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What is desogestrel?
Desogestrel is progestogen-only, oral contraceptive used to prevent pregnancy. It’s the generic version of brands like Cerazette and Cerelle, and contains the active ingredient desogestrel.
Like other mini pills, it doesn’t contain oestrogen, making it different from the combined pill. This means it may be suitable if you’re breastfeeding, are over the age of 50, or have high blood pressure.
However, desogestrel will not protect you against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). To protect yourself from both STDs and pregnancy, you must also use a barrier method, such as a condom.
How does desogestrel work?
Desogestrel 75 microgram pills contain a small amount of the female sex hormone, the progestogen desogestrel. It helps prevent you getting pregnant by:
- preventing you from ovulating
- thickening your cervical mucus to make it harder for the sperm survive
- thinning the lining of your womb
How effective is desogestrel?
Progestogen-only mini pills are 99% effective at preventing pregnancy when taken perfectly.
That effectiveness drops to 91% when you factor in ‘typical’ use, such as the odd missed pill or taking it at the wrong time of day.
How long does it take for desogestrel to stop periods?
Desogestrel isn’t guaranteed to stop your period. Like other mini pills, desogestrel can cause your period to become lighter or stop altogether. However, it can also make your periods more frequent. It depends on how your body reacts to the medication.
- 50% of women on desogestrel can expect no bleeding or very infrequently
- 40% of women experience bleeding 3-5 times in three months
- 10% of women have more frequent bleeding or spotting
Benefits of desogestrel
Always take Desogestrel exactly as described in the patient information leaflet or as your doctor / Chemist4U pharmacist has told you.
If you forget to take Desogestrel or have a severe bout of sickness or diarrhoea, refer to the patient information leaflet for advice, as you may not be fully protected against pregnancy.
- It’s available for free: you can get desogestrel for free through Chemist4U using as part of the Free NHS Contraception Service.
- It doesn’t contain oestrogen: meaning it’s suitable if you’re breastfeeding, have high blood pressure, are over 35 and smoke or are over 50.
- It can relieve ovulation pain: since desogestrel stops you ovulating, it can help prevent ovulation pain.
How to take desogestrel pills
When using desogestrel:
1. Take one pill daily with water.
2. Preferably take your daily desogestrel pill at the same time each day.
3. Continue to take the pack until it is empty.
Each pack of desogestrel 75 microgram pills contains 28 tablets. The days of the week are printed on the blister, with arrows indicating the order in which you should take the pills.
Every time you start a new pack of desogestrel, take a tablet from the top row. If you start the pill on a Wednesday, you must take the tablet from the top row marked as ‘WED’.
If you have a severe bout of sickness or diarrhoea, refer to the patient information leaflet for advice, as you may not be fully protected against pregnancy.
What to do if you miss your desogestrel pill
What you do if you miss one of your daily desogestrel pills depends on timing:
- If you’re less than 12 hours late taking your pill, you’ll still be protected from pregnancy. You should take your missed pill as soon as you can and then continue taking your tablets at your regularly scheduled time.
- If you’re more than 12 hours late taking your pill, the effectiveness of desogestrel may be reduced. You should take your missed pill as soon as possible and then continue taking your tablets at your regularly scheduled time. You’ll also need to use an additional barrier method of contraception, like condoms, for the next seven days.
When you can start taking desogestrel
The recommended time to start taking desogestrel depends on what other form of contraception you've taken recently.
There are also specific rules after you’ve had a baby, miscarriage, or abortion.
When no hormonal contraceptive has been used in the last month
If you’ve not taken any hormonal contraception in the last month, you should wait for your period to begin.
On the first day of your period, take the first desogestrel tablet. You won’t need to take extra contraceptive precautions.
You can also start on days 2-5 of your cycle. However, you must use additional barrier contraception for the first seven days.
When changing from another progestogen-only contraception method
You can stop taking your current mini pill any day and start taking desogestrel straight away. You won't need to take extra contraceptive precautions.
If you’re switching from a mini pill that contains drospirenone, like Slynd, and are starting during a hormone free interval (taking placebo pills), it’s recommended you either abstain from sex, or use barrier protection for seven days after you switch. If you are switching to desogestrol during active pill days on drospirenone, no additional precautions are required.
When changing from a combined pill, vaginal ring or transdermal patch
You can start taking desogestrel the day after you take the last tablet from your current combined pill pack, or on the removal day of your vaginal ring or patch.
If your pill pack also contains inactive tablets, you can start desogestrel the day after taking your last active tablet.
You can start staking desogestrel at the latest on the day following the usual tablet-, ring-, patch-free break or placebo interval of your previous contraception. However, you need to make sure you use another method of contraception, like condoms, for the first seven days you’re on desogestrel.
When changing from a progestogen-only injectable, implant or intrauterine system (IUS)
If you are switching from a progestogen-only injection to desogestrel:
- You can start taking desogestrel immediately, with no extra precaution needed, if it’s 14 weeks or less since your last injection.
- You can start taking desogestrel immediately if it’s more than 14 weeks since your last injection, but you’ll need to use extra barrier protection for two days after your start date.
If you are switching from a progestogen-only implant to desogestrel:
- If you’ve had the implant for less than three years, you can remove it and start desogestrel immediately with no extra precaution.
- If you’ve had the implant for between three and four years, you’ll need to first perform a pregnancy test. If negative, and you last had unprotected sex 21 days ago or more, you can remove your implant and start desogestrel immediately. If you had unprotected sex within the last 21 days, you can remove your implant and start desogestrel immediately, but will need to use barrier contraception for two days.
- If you’ve had the implant for longer than four years, have a negative pregnancy test, but had unprotected sex within the last 21 days, you could consider taking emergency contraception. You should also start taking desogestrel straight away, use barrier protection for the next two days, and take another pregnancy test three weeks after your last case of unprotected sex.
If you are switching from a progestogen-releasing IUS, you can start taking desogestrel the day you have your IUS removed, without using any extra precaution.
After having a baby
You can start taking desogestrel between 21 and 28 days after the birth of your baby. If you start taking it later, make sure you use additional barrier contraception for the first seven days.
If you have already had unprotected sex, you must make sure you are not pregnant before taking desogestrel.
After a miscarriage or an abortion
You must speak to your doctor, who will advise you when you can start taking desogestrel.
Desogestrel side effects
Desogestrel 75 microgram tablets may cause side effects in some people, but these won’t affect everybody. Common side effects include:
- altered mood
- decreased sex drive (libido)
- headaches
- nausea
- acne
- breast pain
- irregular or no menstruation
- increased body weight
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.
Side effects of coming off desogestrel
When coming off the pill, you may experience:
- period changes
- mood changes
- acne
- increased libido
- headaches
- weight changes
When to avoid desogestrel
We are unable to prescribe desogestrel to anyone under the age of 18.
You shouldn’t take desogestrel pills if:
- you're allergic to any of the ingredients
- you have a blood clot in the legs or lungs
- you have or have ever had jaundice or severe liver disease, and your liver function has not returned to normal
- you have or are suspected to have cancer that is sensitive to progestogens, e.g. breast cancer
- you are allergic to peanuts to soya
- you're pregnant
Talk to your doctor or Chemist4U pharmacist before taking desogestrel if you have:
- ever had breast cancer
- ever had liver cancer
- ever had a blood clot in your legs or lungs
- have diabetes
- have epilepsy
- have tuberculosis
- have high blood pressure
- have or have had chloasma
Desogestrel and other medications
You must tell your healthcare provider if you are taking the following medication, as they may stop desogestrel from working properly:
- epilepsy medication e.g. primidone, phenytoin, carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, felbamate and phenobarbital
- medication for tuberculosis e.g. rifampicin
- medication for HIV e.g. ritonavirvir
- medication to treat other infectious diseases e.g. griseofulvin
- medical charcoal
- St John’s wort
Desogestrel may also interfere with the way certain medications work, such as medicines containing cyclosporine. It may increase or decrease the effect.
Is desogestrel available on the NHS?
Yes, desogestrel is available for free through the NHS if you live in England.
Chemist4U is part of the Free NHS Contraception Service, meaning you can get desogestrel for free by starting a consultation with us.
Alternative forms of contraception
Desogestrel might not be the best contraceptive pill for your body. Fortunately, there are plenty of alternatives, including:
- other mini pills, like Cerelle and Hana
- combined pills, like Yasmin, Rigevidon and Microgynon
- other types of hormonal contraception, like a vaginal ring, intrauterine system (IUS), implant, patch, pr injection
- non-hormonal contraception, like condoms, a diaphragm, or intrauterine device (IUS)
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