Cerazette

Cerazette is used to prevent unplanned pregnancies. It contains desogestrel, which works by preventing ovulation and thickening cervical mucus to prevent sperm from reaching and fertilising an egg.

Cerazette works by preventing the release of an egg from the ovaries. It also thickens the cervical mucus to help prevent sperm from fertilising an egg in the womb. Additionally, Cerazette alters the uterine lining of the individual taking it, preventing a fertilised egg from implanting and developing.

Begin taking one Cerazette tablet daily from the first day of your period. Swallow each pill whole with water. To help you track your dosage, refer to the arrows printed on the front of the strip of 28 Cerazette tablets. These arrows, located between the tablets and the days of the week on the back, indicate which Cerazette tablet to take on each specific day.

Start each new strip of Cerazette pills from the top row, aligning it with the day of the week, and follow the arrows until the pack is empty. If you experience mild vaginal bleeding, continue taking the tablets as usual. After finishing a Cerazette strip, start the next one immediately without any breaks to maintain the effectiveness of the contraceptive.

Cerazette works immediately if the first dose is taken on the first day of your menstrual cycle, with a single pill consumed each day thereafter.

If you start taking Cerazette at any point other than the first day of your menstrual cycle, Cerazette can take up to 7 days to be 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. During this time, it is advisable to use additional contraceptive methods, such as condoms, to prevent pregnancy.

Cerazette is 99% effective at preventing pregnancy when the initial pill is taken on the first day of the menstrual cycle and each subsequent pill is taken exactly as instructed in the patient information leaflet.

Cerazette's effectiveness may be reduced if doses are missed, or if you vomit or have diarrhoea soon after taking a pill, as these conditions can affect the absorption of the active ingredient. Additionally, starting Cerazette on a day other than the first day of your menstrual cycle may decrease its effectiveness. In such cases, using an additional method of contraception, such as condoms, is recommended.

Women who are pregnant or believe they are pregnant should not take Cerazette. Additionally, if you are breastfeeding, you should avoid using Cerazette unless you gain approval from a GP or doctor. This is because desogestrel, the active ingredient in Cerazette, may disrupt the production of breast milk and it may pass through the breast milk to the baby in some rare instances.

In addition, you should not take Cerazette if you have unexplained vaginal bleeding, liver or heart disease, breast cancer (including those who have recovered), blood clots (thrombosis), or a history of stroke.

Always consult with a pharmacist or doctor before taking Cerazette to understand how it may impact you.

Cerazette and Cerelle are medically identical as they both contain the same dose of the active ingredient desogestrel. They are both progestogen-only contraceptive pills which function identically and are equally effective at preventing pregnancy. The only difference between them is the brand.

If you forget to take a Cerazette tablet within 12 hours of the time you were supposed to take Cerazette, take it immediately and then continue with your next dose as scheduled. This should not affect the effectiveness of Cerazette.

If more than 12 hours have passed since the time you were due to take a Cerazette tablet, then taking a tablet will not be as effective at preventing pregnancy. If this is the case, take the missed tablet as soon as possible and take the next one at your regular time, in addition to using additional methods of contraception, such as condoms, to help prevent pregnancy.

Cerazette can influence the natural menstrual cycle, primarily by preventing ovulation, which may result in periods stopping for some women. Over time, this often leads to lighter, less frequent, or absent periods for many women. This effect differs between individuals, and some women may experience irregular bleeding or spotting instead.

If you experience persistent or heavy bleeding while taking Cerazette, consult your GP or doctor on whether to continue taking Cerazette (in case your body needs time to adjust) or to change to a different contraceptive that may be more suitable for you.

After stopping Cerazette, your regular period cycle should return in a few weeks to a couple of months. The exact timing depends on individual hormonal balances and how long you were taking Cerazette. If you have concerns about the return of your period, it is recommended to consult with your GP or doctor.

It is recommended to speak with your GP or doctor if you wish to take Cerazette whilst breastfeeding. While it is generally considered safe, the desogestrel in Cerazette may pass through breast milk on rare occasions.

Cerazette may cause weight gain in some women due to fluid retention, which can occur at various stages of the menstrual cycle. However, this side effect is not commonly experienced.