ask: 4 missed periods on Junel birth control HPV symptoms

Hi Anon

Thanks for your question!

If your baby is 5 months old and you haven't had a period in 4 months - did you have one period, a month post-partum?

Breast-feeding does make a woman's cycle very irregular. Some woman don't have a period at all when they nurse exclusively and some women don't get their period until a couple of months after they stop nursing. Since you are only two months out of breastfeeding, this may be the case with you.

Your birth control pill may also be a clue as to why you have had no period. Check with your doctor or the manufacturer on this.

There is also a slight risk that you may be pregnant. The failure rate of Junel when taken "perfectly" is about 1% but is typically 3%. Take a test to make sure.

With regard to your high risk HPV - you need to be tested very regularly depending on your individual case. When is your next doctor appointment for this?

Thank you so much for responding to my question. I did have one menstral cycle one month after my son was born. I test for pregnancy every 14 days and all have been negative. The birth control I am on is usually used to regulate periods and make them less severe and I am currently on the 5 pack and have still not had a period.

I also just finished my first month on Junel. I had a period - I think. I had moderate spotting on Wed, very light spotting on Thurs. and then nothing. Anybody know anything about this pill, please let us know!

To both Anons

Missed periods, or no periods - known as amenorrhea is a listed side effect of Junel (and other birth control pills) and is generally considered to be directly linked to the pills, rather than a coincidence or due to other circumstances.

This may be a completely harmless side effect but check with your doctor. It may be fine to continue or you may prefer to have a period and a different method of birth control can be prescribed.

I hope this helps!

I'm on Junel and have not had a period in two months. They just kept getting shorter and lighter.

It kind of freaks me out, especially because during the week of fake pills I feel nauseous, and get mild cramps and headaches, but I've taken a pregnancy test this month and last month and both were negative... When I start the next pack I feel fine again. One good thing to come of it is that I follow the directions more diligently!

i haven't had my period for 4 months either, and am on Junel! I went to the doc yesterday and he said it's nothing to be scared of, it's actually healthy to have fewer periods. it freaked me out at first too, but now i know it's just a side-effect of this type of pill! Glad to know there are others out there experiencing this too! :)
kinda nice having only minimal spotting for an hour for one day! i do still get all the PMS symptoms tho- short temper, tender breasts, and lower back pains! so so weird!

Hi Anon,

I just wanted to add an important piece of information for you regarding your high risk HPV and your decision to take oral contraceptives.

The research shows that using oral contractive pills can significantly increase your risk of developing cervical dysplasia. It also increases the likelihood of cervical dysplasia progressing into cervical cancer.

Here are the statistics on that information:
Cervical cancer risk for less than 5 yrs of oral contraception use is 10 %
5-9 yrs of use increases risk to 60%
10 yrs of use increases risk to 120%
Risk declines after stopping oral contraceptives - by 10 or more years risk level returns to that of never users.
With increased duration of oral contraceptive use there were statistically significant trends of increased risk for cervical cancer

Any woman who has tested positive for high risk HPV should seriously weigh the the risks of initiating or continuing oral contraception. It is worth while discussing other options, like the IUD, with your doctor.

Take Care

I have been on Junel for a little over four years or so. I had just started not long before I became pregnant. When I became pregnant I had actually stopped taking "to try to get my period back on track" as it was starting (light about a week before it should have). I became pregnant which was a highly welcomed event. About 3 months after having my son I went back on Junel. I didn't notice is so much as first but then my period were again off. Starting about a week before they should have been, very light (only needed a panty liner and more for my sake of mind) and then nothing when I should have had my period. I mentioned this to my doc. who said it was normal. So I have continued on. I have notice within the last year though I have become moody, even extremely tense at times when I am mad. My weight has also been an extreme issue. I weight 75 pounds more than when I became pregnant and having the worse time losing it. Just this past 2 weeks I was suppose to go back on the pill. I started and then skipped a day thinking these symptoms were connected to the pill. I had second thoughts and started again after missing 1 or 2 days. The day I went back on experiences the extreme tension and madness. I have thus stopped taking it. I immediately had a period that was almost normal. I am convinced even more that there is a connection with the Junel. I have decided I will stay off for a couple months to see what happens. I had originally been put on birth control to regulate my hormones as I would get severe cramping and vomit the first day of my period. loestrin and junel have been the two I have been on for this. i had no problems when on liestrin but switched Junel due to the cost and insurance. Does anyone have any info. for me or have you experienced the same thing?

Hi i have been on junel for 5months and have received my period every month but on different days and sometimes it is very light or heavy and only last for a couple of days. I am kind of nervous this month because i still have not seen my period yet.i have been having all the symptoms of the period. But still have yet to have one. Just wondering on this birth control pill do you miss periods and not be pregnant. I have taken a pregnancy test yet but if i don't get it by 1/29/2012 i am going to take the test.