Side effects
Cilest pill common side effects
Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews
51% of Cilest pill reviewers reported vaginal discharge
50% of Cilest pill reviewers reported tender breasts
47% of Cilest pill reviewers reported breast enlargement
37% of Cilest pill reviewers reported period like cramps
33% of Cilest pill reviewers reported thrush
Cilest pill rare side effects
Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews
3% of Cilest pill reviewers reported migraines
1% of Cilest pill reviewers reported dizziness
1% of Cilest pill reviewers reported migraine with aura
Possible Cilest pill side effects
Data is taken from self reported Lowdown user reviews
- Vaginal discharge (51%)
- Tender breasts (50%)
- Breast enlargement (47%)
- Period like cramps (37%)
- Thrush (33%)
- Vaginal dryness (30%)
- Lower back pain (23%)
- Cystitis (21%)
- Sweating more than usual (17%)
- Body hair increase (17%)
- Nausea or vomiting (14%)
- Body hair getting darker (14%)
- A latex allergy (9%)
- High blood pressure (8%)
- Pelvic infection (8%)
- Discomfort wearing contact lenses (6%)
- Headaches (4%)
- Migraines (3%)
- Dizziness (1%)
- Migraine with aura (1%)
- Hair loss (0%)
Reviews
3.1
78 reviews
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Community reviews
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 27th Oct 23
The first few years on this pill were okay, my skin cleared up and I had regular, light periods. My mood has been consistently low though, whether that was entirely due to the pill I'm not sure, the last few years have been stressful for everyone. The worst side effect I had was periodontal breakdown - I didn't know birth control pills were linked to this, but if I had, I probably would have stopped taken this pill sooner. I now need to spend loads of periodontal treatment.
Very negative mood
2 more effects
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 17th Jul 23
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.
Improved skin
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 20th Jun 23
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.
Top side effects not reported
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 24th Jun 22
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.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 20th Jun 22
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 7th Oct 21
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 3rd Oct 21
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.
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 26th Aug 21
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
Somewhat negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 11th Jul 21
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
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 26th Apr 21
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.
Somewhat positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments