Irregular periods after taking Unwanted 72

Unwanted 72 is emergency contraception containing levonorgestrel. It can delay or bring forward the next period and may cause spotting or a different flow. The tablet works mainly by delaying ovulation; it does not end an established pregnancy. It also does not protect sex later in the cycle, and it does not protect against sexually transmitted infections. If vomiting occurred soon after taking it, or if medicines reduced its effect, a pharmacist or clinician can advise on the next step. A late period can also reflect stress, anovulation, polycystic ovary syndrome, perimenopause, or another health issue, so the tablet is not the only possible explanation.

Note when the tablet was taken, when bleeding starts, how long it lasts, and whether sex occurred afterward. Take a pregnancy test if the next period is late or unusually light, following the test instructions; seek advice if uncertainty remains. Use condoms or another reliable method for subsequent sex, because emergency contraception is a single-event option. A clinician can discuss ongoing contraception, including the combined pill, and check symptoms that do not settle. If cycles were irregular before the tablet, keep tracking them because the pre-existing pattern may need separate evaluation.

Seek urgent assessment for severe or one-sided lower abdominal pain, fainting, heavy bleeding, or a positive pregnancy test with pain or bleeding. Contact a clinician if the period is substantially late, repeated tests are unclear, or bleeding and pain continue. Fever, offensive discharge, or pain during sex can signal an infection and should not be attributed automatically to emergency contraception.

When should I test for pregnancy based on the date I took the tablet? Could another medicine or vomiting have affected it? What contraception would suit me for future sex? Does my earlier cycle pattern need assessment?