Reviews
77 reviews
Daily
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
Increased
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Some of the benefits that are recognised in scientific research or guidelines for this contraceptive
Acne or bad skin
Heavy periods
PMS and PMDD
PCOS symptoms
Period pain
Contraceptives that work in similar ways, or brands that have close or exactly the same hormonal ingredients
77 reviews
I've been using this pill since I was 17. I took a break for a progesterone only implant for a year which didn't work for me so I've moved back to cilest. This has worked as well as contraception can I think. Minimal side effects while my acne is much better. I take it until I break through bleed (about 10 weeks) to keep my endometriosis and adenomyosis at bay. It does the best any treatment at the moment can. I would note I have previously been told by my NHS GP that Cilest has been discontinued. At the advice of a pharmacist this isn't true, it's just simply more expensive than other pills so I have been able to continue using this pill.
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I began to get thrush very badly to the point the itching was excruciating. I would then get water infections which twice led to developing kidney infections. Before this pill I had only ever had cystitis and thrush once or twice and they weren't that bad and would go away quickly. On this pill, I was in a constant state of having thrush, a water infection, both. It was horrendous to the point I could barely leave the house. Nothing worked to treat it until I found Optibac probiotics for women which would keep them at bay somewhat but the only thing that really helped was stopping taking this pill and taking these probiotics. I cannot explain the impact this had on my life and the pain caused by having these conditions chronically.
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I really liked this pill. I visited my GP in 2014 as Microgynon was making me cry at everything and feel insecure and he switched me to Cilest which I loved. I believe it is now discontinued which is a shame as I would recommend it.
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I was on cilest for years and it was only when I came off it that I noticed how much it had been affecting my mood. It made me very irritable and short tempered. It totally killed my sex drive. It did wonders for clearing up my skin but that wasn't worth it for the other side effects.
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Very happy on this pill fit in with my lifestyle. Had headaches with auras and when I changed doctors they told me I could no longer go on this pill as this meant I had increased risk of stroke. Disappointed not to be able to keep taking this
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I had Cilest for a long time. I had struggled with other forms of the pill and their side effects. The side effects of Cilest felt stable, so I decided to stick with it. Looking back, the most major side effects were weight gain, depression and loss of libido. Also noticed I got more headaches and migraines on Cilest
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I really like this pill. I've been taking it since I was 16 (except for 18 months on the implant) and I can't complain. It keeps my skin in check and helps with my endometriosis pains.
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I was originally prescribed Cilest at the age of 15, as a last resort solution to help clear my severe acne, as well as help with my heavy, long, painful periods. Despite the odd little breakout / redness, my skin cleared up and I was literally able to enjoy my life for 15 years whilst on Cilest, without having lumpy, sore, red, inflamed, infected skin (which is what I've got now). My periods were also much lighter and less painful in comparison to my teenage years / since coming off Cilest. I was taking Cilest consistently for 15 years, and only stopped when my doctor refused to continue prescribing, once I had surpassed the "safe" BMI limit of 35. I saw multiple GPs, begged and pleaded, even insisting I would sign a document for my records to state I would not hold the practice / practitioner responsible if I suffered any consequences such as blood clots if they continued to prescribe Cilest. Still no joy. Alternative contraceptives have been unsuitable, and I'm truly unhappy that I'm no longer able to take Cilest. Since coming off Cilest, my skin is horrific; constantly spotty, acne, red, lumpy, inflamed all over my face and neck, I'm even getting spots on my back again - not the thing I wanted to relive from my teenage years! Since coming off Cilest, my periods are agonising, heavy, and last for 7 days. I have gained weight, my mood is unstable and sex drive is non-existant (however, these latter three may be a result of changing anti-depressant medication, but we'll never know). I was diagnosed with hyperhidrosis maybe 10 years after taking Cilest, but never once was the link made between the two, despite multiple doctors / specialist / dermatologist referrals. My hyperhidrosis was always linked to my anti-depressant medication (Citalopram sweats are a "thing" apparently), but I still believe I'm naturally sweaty without Cilest. Similarly, I'm generally a hairy person, or have been for as long as I can remember, so possibly not a direct side effect of Cilest. Possibly have PCOS. I've suffered with vaginal discharge for as long as I can remember, so it's difficult to say whether it's a direct result of Cilest or just genetic / something I'm prone too. I've tried all sorts of medication, and even had surgeries to treat this discharge / cervical ectopy. It's difficult to ignore the fact that since coming off Cilest, however, I've had significantly less discharge, to the extent where I no longer feel the need to wear pantyliners EVERY. SINGLE. DAY (which was the norm for 15 years).
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