Desogestrel pill vs Cerazette pill
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Overview
Rated 2.7
386 reviews
Daily
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 2.6
409 reviews
Daily
Frequency
91% - 99+%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
What Lowdown reviewers say
Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with
Period pain
Period pain
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Real life reviews from people like you
Desogestrel pill reviews
386 reviews
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
i was put on this pill due to me being incredibly hormonal and 'hysterical' every month (on top of other issues i was facing). i was put on at 15-16 years of age i am now 18. my skin became more acne-like on cheeks and chin, whereas before it was just one or two. my breasts grew a lot, which was hard for me to come to terms with. thinking of coming off due to just 'having enough' and being worried about blood clots etc.
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
I have been on this pill for a little over 10 weeks with the hopes of it stopping my period altogether but I spent more time bleeding than not. Sometimes little bits here and there, sometimes a lot and for 10+ days at a time. I found myself having a lot of down days and googling PPD symptoms. The worst thing I noticed was the brain fog. My ability to remember things and speak clear and cohesive sentences was just obliterated. I’m on day 2 post stopping and it feels a little better already although I have started my withdrawal bleed. I know you should give your body at least 3 months to settle after starting but honestly that was enough time for me. I just hope my cycle goes back to normal fairly soon!
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 week ago
Was on desogestrel for almost 8 years. Only got light spotting when I missed a pill, otherwise very easy adjusting to pill. I’ve stopped now as I’m trying to conceive and actually stopping has been an experience - I’ve been getting hormonal acne and my sex drive has shot through the roof! I also developed minor vaginismus (related to stress levels) on the pill and that seems to have gone away in the last month since I stopped desogestrel. I can update this in a few months time in case these symptoms are temporary or not.
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 day ago
i was put on this pill due to me being incredibly hormonal and 'hysterical' every month (on top of other issues i was facing). i was put on at 15-16 years of age i am now 18. my skin became more acne-like on cheeks and chin, whereas before it was just one or two. my breasts grew a lot, which was hard for me to come to terms with. thinking of coming off due to just 'having enough' and being worried about blood clots etc.
Somewhat positive mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 days ago
I have been on this pill for a little over 10 weeks with the hopes of it stopping my period altogether but I spent more time bleeding than not. Sometimes little bits here and there, sometimes a lot and for 10+ days at a time. I found myself having a lot of down days and googling PPD symptoms. The worst thing I noticed was the brain fog. My ability to remember things and speak clear and cohesive sentences was just obliterated. I’m on day 2 post stopping and it feels a little better already although I have started my withdrawal bleed. I know you should give your body at least 3 months to settle after starting but honestly that was enough time for me. I just hope my cycle goes back to normal fairly soon!
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 5 - 8 yr
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 week ago
Was on desogestrel for almost 8 years. Only got light spotting when I missed a pill, otherwise very easy adjusting to pill. I’ve stopped now as I’m trying to conceive and actually stopping has been an experience - I’ve been getting hormonal acne and my sex drive has shot through the roof! I also developed minor vaginismus (related to stress levels) on the pill and that seems to have gone away in the last month since I stopped desogestrel. I can update this in a few months time in case these symptoms are temporary or not.
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Cerazette pill reviews
409 reviews
Used for 6 - 12 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
I had to switch birth control after having a Pulmenary Embolism (blood clot) - GP switched me onto the mini pill. I was on it for 7 months and bled nearly everyday. Regular levels of bleed during the first few months and then lighter but still spotting most days.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I would HIGHLY recommend this contraception. In my opinion it is one of the best, if not the best and has worked for me 100%
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
46 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
Hi in my experience the breakthrough bleeding was too much for me. I had to change pill due to starting on hrt. Previously used microgynon which was great periods were like clockwork. Short 4 days and fairly light. I stopped using it and now use noriday.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 days ago
I had to switch birth control after having a Pulmenary Embolism (blood clot) - GP switched me onto the mini pill. I was on it for 7 months and bled nearly everyday. Regular levels of bleed during the first few months and then lighter but still spotting most days.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 8+ yr
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I would HIGHLY recommend this contraception. In my opinion it is one of the best, if not the best and has worked for me 100%
Somewhat positive mood
2 more effects
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
46 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
Hi in my experience the breakthrough bleeding was too much for me. I had to change pill due to starting on hrt. Previously used microgynon which was great periods were like clockwork. Short 4 days and fairly light. I stopped using it and now use noriday.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
The first few months have been rough. Originally went on this pill to alleviate symptoms of Endemetriosis but I’ve had worse side effects then my natural cycle with Endo. I’m giving it one more cycle and if nothing changes then I’ll go off the pill
Somewhat negative mood
2 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
38 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 31st Mar 25
I wanted to come on here to write this review and want people of the potential side effects of this medicine. I have experienced a really negative change in general outlook, mood and self worth and completely put it down to this pill. I have today thrown it in the bin after becoming so down that I couldn’t function. I have been on this pill before & for a lengthy stretch, but this time (after having a child) has been completely different and utterly awful. At the start of taking it my periods were quite constant, but they did get lighter and more manageable on this pill. If the mood change wasn’t so bad I would still take it but it’s not worth it at all
Very negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 24th Mar 25
I have been on Cerazette for 4 years now. Initially, I had headaches, breast tenderness and mood swings. These symptoms subsided after 3 months. My periods became very irregular and then stopped altogether. Although my doctors deny this all the time, I feel like the pill caused excessive weight gain. Yes, I have had circumstances that affected my life but the weight gain was dramatic. In the first year alone, I gained 15 kilograms. After 4 years, I am up to 25 kg extra weight (BMI 29) and I am struggling to lose the weight with diet and exercise. Lately, I have had more bodily hair growth and am losing some hair on my head. Not many mood swings but definitely feeling angry most of the time. I am also struggling with a very low sex drive, which is starting to affect my marriage. I have an appointment with my GP, will try to switch to the combined pill to try.
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 21st Mar 25
I really tried to give it a chance and persevere despite a lot of breakthrough bleeding. My skin got worse. My mood/anxiety got worse. The bleeding never stopped. I would be spotting nonstop for 2 weeks, get a period (heavier bleeding), then no bleeding for ~1 week, and then back to spotting. I didn't notice any changes to my sex drive but the constant spotting was a huge deterrent. I am now switching to a combined pill.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 10th Feb 25
Was on this pill for about 4/5 months. Positives were that it got rid of any cramps/ period symptoms - great as I was previously prescribed meds for dysmenorrhea. However, it gave me constant spotting and light bleeding - I bled for about 75% of the time while on this pill and it didn’t get any better. Doctor recommended that I doubled dose (from 75 to 150mg) - this killed my sex drive and didn’t fix the bleeding issue, so I eventually came off.
Worse skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
26 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 28th Jan 25
I took this for a month and had issues everyday from nausea to headaches. My mood was terrible and I was crying or anxious regularly. I stopped because during my last week of being in this pill I had a breakthrough bleed that was so painful and heavy I couldn’t leave my bed. It was worse than my regular period so I stopped this pill.
Very negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 12 - 18 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 28th Oct 24
My periods are much lighter now, I probably bleed for about 3 days in 3-4 months - it is irregular though unfortunately so I can't predict when it may occur. My mood is much more stable than it was before and whilst using other hormonal contraception. I have been getting much more increased sweating recently though and had not made the link that it may be connected to the pill before seeing it on the Lowdown website. I have had a really positive experience with the mini-pill, especially after having used the implant before.
Improved skin
1 more effect
1 helpful
0 comments

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