading that the chances of Aftera working in your fertile window are lower. THAT IS NOT TRUE! My period came a week early, and I had severe PMS symptoms beforehand. My period is extremely heavy with painful cramps. DO NOT GOOGLE YOUR SYMPTOMS BECAUSE IT WILL SAY PREGNANCY! The internet does not know your body, only you do. Trust the pill!"

• Did...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 8, 2019

For Emergency Contraception "I made myself a promise that I would review this if it worked for me. I had a mishap during sex, and the condom slipped off. I was not entirely sure if he ejaculated in me or not. At first, I was going to play it out since it was at around one a.m., but I got super paranoid since I was ovulating. I got Aftera 5-8 hours after the mishap. The symptoms I had were beyond crazy. My boobs were itchy and sore, I was tired all the time, peeing frequently, constantly bloated or nauseous (basically most of the pregnancy symptoms for about two weeks). I took two pregnancy tests, which both came out negative despite symptoms. My period was late by about three days. It was so light that I thought it was spotting. Came for fewer days too. On to my second month, my period came in a week early and is very heavy. I hope this soothes your anxiety. I did not get pregnant, and I hope your experience will be good."

• Anonymous
• January 12, 2021

For Emergency Contraception "Omg, so let me tell y'all about this EC! I took it once before in October, my November period was pretty regular, I think a little late. Then I took it again in December, on the day after the last day of my period, day 6. I had spotting a week and a day later; blackish, brownish, light pink, and bright red at one point. It lasted about two, three days. My period was due on January 01, y'all, a week later still nothing. I took numerous tests, all negative; my period finally came on the 9th. Over a week after it was supposed to come. Thankful!! My period has never been that late though ever, so I was nervous. Emergency contraceptives really mess with your hormones and mess with your body as well. I would recommend taking one only if absolutely necessary. I’ve popped enough Plan B’s and other EC; and the effects like nausea, bloating, irregular cycles, and stress aren’t worth it to be taking it like vitamins. Hope this helps! I’m celibate now."

• Anonymous
• March 19, 2019

For Emergency Contraception "My boyfriend and I had unprotected sex (I know, stupid!) because he forgot a condom on Sunday, March 10th, around 6:30 pm, he came in me. I had ovulated 8 days before on March 2nd and was expecting my period a week from March 10th. We’re both late teens, so we are way too young to have a child. I took Aftera the next day around 4:30 pm (22 hours after sex) and felt fine the rest of the day. I had bad cramping and bloating for the next 3 days. I also experienced fatigue. My period was a day late. BUT IT WORKED!!! Don’t stress, everything's gonna be okay."

• Lea...
• October 12, 2018

For Emergency Contraception "I took Aftera about 12 hours after unprotected sex on the day I was ovulating. I opted for Aftera because Plan B wasn't available where I was. I have taken Plan B, ella, and other emergency contraceptives before. All very effective with little to no noticeable side effects, other than throwing off your period's schedule. With Aftera, I didn't have any side effects until about 7 days after I took the pill. An extreme amount of bloating, cramps, extremely sore breasts, and a tightening feeling in the stomach, which for me made me feel as if I were pregnant. Being that with both of my pregnancies, the tightening of the stomach was my most noticeable change in my body. I wasn't due for my period until 13 days after I had sex and wasn't initially worried, but with all of the side effects and having unprotected sex when ovulating, it had me feeling as if I was pregnant. Day 11 arrived, and the side effects were so strong, but my period started. NOT pregnant!"

• Jun...
• July 29, 2015

For Emergency Contraception "I am 17 and had sex with my boyfriend on the 4th of July. We did not use a condom. We had sex multiple times, and he pulled out every time. Except once, he finished inside me. (I was ovulating.) I made him take me to buy Aftera, and he paid for it, of course. I took the pill 50-70 hours later. I was very bloated, nauseous, tired. I was convinced I was pregnant. So, I decided to wait 5 days after my period was late to take a pregnancy test. My period came 2 days late. I was very heavy, and my period lasted for 7 days instead of the regular 5 days. I'd never been so happy for a period in my life."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 28, 2024

For Emergency Contraception "I wanted to come on here and share my experience. So I had unprotected sex on May 1 and May 17. After the event on May 1, I got my period like I normally would at the beginning of the month. On the 17th, I took two EC on May 19 (My Choice) and May 20 (Aftera). He didn’t finish in me, but the thought of him not wearing a condom or me not on any birth control just paranoid the living crap out of me. When June rolled around, I didn’t get my period at the beginning of the month like I normally would. Despite taking 7 at-home tests that all came back negative, I had convinced myself that I might be, you know…the week of June 16, I began to feel super bloated, I broke out, BUT my boobs weren’t sore (a normal PMS of mine) BUT after finding this forum, I learned that EC gives the same symptoms of being pregnant. I started my period yesterday (June 27). Ladies, the pill works as long as you take it within 3 days after having unprotected sex."

• sdp...
• April 19, 2019

For Emergency Contraception "I had sex the day after I ovulated, which was April 4th, 2018. I am on birth control, but I wasn’t taking it regularly, so I hadn’t taken my birth control for like two days. So the condom came off inside me, and I was afraid that some ejaculation had spilled inside me. So on the 6th, I went to CVS and got Aftera because it was cheaper. When I took the pill, I had this pain in my stomach, like it was a big ball of gas that expanded everything. I took a breath, lol, that’s the only way to describe it. Also, I felt really dizzy right when I took it. But the days that followed, there weren’t any more symptoms. I just felt really bloated and had some cramps here and there. Fast forward to April 17th, 2018, I got my period today, and it’s a day early. I weigh 213. I just took one pill. I was worried because I don’t want to get pregnant, but I read a review on here that said to trust the pill and the process, and that’s what I did. Good luck."

• mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 8, 2015

For Emergency Contraception "Well, we all know accidents happen, and one night my boyfriend accidentally came inside me. I freaked out because it was one week after my period ended. I took the pill the next night, less than 24 hours later. I felt super bloated for 2 weeks straight. Back pain and nausea, it was the longest 2 weeks of my life! I was convinced I was preggo, then my period came a day early. I've never been so relieved in my life. I've taken Plan B before and never had any side effects, but my first with Aftera had lots of bad side effects."

• Tha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 27, 2018

For Emergency Contraception "Had one of those 'oh no moments.' I was about 2-3 days away from ovulating when it happened. Took the pill the next morning, only experienced sore breasts and bloating. Started seeing pink discharge day 27 of my cycle (I'm normally about 28 days, but it'll sometimes be a few days late), and that made me worry because last time I had pink discharge, I ended up pregnant. I waited about a day, wasn't bleeding much, discharged turned dark brown, still worried. The next day, my period actually started. Way to scare me, period!"

• Ano...
• December 17, 2021

For Emergency Contraception "I purchased Aftera after Plan B was sold out. I was so grateful to read the comments on this site because it helped me through this hard time. I took it on 10/9, about 24 hours after having unprotected sex, and I got my period that month like normal. But the next month, in November, I didn’t get my period at all. I got nervous and took three pregnancy tests, one for early detection, which all came out negative. I waited and waited, which was super stressful. I finally got my period on 12/17, which, according to Flo, was a 56-day cycle from my last period. During this time, I experienced cramping and PMS, crying spells, and bloating. I had a white discharge, for which I used vaginal suppositories, but that didn’t help. I never had this experience before, I don’t know what to make of this. I’m sure it helped, but that waiting period sucked. I hope this helps. Try to be patient and not freak out."

• dis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 9, 2018

For Emergency Contraception "After having unprotected sex, Plan B One-Step is usually my go-to emergency contraceptive. However, upon arriving at the pharmacy, there was none available, but next to it were two Aftera pills. I was very skeptical because I've never heard about this brand. Because I wanted something immediately, I decided to purchase this drug and took it approximately 15 hours after having unprotected sex. Here I am, three weeks later with abdominal cramps. I went to the doctor today, where I found out I was pregnant. I had a feeling I was because my body felt different: bloated, unusual abdominal cramps, and dizziness. I would not recommend this pill to anyone! Very disappointing that it didn't work. I've taken Plan B even later than 24 hours and it has worked. Be careful, ladies, and good luck!"