Description

Cerelle contains a small amount of one type of female sex hormone, the progestogen, desogestrel. For this reason Cerelle is called a progestogen-only pill (POP) or mini-pill.

Unlike the combined pill, the POP or mini-pill does not contain an oestrogen hormone, but only a progestogen. Most POPs or mini-pills work primarily by preventing the sperm cells from entering the womb but do not always prevent the egg cell from ripening which is the primarily action of combined pills.

Cerelle is distinct from other mini-pills in having a dose that in most cases is high enough to prevent the egg cell from ripening. As a result, Cerelle provides high contraceptive efficacy.

In contrast to the combined pill, Cerelle can be used by women who do not tolerate oestrogens and by women who are breast feeding. A disadvantage is that vaginal bleeding may occur at irregular intervals during the use of Cerelle. You also may not have any bleeding at all.

Uses / Instructions

Each strip of Cerelle contains 28 tablets. Arrows and the days of the week are printed on the front side of the strip, which help you take your pill correctly. Take your daily tablet at about the same time each day. Swallow each tablet whole with water.

Every time you start a new strip of Cerelle take a tablet from the top row. For example, if you start on a Wednesday, you should take the tablet from the top row marked WE. You should continue to take one tablet a day, until the strip is empty, always following the direction indicated by the arrows.

Remember to use any remaining tablets from the first row, in sequence, before starting a new strip. In this way you can easily check whether you have taken your daily tablet.

You may have some bleeding during the use of Cerelle, but you must continue
to take your tablet as normal.

When a strip is empty, you must start with a new pack of Cerelle on the next day – without interruption and without waiting for a bleeding.

Warnings

If Cerelle is used in the presence of any of the conditions listed below, you may need to be kept under close observation.

You doctor can explain to you what to do. Therefore if any of these apply to you, tell your doctor before starting to use Cerelle:

– you have or have ever had breast cancer;
– you have cancer of the liver;
– you have or ever had venous thromboembolism;
– you have diabetes;
– you suffer from epilepsy (see section “Other medicines and Cerelle;
– you suffer from tuberculosis (see section “Other medicines and Cerelle;
– you have high blood pressure;
– you have or have had chloasma (yellowish-brown pigmentation patches on the skin, particularly of the face); if so avoid too much exposure to the sun or ultraviolet radiation.

See patient information leaflet for more details.

Side Effects

Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
– mood altered,
– decreased sexual drive (libido),
– depressed mood,
– headache,
– nausea,
– acne,
– breast pain,
– irregular or no menstruation,
– increased body weight.

See patient information leaflet for a full list of side effects.