Description
How it works
Cerelle contains desogestrel 75 micrograms, a synthetic progestogen. After swallowing, it is converted into etonogestrel, which prevents pregnancy mainly by:
- Stopping ovulation – most women do not release an egg each cycle while taking it regularly
- Thickening the cervical mucus – making it harder for sperm to reach the womb
- Changing the womb lining – making it less likely that a fertilised egg could implant
Because it reliably inhibits ovulation, Cerelle is more effective than older traditional mini-pills that only work by thickening mucus. When taken correctly, desogestrel POPs have a very low failure rate, comparable to many combined pills.
Cerelle does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or HIV – a condom is needed for that.
Who it may be suitable for
Cerelle is used for hormonal contraception in women of child-bearing age.
It may be suitable if you:
- Want a daily pill taken all year round (no break weeks)
- Prefer or need a progestogen-only pill instead of a combined pill with oestrogen
- Are unable to use oestrogen-containing contraception (for example due to migraine with aura, certain cardiovascular risks or on medical advice)
- Are breastfeeding and need reliable contraception – Cerelle can usually be used while breastfeeding
Who should not take Cerelle
Do not take Cerelle if you:
- Are allergic to desogestrel or any of the ingredients
- Have an active venous thromboembolic disorder (a current blood clot in the legs, lungs or other veins)
- Have severe liver disease, now or in the past, and your liver function is still not 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
- Have rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, total lactase deficiency or glucose–galactose malabsorption (Cerelle contains lactose)
Use with extra care / medical supervision
Speak to a doctor or pharmacist before using Cerelle if you have or have had:
- Breast cancer (current or past)
- A history of blood clots or 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 – hormonal contraception can sometimes worsen mood
- Migraine or severe headaches
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or other autoimmune conditions
- Gallbladder disease
- Hereditary angioedema
- Long-standing menstrual irregularities or frequent heavy bleeding
If any of these issues worsen or appear for the first time while taking Cerelle, seek medical advice; it may be necessary to stop or switch to a different method.
Side Effects
As with all hormonal contraception, some women may experience side effects. These are often mild and tend to settle after the first few months.
Bleeding changes
The most common effect is a change in your bleeding pattern:
- 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 half of women using desogestrel 75 microgram POPs have some form of irregular bleeding. Over time, bleeding often becomes less frequent. If bleeding is very frequent, very heavy or persistent, you should speak to a clinician.
Other common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 users)
- Mood changes or feeling low (depressed mood)
- Reduced sex drive (libido)
- Headache
- Nausea
- Breast pain or tenderness
- Acne
- Weight gain
- Irregular periods or no periods
Uncommon side effects (up to 1 in 100 users)
- Vaginal infection
- Difficulty wearing contact lenses
- Vomiting
- 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 risks (very rare but serious)
- Blood clots (venous or arterial) – the overall risk with progestogen-only pills appears low, but clots can still occur
- Severe allergic reactions, including angioedema (swelling under the skin) or anaphylaxis
- Ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy outside the womb) – possible if the pill fails and pregnancy occurs
Get urgent medical help and stop taking Cerelle 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 or depressive symptoms, especially if you feel very low or have thoughts of self-harm
Patient Information Leaflet
Please see HERE for the Patient Information Leaflet
Additional Info
Key facts about Cerelle 75 microgram film-coated tablets:
- Active ingredient: 75 micrograms desogestrel per tablet
- Type: Progestogen-only pill (POP / mini-pill)
- Use: Continuous daily contraception – no hormone-free interval
- Lactose content: Each tablet contains about 52 mg of lactose – not suitable if you have certain rare hereditary sugar intolerances
- Breastfeeding: Can usually be used while breastfeeding; small amounts of hormone pass into breast milk, but available data have not shown harm to infant growth or development. Infant growth should be monitored routinely.
- Fertility: When Cerelle is stopped, ovulation typically returns quickly – studies show ovulation can resume within a few weeks, so pregnancy can occur soon after stopping.
- Bone health: Cerelle lowers oestradiol levels to those seen in the early follicular phase; it is not yet clear whether this has any long-term effect on bone mineral density.
- Driving and machinery: Cerelle has no or negligible effect on the ability to drive or use machines; if you feel dizzy or unwell, wait until you feel better before driving.
Important interactions – medicines that can affect Cerelle:
Some medicines can reduce the effectiveness of Cerelle by increasing breakdown of the hormone, including:
- Certain epilepsy medicines: e.g. carbamazepine, phenytoin, primidone, phenobarbital, oxcarbazepine, topiramate, felbamate
- Rifampicin, rifabutin and some other antibiotics used for TB and serious infections
- Some HIV and hepatitis C medicines
- Bosentan
- Griseofulvin (antifungal)
- Herbal products containing St John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum)
If you need these medicines, you may be advised to:
- Use a barrier method (condoms) in addition to Cerelle for the whole course and for 28 days after stopping the interacting medicine, or
- Consider a different method of contraception if you’re on long-term enzyme-inducing treatment.
Cerelle can also affect levels of some medicines (for example ciclosporin). Always tell your doctor or pharmacist that you are taking Cerelle before starting or stopping any medicine or herbal product.
Directions
Cerelle is for oral use.
- Take one tablet every day, at about the same time each day
- Swallow the tablet whole with water
- There is no break between packs – once you finish one blister strip, start the next one the very next day
- Take a tablet every day, whether you are bleeding or not
Starting Cerelle
If you have not used hormonal contraception in the last month
- Day 1 of your period: start Cerelle on the first day of bleeding → you are protected immediately
- Days 2–5 of your cycle: you can start on these days, but you should use extra contraception (e.g. condoms) for the first 7 days of tablet-taking
After a first-trimester abortion
-
You can normally start Cerelle straight away → no additional contraception is needed
After childbirth or second-trimester abortion
- Start any day between Day 21 and Day 28
- 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 before starting
Switching from a combined pill, vaginal ring or patch
- Ideally start Cerelle the day after your last active combined pill, or on the day of ring/patch removal → no extra contraception needed
- You can also start after the usual pill-free or placebo interval, but then you should use extra contraception for the first 7 days
Switching from another progestogen-only method (mini-pill, injection, implant, hormone-releasing IUS)
- From another POP: start the day after you stop it
- From an implant or IUS: start on the day of removal
- From an injection: start when the next injection would have been due
Your prescriber or pharmacist will confirm if extra contraception is needed during the switch.
Missed a dose?
For Cerelle to work properly, you should ideally not let more than 24 hours pass between tablets. Contraceptive protection may start to fall if more than 36 hours pass between two doses.
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 the usual time (you may take 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 immediately
- 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 you miss tablets in the first week of starting Cerelle and you had unprotected sex in the week before the missed tablet, there is a risk of pregnancy – speak to a clinician or pharmacist; emergency contraception may be appropriate.
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
- With ongoing severe diarrhoea or vomiting, Cerelle may not be fully absorbed – use extra contraception during the illness and for 7 days after you recover
If in doubt about missed tablets, use condoms and seek professional advice.
FAQs
What is Cerelle used for?
Cerelle is a progestogen-only mini-pill containing 75 micrograms of desogestrel used for daily pregnancy prevention without a seven-day break.
How effective is Cerelle?
When taken consistently at the same time each day Cerelle is highly effective with a low failure rate, though its protection may decrease if tablets are missed by more than 12 hours or if you experience vomiting or severe diarrhoea.
What’s the difference between Cerelle and a combined pill?
Unlike combined pills, Cerelle contains no oestrogen and is taken every day without a break, making it suitable for those who cannot use oestrogen, though it often results in irregular periods or no bleeding at all.
When will Cerelle start to protect me?
You are protected immediately if you start Cerelle on the first day of your period, but starting between days two and five requires seven days of extra contraception, and switching from other methods depends on specific clinical guidance.
Is it normal for my periods to change or stop?
Bleeding changes are a very common and normal side effect of Cerelle, but you should seek medical advice or take a pregnancy test if bleeding is excessively heavy or if you have no bleeding after missing pills.
Can I take Cerelle while breastfeeding?
Cerelle is generally safe for use during breastfeeding as it does not negatively impact the quality or quantity of breast milk or the long-term development of the infant.
Will Cerelle make me gain weight?
Weight gain is a common but usually modest side effect that does not affect every user, and you should discuss your concerns with a clinician while considering the impact of your diet and lifestyle.
What if I want to get pregnant in the future?
To pursue pregnancy you can simply stop taking Cerelle as fertility typically returns within a few weeks, but you should use another method immediately if you do not wish to conceive right away.
Does Cerelle protect against STIs?
Cerelle is only designed to prevent pregnancy and provides no protection against HIV or other sexually transmitted infections, which require the use of condoms.
When should I seek urgent medical help while taking Cerelle?
You must seek urgent medical attention for symptoms such as sudden leg swelling, chest pain, difficulty breathing, facial swelling, severe abdominal pain, jaundice, new breast lumps, or significant mood changes while informing the provider you are on a hormonal contraceptive from 24 HR Pharmacy.
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