Cerelle pill vs Norgeston pill

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Cerelle pill

£From £0.20/day

Norgeston pill

£From £0.18/day

Overview

Rated 2.8

315 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.8

55 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Cerelle pill ingredients

Main hormones in Cerelle pill

Less-Androgenic progestogen


Norgeston pill ingredients

Main hormones in Norgeston pill

Androgenic progestogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

29% somewhat negative

54% stopped periods

48% lost sex drive

39% gained weight

44% no impact on skin

Cycle return

36% don’t know impact

35% no impact on mood

56% irregular periods

38% no impact

58% no impact

59% no impact on skin

Cycle return

40% don’t know impact

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

Period pain

Period pain

Try it now

£From £0.20/day

Try it now

£From £0.18/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Cerelle pill reviews

315 reviews

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Cerelle pill  

I switched from Yasmin combined pill to Cerelle after getting a migraine with aura. I've been on Cerelle for about 4 months now. Overall, I'm quite happy - mood is stable and no periods. Howerver, my skin which is awful at the moment. This could be also related to coming off the combined pill though. I do feel my hair thinned initially and was VERY greasy, but that has subsided. I also had really bad BO which is probably the most upsetting side effect. I feel this is getting slightly better now. My doctor told me to have a period before starting this pill to reduce spotting, and it worked - my periods have stopped entirely.

Read more

Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  24th Mar 25

Cerelle pill  

honestly haven’t experience any negative side effects, it was a bit rough for the first couple of months but after about 8-12 weeks it settled and it’s been great, i gained a little weight but no more than about 7lbs so overall it’s been brilliant


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 8+ yr
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  21st Mar 25

Cerelle pill  

Been on this pill for about 15years its great i have no periods at all, i have no symptoms of periods etc and i have gained weight but i dont think i can put that down to taking cerelle haha all in all i love this pill and most importantly i havent gotten pregnant while taking it so its main job is done


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

Cerelle pill  

I switched from Yasmin combined pill to Cerelle after getting a migraine with aura. I've been on Cerelle for about 4 months now. Overall, I'm quite happy - mood is stable and no periods. Howerver, my skin which is awful at the moment. This could be also related to coming off the combined pill though. I do feel my hair thinned initially and was VERY greasy, but that has subsided. I also had really bad BO which is probably the most upsetting side effect. I feel this is getting slightly better now. My doctor told me to have a period before starting this pill to reduce spotting, and it worked - my periods have stopped entirely.


Worse skin

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  24th Mar 25

Cerelle pill  

honestly haven’t experience any negative side effects, it was a bit rough for the first couple of months but after about 8-12 weeks it settled and it’s been great, i gained a little weight but no more than about 7lbs so overall it’s been brilliant


Somewhat positive mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 8+ yr
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  21st Mar 25

Cerelle pill  

Been on this pill for about 15years its great i have no periods at all, i have no symptoms of periods etc and i have gained weight but i dont think i can put that down to taking cerelle haha all in all i love this pill and most importantly i havent gotten pregnant while taking it so its main job is done


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments


Norgeston pill reviews

55 reviews

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Norgeston pill  

I tried the mini pill after experiencing migraines after 6 years on the combined pill. First I tried Zelleta which gave me such low mood and tearful all the time, as well as constant spotting. I wanted to try Norgeston as the synthetic hormone is different. My mood definitely improved (although a little more anxious) and I’ve had no spotting, but my periods are so irregular, really close together and so heavy I can get through more than 3 pads a day. I’ve had 2 periods a month for the last few months and will end up with an iron deficiency at this rate! Running out of options


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
36 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  24th Apr 25

Norgeston pill  

I’ve gained some weight but I don’t think it was the pill alone, other factors such as other medication and enjoying food are at play! I’ve enjoyed having a regular cycle (still ovulating) with less intense highs and lows emotionally but no impact to libido. Has been helpful for PMS overall. Some side effects are headaches and tender/larger breasts. I’ve adjusted the 3 hour window to take this pill a few times with ease too.


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  24th Mar 25

Norgeston pill  

I moved onto Norgeston after trialling desogestrel for a few months (it gave me near constant spotting and super decreased sex drive). I was optimistic as levonorgestrel was the hormone I used to have in my combined pill and so far it’s been great for me - I do get periods, but these are regular and of a normal flow each month and thankfully my sex drive has come back.


Increased sex drive

1 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Norgeston pill  

I tried the mini pill after experiencing migraines after 6 years on the combined pill. First I tried Zelleta which gave me such low mood and tearful all the time, as well as constant spotting. I wanted to try Norgeston as the synthetic hormone is different. My mood definitely improved (although a little more anxious) and I’ve had no spotting, but my periods are so irregular, really close together and so heavy I can get through more than 3 pads a day. I’ve had 2 periods a month for the last few months and will end up with an iron deficiency at this rate! Running out of options


Somewhat negative mood

3 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
36 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  24th Apr 25

Norgeston pill  

I’ve gained some weight but I don’t think it was the pill alone, other factors such as other medication and enjoying food are at play! I’ve enjoyed having a regular cycle (still ovulating) with less intense highs and lows emotionally but no impact to libido. Has been helpful for PMS overall. Some side effects are headaches and tender/larger breasts. I’ve adjusted the 3 hour window to take this pill a few times with ease too.


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  24th Mar 25

Norgeston pill  

I moved onto Norgeston after trialling desogestrel for a few months (it gave me near constant spotting and super decreased sex drive). I was optimistic as levonorgestrel was the hormone I used to have in my combined pill and so far it’s been great for me - I do get periods, but these are regular and of a normal flow each month and thankfully my sex drive has come back.


Increased sex drive

1 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  16th Sep 24

Norgeston pill  

The minipill gave me pretty bad acne, which took years to resolve after I gave up the pill. It also completely killed my sex drive.


Worse skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  14th Jul 24

Norgeston pill  

I would bleed for 4-6 days every 14 days with cramps the whole “period”. I seemed to feel every emotion much more intensely and felt rather negative a lot more than usual. I was also very bloated a lot.


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  14th May 24

Norgeston pill  

Generally a good pill but I am bleeding every week on it which is it’s main downside for me


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  9th Nov 23

Norgeston pill  

I was on Cerelle for 6 mths which was not working out for me as I had prolonged, frequent irregular periods on it. The doctor suggested changing to Norgeston and it has been great. I have been on it now for 5 months and my periods, although not regular (actually there has been a slightly longer gap between periods, which is nice) have been back to normal length of around 6 days long. In fact better than normal as I’d been getting very heavy periods possibly due to me being perimenopausal. I’ve got lighter periods now that don’t come as often with no bad side effects. Also, a good side effect is that I don’t get feelings of depresssion any more before my period like I used to when not on the pill. I did have a blip recently with bleeding - but it’s because I missed a pill and I bled for 20 days, so I asked my doctor and they told me to take 2 pills a day until the bleeding had stopped for 7 days and this has worked. I recommend this pill!


Somewhat positive mood

0 helpful

2 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4th Oct 23

Norgeston pill  

This hormone made me suicidal. I was trialling it for 3 months as I intended to get the mirena coil but wanted to see how I reacted to the specific hormone before I had it more permanently in my system. All day every day all I could think about was killing myself. I felt miserable and severely depressed. I started getting spots on my face and chest, one of my breasts is still slightly larger than the other since taking and stopping this medication (past them being sisters not twins level of different). The low mood wasn't noticeable to me until I'd run out of the 3 months script and couldn't get any more for a while. Within days I felt miles better. My period had been stopped already by my cerazette usage, and it didn't return while I was taking Norgeston. Absolutely I would recommend trying Norgeston before committing to the Mirena coil, if I hadn't I'm not entirely sure I'd still be here!


Very negative mood

3 more effects

1 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th Aug 23

Norgeston pill  

I can’t describe how happy I am to have found this pill after being put on about 5 different combined pills, both types of coil and the implant and having horrendous side effects. The only side effects I’ve had with this was a little spotting when first starting, and now I have normal regular periods. My skin, mood, tiredness etc has not changed at all. This has the same hormones as the kyleena implant so maybe avoid if you’ve tried that and didn’t get on with it. Couldn’t recommend this pill enough if you’ve tried multiple methods and none of them seem to be working for you!


Top side effects not reported

4 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  24th Jun 23

Norgeston pill  

I completely lose my sex drive when taking the pill. The vaginal dryness isn't as bad with the mini-pill as it is with the combined for me. I started experiencing muscle twitches on this pill which I personally feel are linked so have stopped taking it.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Cerelle pill with other contraceptives

Compare the Norgeston pill with other contraceptives

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