Desogestrel pill vs Cerelle pill

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Desogestrel pill

£From £0.20/day

Cerelle pill

£From £0.20/day

Overview

Rated 2.7

353 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.8

306 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

33% somewhat negative

42% stopped periods

55% lost sex drive

43% no impact

45% no impact on skin

Cycle return

40% don’t know impact

29% somewhat negative

54% stopped periods

50% lost sex drive

40% gained weight

46% no impact on skin

Cycle return

36% don’t know impact

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

Period pain

Period pain

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£From £0.20/day

Try it now

£From £0.20/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Desogestrel pill reviews

353 reviews

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Desogestrel pill  

I have only been on this pill for around 2 months however my side effects have been so drastic in this time period. My mood is unstable and I have become more irritable and quick to be upset, as for periods they have been irregular and my cramps have been the same if not worse than before i started contraception.

Read more

Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Desogestrel pill  

it’s really good, like that there’s no estrogen and doesn’t make me feel like i’m going crazy. only annoying thing is the loss of sex drive but that’s something i work through with my partner


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Desogestrel pill  

This was my first time using a hormonal contraception method and was given this by my doctor to start with. I persevered for 3-4 months but experienced continuous medium break through bleeding that didn’t show any sign of stopping. At this point my sex drive had disappeared and I switched over to a combined pill which I now have a much better time with.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  2 weeks ago

Desogestrel pill  

I have only been on this pill for around 2 months however my side effects have been so drastic in this time period. My mood is unstable and I have become more irritable and quick to be upset, as for periods they have been irregular and my cramps have been the same if not worse than before i started contraception.


Very negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Desogestrel pill  

it’s really good, like that there’s no estrogen and doesn’t make me feel like i’m going crazy. only annoying thing is the loss of sex drive but that’s something i work through with my partner


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments

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

Desogestrel pill  

This was my first time using a hormonal contraception method and was given this by my doctor to start with. I persevered for 3-4 months but experienced continuous medium break through bleeding that didn’t show any sign of stopping. At this point my sex drive had disappeared and I switched over to a combined pill which I now have a much better time with.


Decreased sex drive

0 helpful

0 comments


Cerelle pill reviews

306 reviews

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 8+ yr
51 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  24th Jun 24

Cerelle pill  

Overall it’s excellent and all positive, no periods at all and steady mood


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  14th Jun 24

Cerelle pill  

I'm giving this pill more time because maybe it's just an adjustment. But I've been a bit weepy with sore breasts and spotting every week. Also a really tender feeling in my lower abdomen-especially during sex. Which I hate obviously. So I'm definitely not getting pregnant because I no longer enjoy sex.. so in that respect it is effective. It's getting one more month and then I'm done.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  7th May 24

Cerelle pill  

went on this pill due to high blood pressure, and the experience has been very well. my periods skip a month then return lighter. the first month my bleed was longer but lighter, ever since then it has been lighter. my period cramps have reduced massively. few headaches and light sensitivity but has not occurred in a while. acne has be a little bit worse and oily but clears up after a bit. overall has benefited me and libido increased surprisingly 😊


Very positive mood

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 8+ yr
51 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  24th Jun 24

Cerelle pill  

Overall it’s excellent and all positive, no periods at all and steady mood


Very positive mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  14th Jun 24

Cerelle pill  

I'm giving this pill more time because maybe it's just an adjustment. But I've been a bit weepy with sore breasts and spotting every week. Also a really tender feeling in my lower abdomen-especially during sex. Which I hate obviously. So I'm definitely not getting pregnant because I no longer enjoy sex.. so in that respect it is effective. It's getting one more month and then I'm done.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  7th May 24

Cerelle pill  

went on this pill due to high blood pressure, and the experience has been very well. my periods skip a month then return lighter. the first month my bleed was longer but lighter, ever since then it has been lighter. my period cramps have reduced massively. few headaches and light sensitivity but has not occurred in a while. acne has be a little bit worse and oily but clears up after a bit. overall has benefited me and libido increased surprisingly 😊


Very positive mood

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
33 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  7th May 24

Cerelle pill  

I suffer from migraines and was convinced to try this contraption as a way to prevent hormonal fluctuations and therefore prevent them. This pill left me with status migranosus / intractable migraine. It was horrific


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 5 yr
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  7th May 24

Cerelle pill  

I started on this contraception when I was 16, and am now 21, so in lots of ways it feels difficult to pin any major changes onto it given I would have changed so much in this time anyway. For me, the best thing about it is that it completely stopped my periods for nearly 4 years and then, after experiencing bleeding for the first time in years and seeking advice from the wonderful team at the lowdown, I was able to double my dose so that periods stopped again. I generally have been stable on it which is brilliant, especially after starting on the combined pill and experiencing intense symptoms of nausea and vomiting. I would definitely recommend it based on my experience!


Top side effects not reported

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 3 - 6 mo
44 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  4th May 24

Cerelle pill  

Was told I could no longer continue my low dose combined pill (Gedarel) at age 43 because I was deemed overweight by a GP (a nurse looked at me in disbelief at this and actually initially extended my prescription to allow me to enjoy my honeymoon. GP now still stubbornly going on my BMI) Blood pressure fluctuates at times too so didn’t want to go through the stress of not knowing at a 3 month check if I’d suddenly be forced to come off it depending who I saw. Started Cerelle in January. First 6 weeks weren’t pleasant. Really sore breasts, spotting mixed in with random heavier bleeds, dryness when not bleeding and bladder irritation. All calmed down (apart from Dryness)- by third strip stopped spotting etc. Then on fourth strip started to bleed for two weeks (light enough to be ok) but by week 3 was bleeding so heavy was leaking through a heavy tampon/pad/period pants and passing clots with no sign of easing up after a full stressful week of this. Stopped taking the pill and bleeding calmed down. It took another 6 days to stop but feel so relieved. A nurse wanted me to switch straight away onto a new mini pill or coil but honestly I feel my body needs a break. Not sure where to go now as already my body feels so much better/libido back/moods balanced. Fed up of hormones!!


Somewhat negative mood

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 12 - 18 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th Apr 24

Cerelle pill  

Short term symptoms were: very tender breasts and feeling weird for a week couple of weeks. Most importantly I suppose - I did not get pregnant while on the mini pill, so it did it's job. It also stopped my periods completely, which was convenient. I was struggling on and off with depression starting just BEFORE I started on the pill, so it didn't caused thay but but I do think it prolonged the problem.


Somewhat negative mood

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
19 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  26th Apr 24

Cerelle pill  

Put on a lot of weight


Improved skin

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  15th Apr 24

Cerelle pill  

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!


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 1 - 3 mo
34 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  14th Mar 24

Cerelle pill  

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


Somewhat positive mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

1 comments

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Desogestrel pill with other contraceptives

Compare the Cerelle pill with other contraceptives

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