Description
How it works
Cerazette contains 75 micrograms of desogestrel, a synthetic progestogen. In the body it is converted into etonogestrel, and it prevents pregnancy mainly by:
- Stopping ovulation – in almost all cycles, the ovaries do not release an egg while the pill is taken correctly
- Thickening the cervical mucus – making it much harder for sperm to pass through the neck of the womb
- Altering the womb lining (endometrium) – making it less likely that a fertilised egg could implant
Because it reliably suppresses ovulation, Cerazette is more effective than older traditional mini-pills that only work by thickening cervical mucus. In studies, the Pearl Index (measure of failures per 100 woman-years) was around 0.4, which is similar to many combined pills.
Cerazette does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or HIV – you need to use condoms for STI protection.
Who it may be suitable for
Cerazette is used as a hormonal contraceptive for women of child-bearing age who want a reliable, reversible method of preventing pregnancy.
It may be suitable if you:
- Want a daily pill taken all year round with no break
- Prefer a progestogen-only pill instead of a combined pill containing oestrogen
- Cannot use oestrogen for medical reasons (for example, history of migraine with aura, certain cardiovascular risks – as assessed by a clinician)
- Are breastfeeding and need contraception – Cerazette can usually be used during breastfeeding, with no effect on milk quality in most women
Who should not take Cerazette
Do not use Cerazette if you:
- Have an active venous thromboembolic disorder (a current blood clot in the leg, lung or elsewhere)
- Have severe liver disease, now or in the past, and your liver tests are not back to normal
- Have or are suspected to have a sex-steroid-sensitive cancer (for example certain breast or genital cancers)
- Have unexplained vaginal bleeding that has not been investigated
- Are allergic to desogestrel or any of the tablet ingredients
- Have rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, total lactase deficiency, or glucose-galactose malabsorption – Cerazette contains lactose (around 55 mg per tablet)
Use with extra care / medical supervision
Extra care and regular review are needed if you have or have had:
- Breast cancer in the past
- Previous blood clots or a strong family history of venous or arterial thrombosis
- Liver problems or liver cancer
- High blood pressure or cardiovascular disease
- Diabetes – especially if control has recently changed
- Depression or low mood (depression is a known possible side effect of hormonal contraception)
- Migraine or severe headaches
- Gallbladder disease
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or other autoimmune conditions
- Hereditary angioedema
- Tendency to chloasma (patchy brown skin pigmentation, especially on the face)
If any of these problems worsen or appear for the first time while you are on Cerazette, you may need a review and possibly a different method.
Side Effects
Side effects are often mild and tend to improve over the first few months, but you should be aware of them.
Bleeding changes
The most common effect is a change in your bleeding pattern. Up to around 50% of users may notice:
- Irregular bleeding or spotting
- Bleeding that is more or less frequent
- Bleeding that lasts longer or shorter than usual
- No bleeding at all (amenorrhoea)
Around 20–30% of women may bleed more often; another 20% may bleed less or not at all. Over time, bleeding often becomes less frequent. Persistent, very heavy or very frequent bleeding should be assessed.
Other common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 users)
- Mood changes or depressed mood
- Reduced sex drive (libido decreased)
- Headache
- Breast pain or tenderness
- Nausea
- Acne
- Weight gain
- Irregular or absent periods
Uncommon side effects (up to 1 in 100 users)
- Vaginal infection
- Vomiting
- Difficulty wearing contact lenses
- Hair loss (alopecia)
- Painful periods (dysmenorrhoea)
- Ovarian cysts
- Tiredness or fatigue
Rare side effects (up to 1 in 1,000 users)
- Skin rash
- Hives (urticaria)
- Erythema nodosum – painful red lumps under the skin, usually on the legs
Other important but very rare risks
- Blood clots (thrombosis) in veins or arteries – overall risk with progestogen-only pills appears low, but clots can still occur
- Severe allergic reactions, including angioedema or anaphylaxis
- Ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside the womb) if the pill fails and pregnancy occurs
Seek urgent medical help and stop taking Cerazette if you notice:
- Sudden swelling, pain, warmth or redness in one leg
- Chest pain, sudden shortness of breath, or coughing up blood
- Sudden severe lower abdominal pain (especially with delayed or unusual bleeding)
- Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing
- Sudden severe headache, vision or speech problems, weakness or numbness on one side
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes, very dark urine, or severe upper abdominal pain
- A new breast lump or any marked change in your breasts
- Severe mood changes, feeling very low, or thoughts of self-harm
Patient Information Leaflet
Please see HERE for the Patient Information Leaflet
Additional Info
Key points about Cerazette 75 microgram tablets:
- Active ingredient: 75 micrograms desogestrel per film-coated tablet
- Type: Progestogen-only pill (POP / mini-pill)
- Use: Continuous daily contraception – no hormone-free interval
- Contains lactose – around 55 mg per tablet; not suitable in certain rare hereditary sugar intolerances
- Breastfeeding: Can generally be used while breastfeeding; small amounts of hormone pass into breast milk, but available data do not show harm to infant growth or development
- Fertility: Ovulation usually returns within a few weeks after stopping; pregnancy can occur soon after treatment is discontinued
- Bone health: Oestradiol levels fall to those seen in the early follicular phase; it is not yet known if this has any clinically relevant effect on bone mineral density
- Driving and machinery: No or negligible direct effect; if you feel dizzy, tired or unwell, wait until you feel better before driving
Drug interactions – medicines that may reduce Cerazette’s effectiveness:
Some medicines can increase the breakdown of hormones and make Cerazette less effective, including:
- Certain epilepsy medicines (e.g. carbamazepine, phenytoin, primidone, phenobarbital, oxcarbazepine, topiramate, felbamate)
- Rifampicin, rifabutin (for TB and some infections)
- Some HIV and hepatitis C treatments (certain protease inhibitors and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors)
- Bosentan
- Griseofulvin (antifungal)
- St John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum – herbal antidepressant)
You may need to:
- Use a barrier method (condoms) alongside Cerazette during the course and for 28 days after stopping the interacting medicine, or
- Consider a different method of contraception if you need long-term treatment with enzyme-inducing medicines.
Cerazette may also change levels of other medicines (for example ciclosporin). Always tell your doctor or pharmacist that you are taking a desogestrel-only pill before starting or stopping any medicines or herbal products.
Directions
Cerazette is for oral use.
- Take one tablet every day, at about the same time each day
- Swallow the tablet whole with water
- There are no tablet-free breaks – when you finish one pack, start the next pack the very next day
- Take a tablet every day, whether you are bleeding or not
When to start
If you have not used hormonal contraception in the last month
- Start on Day 1 of your natural cycle (the first day of menstrual bleeding) → you are protected immediately
- You may start on Days 2–5, but you must use extra contraception (e.g. condoms) for the first 7 days
After a first-trimester abortion
-
You can start immediately → no extra contraception is needed
After childbirth or second-trimester abortion
- Start Cerazette between Day 21 and Day 28 after delivery or second-trimester abortion
- If you start later than Day 28, use extra contraception for the first 7 days
- If you have already had unprotected sex, pregnancy should be excluded or you should wait for your first period
Switching from a combined pill, vaginal ring or patch
- Preferably start the day after the last active tablet of your previous combined pill, or on the day of ring/patch removal → no extra contraception needed
- You can also start at the latest the day after the usual pill-free, patch-free, ring-free or placebo interval, but then use extra contraception for 7 days
Switching from another progestogen-only method
- From another mini-pill: switch on any day, starting Cerazette the day after the last tablet
- From an implant or progestogen-releasing IUS: start on the day it is removed
- From an injection: start when the next injection would have been due
Your prescriber can confirm whether you need extra protection during the switch.
Missed a dose?
For Cerazette to work properly, no more than 24 hours should ideally pass between tablets. Contraceptive protection may be reduced if more than 36 hours elapse between two tablets.
If you are less than 12 hours late from your usual time:
- Take the missed tablet as soon as you remember
- Take the next tablet at your usual time (this might mean two tablets in one day)
- Your contraceptive protection should not be reduced
If you are more than 12 hours late from your usual time:
- Take the most recently missed tablet straight away
- Leave any earlier missed tablets in the strip
- Take your next tablet at the usual time (two tablets in one day is fine)
- Use extra contraception (e.g. condoms) for the next 7 days
If tablets were missed in the first week of starting Cerazette and you had unprotected sex in the week before the missed tablet, there is a risk of pregnancy – speak to a clinician or pharmacist about emergency contraception.
Vomiting or severe diarrhoea
- If you vomit within 3–4 hours of taking a tablet, absorption may be incomplete – treat this as a missed pill and follow the instructions above
- With severe gastro-intestinal upset, Cerazette may not be fully absorbed – use extra contraception during the illness and for 7 days after recovery
FAQs
What is Cerazette used for?
Cerazette is a daily progestogen-only contraceptive pill containing 75 micrograms of desogestrel used to prevent pregnancy by taking it every day without a break.
How effective is Cerazette?
When taken correctly at the same time each day, Cerazette is highly effective with a very low failure rate, though its effectiveness can be reduced by missed pills, illness, or certain other medications.
What’s the difference between Cerazette and a combined pill?
Unlike combined pills, Cerazette contains only progestogen and is taken every day without a break, making it suitable for those who cannot use oestrogen or are breastfeeding, though it often causes irregular periods or makes them stop entirely.
When does Cerazette start to protect me?
You are protected immediately if you start Cerazette on the first day of your period, but if you start between days two and five, you must use extra contraception for the first seven days.
Is it normal for my periods to change or stop on Cerazette?
Bleeding changes are very common and normal with Cerazette, ranging from lighter or more frequent periods to none at all, though you should consult a clinician if bleeding is persistently heavy or if you miss pills and have no bleeding.
Can I use Cerazette while breastfeeding?
Yes, Cerazette is safe for use while breastfeeding as it typically does not affect the quality or quantity of breast milk and studies show no negative impact on child development.
Will Cerazette make me gain weight?
Weight gain is a possible side effect but is usually modest and does not affect everyone, so you should discuss any concerns with a clinician while considering the impact of diet and lifestyle.
What if I want to get pregnant in the future?
To get pregnant you simply stop taking Cerazette, as ovulation usually returns within a few weeks, but you should switch to another contraceptive immediately if you do not wish to conceive right away.
Does Cerazette protect against STIs?
No, Cerazette is only intended to prevent pregnancy and does not offer protection against HIV or other sexually transmitted infections, which require the use of condoms.
When should I seek urgent medical help while on Cerazette?
You must seek urgent medical help for symptoms such as sudden leg pain, chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe abdominal pain, facial swelling, jaundice, new breast lumps, or significant changes in your mood, as these can indicate serious side effects requiring prompt assessment by a 24 HR Pharmacy professional or emergency services.
What They Say About Us...
Great service, the follow up phone call to ensure that I was getting the correct medication was appreciated. Would yes 24 HR Pharmacy again.
Excellent customer service and prompt communication. My enquiry was resolved quickly, and my order was delivered ahead of time.
The service I received was faultless. Sehar is very knowledgeable and supportive in her consultation. The service was quick and easy to use.