3 periods in on Month

Hi, I am 24 years old and I've have my menstrual cycle since I was 13 and its always been normal. I have skipped a month once, and had some major cramping as a teen but otherwise a pretty normal period. My boyfriend and I are sexually active, however I am not on birth control nor do we use condoms. Now the issue is that I've have gotten my period 3 times this month. My normal cycle resumed April 19th, then I had It again 12 days later on May 1st. Then yesterday, May 16th, my cycle started again. And its not spotting, it's a regular flow in which I need to use tampons for. The only thing I feel this could be from is that I've taken an emergency contraceptive (plan b) a few times because of our foolish lack of any birth control. I've heard plan b can throw off your cycle but 3 times in one month seem excessive especially since my cycle is generally always normal. I do plan on seeing a gynecologist, getting checked out and going on birth control, just as soon as my health insurance kicks in, which is in about week. But in the meantime, I'd really appreciate any feedback.. Thanks so much :)

[Elaine Brown, MD]

Hi!
I'll spare you the lecture about safe sex and birth control.  I ALWAYS recommend a pregnancy test in a case like yours as the first thing to do.  If that is negative, I would suspect that the irregular bleeding is probably a consequence of taking Plan B.
Getting on some regular birth control will probably help to regulate your cycles, and reduce your anxiety a bit as well.
Good luck!
Dr B