Desogestrel pill vs Cerelle pill

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Desogestrel pill

£From £0.20/day

Cerelle pill

£From £0.20/day

Overview

Rated 2.6

329 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.8

298 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Desogestrel pill ingredients

Main hormones in Desogestrel pill

Less-Androgenic progestogen


Cerelle pill ingredients

Main hormones in Cerelle pill

Less-Androgenic progestogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

Period pain

Period pain

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Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Desogestrel pill reviews

329 reviews

Used for 12 - 18 mo
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

  •  Stopped using

Overall after trying many different pills, this was the best, I started to have very depressive weeks so I stopped as I was afraid of some suicidal thoughts.

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Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 3 - 6 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

  •  Stopped using

The only side effect I had on this pill was the irregular bleeding. It worked for the first 2 months and then I just bled for the next 4 months (until I stopped). I suffer from VERY painful periods and even when I wasn’t bleeding or it was really light I can recall having 3 huge pain episodes that would last a few days. The pill didn’t affect my mood, but the side effects did because I had to spend nearly all summer inside because of the anxiety and depression. Aswell because of the bleeding I lost interest in sex (again, not caused by the pill directly). Overall I’m disappointed this method didn’t work. If I didn’t have bleeding and unexpected cramps this would’ve been perfect.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 3 - 6 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

  •  Still using

Granted I suffer with anxiety and depression anyway but it was under control and I hadn’t had panic attacks in a year when I was off birth control. I started this in January and at first I felt great, I had more energy, little bit of bloating but that went and no changes really at all. By month 2 I noticed I was getting panic attacks again and felt very anxious in safe places/ around safe people where I have never experienced anxiety before. I am now on month 4 and it is worse than ever, I am irritable, angry, emotional, low body image, finding myself not wanting to do anything. I am coming off this pill now and trying another because I want to be myself again.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 12 - 18 mo
31 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

  •  Stopped using

Overall after trying many different pills, this was the best, I started to have very depressive weeks so I stopped as I was afraid of some suicidal thoughts.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 3 - 6 mo
20 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

  •  Stopped using

The only side effect I had on this pill was the irregular bleeding. It worked for the first 2 months and then I just bled for the next 4 months (until I stopped). I suffer from VERY painful periods and even when I wasn’t bleeding or it was really light I can recall having 3 huge pain episodes that would last a few days. The pill didn’t affect my mood, but the side effects did because I had to spend nearly all summer inside because of the anxiety and depression. Aswell because of the bleeding I lost interest in sex (again, not caused by the pill directly). Overall I’m disappointed this method didn’t work. If I didn’t have bleeding and unexpected cramps this would’ve been perfect.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 3 - 6 mo
25 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  1 month ago

  •  Still using

Granted I suffer with anxiety and depression anyway but it was under control and I hadn’t had panic attacks in a year when I was off birth control. I started this in January and at first I felt great, I had more energy, little bit of bloating but that went and no changes really at all. By month 2 I noticed I was getting panic attacks again and felt very anxious in safe places/ around safe people where I have never experienced anxiety before. I am now on month 4 and it is worse than ever, I am irritable, angry, emotional, low body image, finding myself not wanting to do anything. I am coming off this pill now and trying another because I want to be myself again.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments


Cerelle pill reviews

298 reviews

Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

  •  Still using

I started the mini-pill as a quick method inbetween the time I was waiting to get the Copper Coil contraceptive. It has worked very well! No spotting or bleeding. Except, my periods were slightly heavier but had little to no cramps. I was very skeptical of the pill affecting my mental health but I am not sure as it could be other reasons!


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 1 - 3 mo
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  14th Mar 24

  •  Still using

I switched to Cerelle from Hana a few months ago. This pill has been a big improvement for me. My sex drive is back, and everything seems to function normally down there again! I feel more myself than I had before, my moods are generally better. I haven't had a period since I started which is amazing for me as I've always suffered with PMDD and very heavy, painful bleeding. There are a couple of downsides, I have had more headaches and migraines which I've always been prone to. Hoping they will settle with more time. I've also noticed sometimes painful, quite major bloating. At times I look pregnant (I'm definitely not!). I have managed to solve this by adding a supplement to my routine so it's not too much of a concern


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 12 - 18 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6th Mar 24

  •  Still using

I have a love and hate relationship with this pill. On the positives i didn’t really get any physical side effects apart from my period stopping which was a bonus. However this pill makes me so much more emotional and anxious than before so thinking of taking a break to see if my mood improves.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

1 comments

Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

  •  Still using

I started the mini-pill as a quick method inbetween the time I was waiting to get the Copper Coil contraceptive. It has worked very well! No spotting or bleeding. Except, my periods were slightly heavier but had little to no cramps. I was very skeptical of the pill affecting my mental health but I am not sure as it could be other reasons!


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 1 - 3 mo
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  14th Mar 24

  •  Still using

I switched to Cerelle from Hana a few months ago. This pill has been a big improvement for me. My sex drive is back, and everything seems to function normally down there again! I feel more myself than I had before, my moods are generally better. I haven't had a period since I started which is amazing for me as I've always suffered with PMDD and very heavy, painful bleeding. There are a couple of downsides, I have had more headaches and migraines which I've always been prone to. Hoping they will settle with more time. I've also noticed sometimes painful, quite major bloating. At times I look pregnant (I'm definitely not!). I have managed to solve this by adding a supplement to my routine so it's not too much of a concern


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 12 - 18 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6th Mar 24

  •  Still using

I have a love and hate relationship with this pill. On the positives i didn’t really get any physical side effects apart from my period stopping which was a bonus. However this pill makes me so much more emotional and anxious than before so thinking of taking a break to see if my mood improves.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

1 comments

Used for 3 - 6 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  15th Feb 24

  •  Stopped using

I was on this pill for nearly 6 months and during that time I was very nauseous. I also had horrendous mood swings and completely lost my sex drive. The worst symptom however was the random bleeding, completely out the blue with no warning which was so inconvenient


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
  •  13th Feb 24

  •  Stopped using

This was great for my mood and mental stability. Instead of my mood completely dropping drastically and making each month unbearable with emotions, overthinking and mood swings, this gave me a clear head and no drop. I could barely tell when I was due a period. Unfortunately each month I’d have a week of absolute burning and discomfort that made me cry anyway. I came off it to get my body back to normal and just risked the mental health side.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 1 - 3 mo
29 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  10th Feb 24

  •  Still using

I was suffering a hormonal imbalance since having my son I went on the depo (which I knew doesn't agree with me) it took 2 years for my periods to come back and they came back with a vengeance. I was down depressed, bleeding all the time, no motivation and no sex drive and constant hormonal headaches. I had completely lost myself. I decided to try the mini pill to have a break from it all and I'm so glad I did I've got myself back I'm happy, jolly and not anxious at all. If your suffering with a hormonal imbalance and need a break like I did I highly recommend cerelle


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 1 - 3 mo
22 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6th Feb 24

  •  Still using

quite a positive experience so far, noticed I don’t show signs of ovulation, occasional small headaches but not significant, no negative effect towards mood :)


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

Used for 3 - 6 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th Jan 24

  •  Stopped using

I got given this pill as I have always had an issue with migraines whilst on the mini-pill. I was on this pill for 4 months and I didn't get one migraine which was great and really balanced my mood swings which I suffered badly from after my pregnancy. However, I literally bled on it all the time none stop. I would wake up in the morning with a a heavier bleed and by the evening I would be spotting. This happened everyday with no break. I finally gave up due to this.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Used for 1 - 3 mo
23 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  6th Nov 23

  •  Still using

I had to switch from my combined pill due to risk of breast cancer and stroke. I loved my previous pill but this one I've had such negative experiences, so anxious and depressed and angry, as well as random bleeding and making my work and home life difficult to cope with. I will not be taking this pill beyond the 3 months prescribed


Top side effects not reported

1 helpful

0 comments

Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  25th Oct 23

  •  Still using

Only been on this for 2 months to may make an updated review after longer time. But I was on the Evra patch for about 2 years, I loved it until the end as I got very teary all the time, had no sex drive and when I went on holiday the patch kept sweating off. My skin was always fine on contraception though and didn’t notice any weight gain. With cerelle for the 1st month I had a period as normal, my 2nd month I’ve had no period. I still have a low sex drive (which I had on the patch too) so maybe it’s an outside factor, haven’t noticed any major weight gain, skin is still fine. I’m still teary but I guess I’m just a depressed gal rather than contraception affecting me. Haven’t noticed any change to my boobs. On the patch I was very dry all the time which made sex not fun, on Cerelle I feel like I have more discharge which isn’t too much of a bad thing.


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

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