Cerelle Contraceptive Pill

Cerelle is a progestogen-only pill (POP), more commonly referred to as a mini pill, containing the active ingredient desogestrel. 

The main difference between the mini pill and the combined pill is that the mini pill does not contain an oestrogen hormone. This can make it a better option if you smoke, if you're breastfeeding, or if you’re over 50.  

Like most mini pills, Cerelle makes it harder for sperm to survive by thickening your cervical mucus, while making it more difficult for a fertilised egg to attach to your womb by thinning its lining.  

However, since it contains 75 micrograms of desogestrel, it can also prevent you from ovulating. 

Cerelle is 99% effective at preventing pregnancy – as long as you use it perfectly. That means never missing a pill and taking it at the same time every day. 

However, ‘typical’ use, factoring in the odd missed pill and inconsistent usage, leads to an effectiveness of 91%.  

Each strip of Cerelle contains 28 tablets with the days of the week printed on the front side. You should take one tablet per day, swallowed with water, at around the same time every day. 

Unlike combined contraceptive pills, Cerelle must be taken consecutively without a seven-day break. When you’ve finished one strip, you must start a new one the next day. 

If you’re not using hormonal contraception 

If you’re starting Cerelle and are not currently using any other hormonal contraception, or have done within the past month, wait for your period to begin and take your first pill on the first day of your period. This way, you’ll be protected from pregnancy immediately.  

You can start on days 2-5 of your cycle, but you will have to use an additional method of contraception, such as a condom, for the first seven days of Cerelle use.  

If you’re switching from a combined pill, vaginal pill or transdermal patch 

If you’re changing from a combined contraceptive pill, vaginal ring, or transdermal patch, you can start taking Cerelle the day after your last combined pill, or on the day of removal of your vaginal ring or patch. 

You don’t have to take a break between the contraceptive methods. This way, you will continue to be protected from pregnancy. If you do have a break between your old hormonal contraception method and your new Cerelle pills, you will need to use barrier contraception for the first seven days of Cerelle use.  

If you’re changing from another mini pill 

If you’re changing from another progestogen-only mini-pill, you can stop taking your old one on any day and start taking Cerelle the next day as normal. You won’t need any additional contraceptive precautions. 

If you’ve had a baby 

You can start taking Cerelle between 21 and 28 days after the birth of your child. If you start any later than this, make sure to use a barrier contraceptive for the first 7 days of taking Cerelle. 

If you’ve had an abortion or miscarriage 

You should speak to your doctor or Chemist4U pharmacist for advice about taking Cerelle after an abortion or miscarriage. 

If you forget to take your pill and remember within 12 hours, take the missed pill as soon as you remember and then take the next one at the usual time. The contraception will still work as it should.  

If you forget to take your pill, and it’s been more than 12 hours since you should have taken it, you may not be completely protected against pregnancy. Take your pill as soon as you remember, and take the next one at the same time, even if this means you’ll have to take two tablets on the same day – it won’t cause you any harm.  

If you have forgotten more than one tablet, you don’t need to take the earlier missed ones, but you won’t be protected against pregnancy. Continue taking your pill at the normal time and use an extra method of contraception, such as a condom, for the next seven days. It’s safe to take an emergency contraception like the morning after pill if you have had sex after being more than 12 hours late taking your pill.  

If you vomit or have severe diarrhoea within 3-4 hours after taking your pill, the active substance may not have been completely absorbed and you should follow the same advice for missed pills. 

If you experience any side effects, including any not included in the patient information leaflet, you can report them using the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme. 

You can find out more with our guide to birth control side effects.   

We don’t prescribe Cerelle to people under the age of 18.  

While Cerelle should be suitable and safe for most people, you must not take it if you:  

Not only is Cerelle available on the NHS, you can get it without paying a penny through the Free NHS Contraception Service. 

Better yet, you can get your Cerelle pills for free through the NHS by ordering with Chemist4U.  

If you decide Cerelle isn’t for you, we’re here to help you find the best contraceptive pill for your body.  

If you want a different type of mini pill, you could consider Hana or Slynd.  

If you’d rather the combined pill, there are pills like Microgydon, Rigevidon, Yasmin and Eloine.  

Of course, pills aren’t your only option. You’ve then got other types of contraception like intrauterine systems (IUS), implants, patches and vaginal rings.  

Or you could look into non-hormonal options like a diaprahm or intrauterine device (IUD).  

And to make sure you’re protected from STIs as well as pregnancy, we’ve got a range of condoms for you to choose from.