Morning-after pill side effects you should know
The Julie Morning After Pill™ (and other OTC pills with levonorgestrel) works by preventing or delaying ovulation and can lower your chance of pregnancy if taken after unprotected sex. Common side effects include changes to your period (early, late, spotting), nausea, mild abdominal pain, fatigue, headache, dizziness, and breast tenderness. Most side effects are mild and go away in a few days. If your period is more than a week late or you haven’t gotten it three weeks after taking the pill, take a pregnancy test. Serious side effects like severe pain or allergic reactions are rare but need prompt medical attention.
The morning-after pill is a type of emergency contraceptive that’s available as an over-the-counter (OTC) one-step pill. It contains a medication called levonorgestrel, the same medication used in some birth control pills. When taken correctly, it can greatly reduce your chance of getting pregnant by pausing or delaying ovulation. And just like any medication, there’s a potential for side effects. Here’s what to expect.
Bleeding between periods
Because morning-after pills like Julie’s temporarily impact your hormone levels, they can affect your menstrual cycle. Usually, that results in some bleeding, aka spotting, between periods. Even though it can seem odd, it can be perfectly normal. If you’re unsure whether you’re experiencing a lighter period or spotting as a side effect, take a pregnancy test. It’s also a good idea to take a pregnancy test if your period is more than one week late or if you haven’t had a period three weeks after taking the Julie Morning After Pill™.
Irregular period
Just as you might see some bleeding between cycles, your period might also arrive earlier or later than expected. One in three women experience a change in their cycle after taking the Julie Morning After Pill. If you get a negative pregnancy test three weeks after taking the Julie Morning After Pill, that just means your cycle might be a little out of sync. This is common and it should return to normal the following month or two.
Late period
One of the most common side effects of levonorgestrel is that it can cause your period to come late, which can make things confusing.
Here’s what happens: There’s a 14-day time frame between ovulation and your period. The morning-after pill hits the pause button on your ovulation, which usually lasts a few days. That means the 14-day countdown begins later as well, making it likely that your period will come later than it usually does.
If it’s been three weeks since taking the pill and you haven’t gotten your period, take a pregnancy test. If it comes back negative, that just means that your cycle is a little disrupted and should return to normal the following month.
Nausea
Nausea is pretty common with the Julie Morning After Pill™ (and all other morning-after pills). Feeling nauseous is never fun, so avoid taking the morning-after pill on an empty stomach. Take it with food or after a meal, or consider making yourself a cup of ginger tea. If nausea leads to vomiting within two hours of taking the pill, you should call your healthcare professional to see if you should take another dose to make sure it’s effective.
Abdominal pain
Lower stomach pain is also very common, but the pain is usually light or mild. Some people experience abdominal pain and nausea together. Like nausea, the feeling shouldn’t last long. A hot water bottle or heating pad on your stomach can often help. If you have severe abdominal pain, you should get immediate medical attention.
Fatigue
You might feel more tired or have lower energy after taking the Julie Morning After Pill. If you’re able, carve out some time to rest. Like other side effects, fatigue and exhaustion won’t last long. Give yourself some TLC and try focusing on some self-care practices.
Headache
Getting a headache is another side effect you might experience. It happens to about 10% of morning-after pill users. It’s totally fine to take an OTC painkiller to help your headache go away quicker.
Dizziness
If you’re feeling dizzy, take it easy, drink a glass of water, and lie down. It should pass soon. Sometimes dizziness can accompany nausea or a headache.
Breast Tenderness
Breast tenderness and discomfort is a side effect associated with birth control pills, which means it can also occur with morning-after pills. Women who are more sensitive to hormones are more likely to experience this symptom. Breast tenderness should last for no more than 1-2 days.
Managing side effects
Most side effects are easily manageable, but sometimes they can be annoying. If that headache just won’t go away or your breasts are super tender, it’s safe to take ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or any OTC pain reliever. They won’t interact or interfere with levonorgestrel.
Listen to your body. After all, you’ve just taken a pill that affects your hormones. Feeling a little weird is well within your rights. Rest, keep yourself hydrated, and give yourself some extra compassion.
If the same side effects last beyond a few days or if you’re experiencing intense abdominal pain or excessive vomiting, it’s time to see a healthcare professional.
Likewise, if you’re experiencing an allergic reaction like hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or you have trouble breathing, seek medical attention immediately. Allergic reactions are rare, but they can happen. Address it as soon as possible.
While we love to share useful and helpful information, the above shouldn’t replace the advice of your healthcare professional. For questions about birth control and other women’s health issues, please talk to your doctor.
Julie wants to keep young women in the driver’s seat of their own stories and provide them with the tools necessary for a happy, healthy sex life.
We know (and have lived!) through the ups and downs of young adulthood firsthand, and we aim to normalize the events, conversations, and questions that come during this period to help destigmatize sexual health. We believe women should live life with total freedom — starting with their ability to choose how, when, and if they become pregnant.
We know that women can make the best choices for themselves when equipped with the right information. We don’t take sexual education lightly and are committed to sharing accurate and factual information through rigorous planning and QA processes. In fact, all Julie content is reviewed by at least two board-certified doctors on our medical board. Learn more about them here.
For more details on our editorial process, see here.
Tessa Commers, MD, FAAP, MS is a board-certified pediatrician based in the Seattle area with a particular interest in adolescent health and sexual education. In addition to clinical practice and serving as Head of Medical at Julie, Tessa also founded AskDoctorT — an education platform with over a million followers across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube — aimed at improving adolescent health literacy and body confidence. She also hosted and wrote the puberty podcast “That’s Totally Normal!” and has contributed to peer-reviewed publications and educational initiatives focused on child and adolescent wellbeing.
Education: Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City – Pediatric Residency; University of Nebraska Medical Center – Doctor of Medicine (MD); University of Nebraska Medical Center – Master of Science (MS, Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy); New York University – Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Dr. Jennifer M. Peña, MD, FACP, AAHIVS is a board-certified internal medicine physician and physician leader with more than 20 years of experience in primary care and women’s health. An Army combat veteran, Jennifer served in the White House Medical Unit under two presidential administrations, including as primary physician to the Vice President of the United States.
She also serves as chief medical officer, medical director, practice owner, and advisor to healthcare and health tech organizations across the U.S., the Caribbean, and beyond. Jennifer’s work in medicine includes appearances on CNN, BBC, MSNBC, Univisión, and more, as well as being named one of Business Insider’s “30 Leaders Under 40 Changing Healthcare” and Veteran of the Year by Latina Style magazine.
Education: Walter Reed Army Medical Center – Internal Medicine Residency; William Beaumont Army Medical Center – Internal Medicine Internship; University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine – Doctor of Medicine (MD); Yale University – Bachelor of Science (BS)
