Desomono pill vs Cerelle pill

Need help choosing? Speak to a doctor
Desomono pill

£From £0.18/day

Cerelle pill

£From £0.20/day

Overview

Rated 2.0

18 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Rated 2.8

307 reviews

Daily

Frequency

91% - 99+%

Effectiveness

None

Blood clot risk

None

Effect on fertility

Desomono pill ingredients

Main hormones in Desomono pill

Less-Androgenic progestogen


Cerelle pill ingredients

Main hormones in Cerelle pill

Less-Androgenic progestogen

What Lowdown reviewers say

28% no impact on mood

56% irregular periods

44% lost sex drive

50% no impact

33% improved skin

Cycle return

100% in 1 month

29% somewhat negative

53% stopped periods

50% lost sex drive

39% gained weight

45% no impact on skin

Cycle return

36% don’t know impact

Benefits: What this contraceptive can help with

Period pain

Period pain

Try it now

£From £0.18/day

Try it now

£From £0.20/day

Check out our latest reviews

Real life reviews from people like you

Desomono pill reviews

18 reviews

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  29th Jan 24

Desomono pill  

This is my favourite contraception. Other brands make my mental health so bad this doesn't. Period cramps can be bad but that's about it. Highly recommend

Read more

Very positive mood

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  19th Dec 23

Desomono pill  

This was the 1st contraception I ever tried and I went on this pill for 2 reasons: The 1st was for cramps and the 2nd was for a contraception which I used alongside condoms. When I started this pill I was on my period/experienced spotting for 140days from May (when I started the pill) to December. However, I did not experience cramps so I was happy to continue with this pill as the period was very light. After this I got my period about every 6weeks and started to get mild cramps but would reduce with paracetamol. After about 18 months of being on this pill I started to experience cramps again. My period was been dreadful. I’ve been on my period for 2weeks now with cramps and heavier bleeding than usual. I’m really tired and run down due to it all and absolutely hate it. A new doctor informed me that this was not the best pill to go on if I don’t have any underlying health problems i.e. A risk of clots. I had no other side effects on this pill so I think it is a good option if you don’t experience cramps and are looking for a contraceptive with less hormones as my friend has had a good experience on it. However it’s definitely not for me and I’m going to change asap.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  10th Oct 22

Desomono pill  

I had been on the combined pill for 10 years prior to this, but had to switch because I had two migraines. On the positive side, my previously very painful periods became a lot lighter and almost painless. However they are now incredibly irregular and long lasting. I've got 40 days without a period, to then have 21 days of bleeding. My skin is the worst its been since I was a teenager, and no skin products I've tried have made any difference. Losing weight has been impossible. I'm here looking for other options because I'm fed up!


Worse skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  29th Jan 24

Desomono pill  

This is my favourite contraception. Other brands make my mental health so bad this doesn't. Period cramps can be bad but that's about it. Highly recommend


Very positive mood

1 more effect

1 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 18 mo - 3 yr
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  19th Dec 23

Desomono pill  

This was the 1st contraception I ever tried and I went on this pill for 2 reasons: The 1st was for cramps and the 2nd was for a contraception which I used alongside condoms. When I started this pill I was on my period/experienced spotting for 140days from May (when I started the pill) to December. However, I did not experience cramps so I was happy to continue with this pill as the period was very light. After this I got my period about every 6weeks and started to get mild cramps but would reduce with paracetamol. After about 18 months of being on this pill I started to experience cramps again. My period was been dreadful. I’ve been on my period for 2weeks now with cramps and heavier bleeding than usual. I’m really tired and run down due to it all and absolutely hate it. A new doctor informed me that this was not the best pill to go on if I don’t have any underlying health problems i.e. A risk of clots. I had no other side effects on this pill so I think it is a good option if you don’t experience cramps and are looking for a contraceptive with less hormones as my friend has had a good experience on it. However it’s definitely not for me and I’m going to change asap.


Somewhat negative mood

1 more effect

0 helpful

0 comments

Progestogen-only / Mini pill  
Used for 6 - 12 mo
27 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  10th Oct 22

Desomono pill  

I had been on the combined pill for 10 years prior to this, but had to switch because I had two migraines. On the positive side, my previously very painful periods became a lot lighter and almost painless. However they are now incredibly irregular and long lasting. I've got 40 days without a period, to then have 21 days of bleeding. My skin is the worst its been since I was a teenager, and no skin products I've tried have made any difference. Losing weight has been impossible. I'm here looking for other options because I'm fed up!


Worse skin

2 more effects

0 helpful

0 comments


Cerelle pill reviews

307 reviews

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

Cerelle pill  

I've only been on this pill for two months so there's a chance this may calm down after the full adjustment period, but the side effects have been interesting. Most notably, my cycle has gone from around 35 days to 13 days, and I have been having a period every other week. The first two periods gave me hope because they were significantly lighter - to the point where I was questioning whether or not I should even log it as a period - and painless. However, the next three periods I've had so far have been gradually getting heavier and I'm getting more cramping. It's weird though because, for most of my period it's still quite light, but on around the second or third day, I do have a few hours where it's quite heavy and crampy, then it subsides again and the rest is light. I had spotting between the first three periods but that's stopped now. Other than the annoying cycle changes, I had a constant lingering headache for the first two weeks, I'm getting more acne than usual, and some vaginal dryness before my period. I don't know if this is worth staying on as I'm only on the pill to manage my painful and heavy periods. Current plan is to finish my three months' supply and take it from there.


Somewhat negative 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 1 - 3 mo
18 years old
🇬🇧 UK
  •  7th Aug 24

Cerelle pill  

I've only been on this pill for two months so there's a chance this may calm down after the full adjustment period, but the side effects have been interesting. Most notably, my cycle has gone from around 35 days to 13 days, and I have been having a period every other week. The first two periods gave me hope because they were significantly lighter - to the point where I was questioning whether or not I should even log it as a period - and painless. However, the next three periods I've had so far have been gradually getting heavier and I'm getting more cramping. It's weird though because, for most of my period it's still quite light, but on around the second or third day, I do have a few hours where it's quite heavy and crampy, then it subsides again and the rest is light. I had spotting between the first three periods but that's stopped now. Other than the annoying cycle changes, I had a constant lingering headache for the first two weeks, I'm getting more acne than usual, and some vaginal dryness before my period. I don't know if this is worth staying on as I'm only on the pill to manage my painful and heavy periods. Current plan is to finish my three months' supply and take it from there.


Somewhat negative 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

Contraceptive alternatives and comparisons

Compare the Desomono pill with other contraceptives

Compare the Cerelle pill with other contraceptives

Order online

Order online now

Use our online prescription in under 5 mins

  • No GP appointment needed

  • Free standard delivery

Speak to a doctor

Not sure yet? Speak to a doctor

Schedule an appointment now

87% of women are happier with their contraceptive choice after speaking with one of The Lowdown's doctors

The Lowdown Footer

Women's health, reviewed.

Get the best women’s health info in your inbox

You are signing up to receive The Lowdown's latest findings and news in women's health. Your data will be used in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie policy

Built by doctors and experts

Our tools are made by medical professionals for your peace of mind

Our website uses affiliate links and we may earn a small commission if you click on them