Zelleta pill vs Cerelle pill
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Overview
Rated 3.2
17 reviews
Daily
Frequency
93% - 99+%
Effectiveness
None
Blood clot risk
None
Effect on fertility
Rated 2.8
312 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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Check out our latest reviews
Real life reviews from people like you
Zelleta pill reviews
17 reviews
Used for 3 - 6 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Having never tried the mini-pill before, for the couple of months I finally thought I'd found the right contraception for me. Unfortunately, after about three months of taking it my periods became irregular, and I ended up having a really long period followed by two months of having no period. The issue was every time I had a period, the period itself would last longer and longer each time. After one period that lasted over two weeks and made me feel exhausted and anxious, I decided to stop taking it. They weren't light periods either, they were heavy with clots. Such a shame as I felt pretty good for the first couple of months, much better than I had done on any combined pill I had taken.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Switched to Zelleta (Desogestrel) from the combined pill because of side effects. Had one unusually long period (9 days) one month after starting Zelleta, after that my periods stopped completely and I only had minor spotting every now and then which almost completely disappeared over time. I gradually noticed a complete loss of sex drive which bothered me a lot and I ended up switching to non-hormonal contraception instead because of this.
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
I was on Rigevidon for about 8 years and got on really well with it. After starting with migraines with aura, I had to change to a mini pill. I can’t believe the difference in my mental health, weight, spots. Everything has just taken a down hill. I’ve been bleeding nearly constantly for the last month, so I’m going to have to find something new. On top of that, my sex drive is low, mood is low, always tired, spots all over my back and shoulders and weight gain.
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
32 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Having never tried the mini-pill before, for the couple of months I finally thought I'd found the right contraception for me. Unfortunately, after about three months of taking it my periods became irregular, and I ended up having a really long period followed by two months of having no period. The issue was every time I had a period, the period itself would last longer and longer each time. After one period that lasted over two weeks and made me feel exhausted and anxious, I decided to stop taking it. They weren't light periods either, they were heavy with clots. Such a shame as I felt pretty good for the first couple of months, much better than I had done on any combined pill I had taken.
Somewhat negative mood
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 6 - 12 mo
30 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
Switched to Zelleta (Desogestrel) from the combined pill because of side effects. Had one unusually long period (9 days) one month after starting Zelleta, after that my periods stopped completely and I only had minor spotting every now and then which almost completely disappeared over time. I gradually noticed a complete loss of sex drive which bothered me a lot and I ended up switching to non-hormonal contraception instead because of this.
Decreased sex drive
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
I was on Rigevidon for about 8 years and got on really well with it. After starting with migraines with aura, I had to change to a mini pill. I can’t believe the difference in my mental health, weight, spots. Everything has just taken a down hill. I’ve been bleeding nearly constantly for the last month, so I’m going to have to find something new. On top of that, my sex drive is low, mood is low, always tired, spots all over my back and shoulders and weight gain.
Somewhat negative mood
3 more effects
0 helpful
0 comments
Cerelle pill reviews
312 reviews
Used for 3 - 6 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I had an unpleasant experience using Cerelle. It was the first birth control I tried and wasn't given any other options or choice by the GP at the time. I had a 2month long heavy and painful period, worsened skin, hair loss, severe backne to name a few side effects. Really bad experience for me sadly. Having now tried over 10 other birth control pills- mini and combined, I learned that I am very sensitive to progesterone so the mini pill just isn't for me sadly. I'm now on the Patch and loving it.
Worse skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
I took this for endometriosis, but not worth it because of facial hair growth. I had breakthrough bleeding every 4-6 months for about 4-5 days, fairly light and not too painful. My sex drive and weight were unaffected, however I got thick dark hair on my stomach, inner thighs, chest and face. This destroyed my self esteem so my mood was obviously low. After stopping the hair did not revert back which is common so I had electrolysis which took care of it. Then 2 years later I went back on this pill stupidly to try and help the endometriosis, the hair came back within 2 months. I have since stopped this pill, spent even more money on electrolysis and have had no issues after regarding that. It took about 3-5 months for my cycle to regulate after coming off birth control. I’m thinking about trying slynd as it is supposed to be anti androgenise, we’ll see.
Somewhat negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
42 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
I used this for 6 months hoping my body would adjust but had to stop. My periods became really irregular, and super heavy. The first month, I had 2 periods (both lasted around 10-12 days), second month I got one period, 3rd month I got nothing, and then months 4 - 6 I had 3 periods in 7 weeks, all lasting around 12 days and far heavier than my normal periods. I felt like I had backache most of those last couple of months as that's something that happens whenever I'm menstruating. I've tried other pills and never had side effects like this, so I've stopped these now and will go back to another type of pill.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
28 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 2 weeks ago
I had an unpleasant experience using Cerelle. It was the first birth control I tried and wasn't given any other options or choice by the GP at the time. I had a 2month long heavy and painful period, worsened skin, hair loss, severe backne to name a few side effects. Really bad experience for me sadly. Having now tried over 10 other birth control pills- mini and combined, I learned that I am very sensitive to progesterone so the mini pill just isn't for me sadly. I'm now on the Patch and loving it.
Worse skin
1 more effect
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 5 yr
35 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
I took this for endometriosis, but not worth it because of facial hair growth. I had breakthrough bleeding every 4-6 months for about 4-5 days, fairly light and not too painful. My sex drive and weight were unaffected, however I got thick dark hair on my stomach, inner thighs, chest and face. This destroyed my self esteem so my mood was obviously low. After stopping the hair did not revert back which is common so I had electrolysis which took care of it. Then 2 years later I went back on this pill stupidly to try and help the endometriosis, the hair came back within 2 months. I have since stopped this pill, spent even more money on electrolysis and have had no issues after regarding that. It took about 3-5 months for my cycle to regulate after coming off birth control. I’m thinking about trying slynd as it is supposed to be anti androgenise, we’ll see.
Somewhat negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
42 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 3 weeks ago
I used this for 6 months hoping my body would adjust but had to stop. My periods became really irregular, and super heavy. The first month, I had 2 periods (both lasted around 10-12 days), second month I got one period, 3rd month I got nothing, and then months 4 - 6 I had 3 periods in 7 weeks, all lasting around 12 days and far heavier than my normal periods. I felt like I had backache most of those last couple of months as that's something that happens whenever I'm menstruating. I've tried other pills and never had side effects like this, so I've stopped these now and will go back to another type of pill.
Top side effects not reported
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
24 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 1 month ago
Had some mood issues during the first 3 months such a depression, low moods, emotional but put that down to my body adjusting. But after 5/6 months all the side effects of depression, low mood, constant crying can back much worse. Had 6 week period cycles with irregular bleeding and spotting and heavy cramping. Had to come off the pills as they were affecting my life so greatly.
Very negative mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 3 - 6 mo
21 years old
🇬🇧 UK
• 15th Dec 24
Started taking in April 2024 finished the last pack September 2024. Had spotting for the first couple months in the place of period which was frustrating (spotting for 14days instead of normal 5-7day period flow). Once settled, periods just completely stopped which made me feel slightly uneasy as there’s no indicator of “missed period” for pregnancy sirens to ring. Mood was a strange one, felt slightly mentally exhausted but difficult to tell whether that was life or the pill, but I do remember having PMS type symptoms (emotional, cramps) once a month, almost mimicking a period without the bleeds.
Worse skin
1 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 7th Aug 24
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
Used for 8+ yr
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 24th Jun 24
Overall it’s excellent and all positive, no periods at all and steady mood
Very positive mood
0 helpful
0 comments
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 14th Jun 24
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
Used for 3 - 6 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 7th May 24
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
Used for 1 - 3 mo
Lowdown user
🇬🇧 UK
• 7th May 24
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
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