Missed Period While Taking Junel
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses whether or not Junel can cause you to miss your period and not be pregnant.
Hi, I am taking Junel Fe 1/20 which is a daily birth control pill. I am not taking any other medications with it, and am allergic to penicillin. I take my birth control regularly and on time. However, one of the side effects is that it causes me not to bleed during my placebo week. Am I still protected during the placebo week even though I do not bleed? I do not know whether or not I should be worried or need to take Plan B.
Sep 21, 2022- A missed period is a common side effect of Junel birth control pills, affecting 20-40% of users, and this happens even when you're not pregnant.
- You should always take a pregnancy test or see your doctor to rule out pregnancy if you miss your period, even though a missed period on Junel is usually just a side effect.
- If you've been taking your birth control pills correctly, they are very effective at preventing pregnancy, so a missed period is more likely due to the medication than pregnancy.
Amenorrhea (absence of menstruation) is a fairly common side effect of oral contraceptive medications, which includes Junel.
In fact, bleeding irregularities or the complete absence of menses occurs in 20-40% of individuals taking Junel birth control pills (e.g. Junel Fe 1/20, Junel Fe 1/35, etc...). While studies show that bleeding irregularities, such as spotting, decrease in frequency the longer you take birth control pills, the incidence rate of amenorrhea actually increases as you continue on the birth control pills.
For example, with Lo Loestrin Fe (a lower hormone dose Junel birth control product), the incidence of amenorrhea increased from 32% in Cycle 1 to 49% by Cycle 13. That's nearly 50% of individuals taking the birth control that don't experience menses and are not pregnant. Per the prescribing information:
Women who are not pregnant and use Lo Loestrin Fe may experience amenorrhea (absence of scheduled and unscheduled bleeding/spotting). In the clinical trial with Lo Loestrin Fe, the incidence of amenorrhea increased from 32% in Cycle 1 to 49% by Cycle 13. If scheduled (withdrawal) bleeding does not occur, consider the possibility of pregnancy.
Now, it is extremely important to remember that If menstruation doesn't occur (i.e. you don't have your period) after finishing the active pills, it is always necessary that pregnancy be ruled out.
Be sure to take a pregnancy test or visit your doctor to confirm. If you are not pregnant, know that not having menses after finishing your active pills is fairly common and there don't appear to be any negative effects associated with it. Nevertheless, you should let your doctor know about what you are experiencing so you may be properly evaluated.
Final Words
You mentioned Plan B in your question. Plan B is intended as an emergency contraceptive option to be taken within a few days of unprotected sex. It does not work if you are already pregnant and isn't something that you take if you've missed your period.
If you have been taking your birth control pills as directed, they are extremely effective in preventing pregnancy. It's more likely that you are simply experiencing a common side effect. Be sure to speak with your doctor so you can be evaluated.
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References & sources
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Amenorrhea
- The absence of menstruation or a period.
- Oral contraceptive
- A birth control medication taken by mouth to prevent pregnancy.
- Spotting
- Light vaginal bleeding that occurs between periods.
- Incidence rate
- How often or frequently something occurs in a group of people.
- Withdrawal bleeding
- Bleeding that occurs during the break week when taking birth control pills without hormones.
- Emergency contraceptive
- A medication taken after unprotected sex to try to prevent pregnancy from occurring.
- Menses
- A woman's monthly menstrual cycle or period.
- Active pills
- The birth control pills in a pack that contain hormones to prevent pregnancy.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Doctor of Pharmacy, board certified clinical pharmacist (BCPS), American Herbalist Guild, Medication Therapy Management certified
Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS, is a licensed pharmacist with more than 13 years of experience across retail pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, medication safety, pharmacy program development, and healthcare administration. He is the founder of HelloPharmacist.com, where he helps patients...
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