Conception after Cerazette - positive things to say. Literally.

[lemonmoon]

Hello lovely Mumsnet,

I've been reading for a while but I've been too shy to say hello before now.

I just wanted to put my own experience here since I checked the internet religiously for info once I decided to TTC, and I read so many horrible things about coming off cerazette that it scared me witless and I thought I would never get pregnant. I'm 36 (and a half) so time was not on my side either.

September: decided to stop taking pill on a Wednesday. On Sunday have hot flushes like you wouldn't believe, and two weeks after that breasts become so tender I can't touch them. They stay that way for another two weeks until AF arrives. (so just over four weeks in total)

In the meantime I've begun to panic and combed the internet for info about coming off cerazette and none of it is encouraging (but I suppose the people who don't have problems don't feel the need to talk about it).

October: become addicted to reading threads on MN. Let things take their course this month and AF arrives 27 days after the last one. Realise I might not be able to pinpoint ovulation without help...

November: use cheap Ov tests, but never get more than a faint line. We try of course, but I decide I am all dried up and begin to feel gloomy. AF arrives 27 days after the last one (mood wise I am horrendous).

December: since age is against me and I'm feeling panicky I fork out for clearblue ov test, a thermometer and a VIP Fertility Friend membership. Begin charting which makes me feel more in control, and takes away some of the anxiety. Get a smiley face on Christmas day (such timing!), and am very happy to see temp rise on the following days.

January 9th: BFP. Can't quite believe it.

I know that I'm lucky to have it happen so quickly, and I just thought it might help someone who has the same questions I did. There are so many threads out there of people saying that cerazette is terrible and messes you up for years, and I would really have appreciated a happy story to set my mind at ease. Just goes to show that everyone is different...

Thanks to all of you who post on a regular basis, for all of your wise supportive words and information. I'm sure I wouldn't be in this position without having absorbed your collective wisdom

[lizandlulu]

i came off cerazette and it took 6 months to conceive, but i didnt have any of the side effects mentioned here. we will be ttc later no this year so came off the pill in oct to give it time to get out of my system.

[Broodzilla]

Ooooh, HAPPY BFP Lemonmoon!!!

...and thank you so much for sharing your positive story!

I was on Depo a few years back, and it wrecked havoc with my system. I had horrendous side effects and when I finally came off it, it took me well over a year to get AF back (and even then, only after taking Agnus Castus).
So I was really cautious when it came to going back on a pill. I trawled the internet and actually chose Cerazette, as I knew that it had a different progesterone from Depo (the same as Mercilon, which I'd been on years ago, and been fine with).

I was really happy with Cerazette, but got really scared when it was time to TTC as I had a look on these discussion boards because it seemed like I'd swapped one horrible contraception for another one!
I stopped reading all the horror stories and just kept thinking that we're all different (some people are fine with Depo, I certainly wasn't)... took Agnus Castus religiously as soon as I took my last pill, and AF arrived right on time... still waiting for a BFP though, but you've given me hope - so wanted to say a BIG thank you!

[Blondeshavemorefun]

intersting reading

i have been on cerazette for last two years - never had AF since taking it apart from one month, and only 2 days worth - not even sure if was AF or very energetic sex

got think a week laeft of pills and then will pop folic acid daily and then will see what happens

i didnt know cerazette was a bad pill to be able to conceive afterwards

[Broodzilla]

Blondes despite all the bad press, I think it's worth remembering what Lemonmoon said above - those that are happy aren't likely to get on the web and write about it!

I was really happy while I was on Cerazette, had none of the strange side effects that people write about, and to be honest, didn't feel any different when I came off it either!
If you look on the Cerazette website (which is obviously biased, but anyway...) they are quoting the average amount of days from coming off the pill to the first OV. I must have been pretty near that.

Definitely carry on taking the pills until you're at the end of a pack and then, as I said on another thread, get some Agnus Castus. I'm sure you'll be absolutely fine!

[Joolyjoolyjoo]

I had no idea it was meant to be hard to conceive after coming off cerazette- I conceived dd2 (bit of an unexpected surprise ) almost immediately after stopping it- never even had a period!

[Claire236]

I was on a mini-pill (not Cerazette) & fell pregnant with ds within a week of coming off it. I stopped taking Cerazette 6 months ago to start ttc & it took 3 months for me to have a period & I'm still not pregnant. One positive story on here but I've seen countless negative ones. I will never take Cerazette again & would suggest anyone else thinks very carefully before taking it. Sorry to spoil the positive thread but I really think people should be warned.

[Blondeshavemorefun]

wasnt worried till i read this thread

i thought all pills were the same

never heard of Agnus Castus - but have just googled

with all these pills i will be popping, everythim dh gives me a cuddle,im going to rattle

[tinierclanger]

I have never heard this before! But I conceived 7 months after stopping Cerazette, no weird side effects when stopping. Sadly I miscarried that pregnancy but conceived again after another 5 months. Age was not on my side either (was 37 the second time) so I hope you find this encouraging.

[Blondeshavemorefun]

claire236 - i didnt have a choice, had a blood clot that was in my leg and went to my ling and nearly died 2 yaers ago so cerazette was the only pill doc would let me go on = was on femadene for 9years and then cileste for 6years before blood clot

tbh been on it 2 years and never had a problem

[annmar]

It took 3 years to conceive DD1 after coming off mini pill (can't remember which one). My periods were erratic and very heavy/painful.
After DD1 was born I went on Cerazette.
I stopped taking the pills in April. 28 days later period arrived. 28 days after that next period arrived. 28 days later no period, but five days later a BFP.

[brettgirl2]

I came off cerazette because of constant bleeding, took another mini pill for a month, then came off it completely (I'm a bit indecisive ). I conceived two weeks later. I think it depends on the person, my periods were pretty determined to remain despite cerazette (hence the bleeding) - I wonder if those who have had problems are people whose periods stopped while on it?

[brettgirl2]

Oh and congrats lemonmoon - didn't notice how recent your BFP was

[Broodzilla]

Claire,

There are 3 types of progesterone in the pills/minipills out there. For me, the one which is used in the Depo injection (and 2 of the more popular minipills) was most definitely out, as I know my body really doesn't agree with it.

I can't go on a normal pill as I get horrible migraines, and so for me, the risk of stroke is too high.

You're right in that people should be warned, I think far too often (as with Depo) we all just blindly trust, and do, whatever doctors/nurses/family planning clinics tell us to do...

BUT I also believe that we're all different, our hormonal make up is different, and while I'm clearly not a success story (still waiting for the BFP) I definitely believe in positive thinking...

[Blondeshavemorefun]

" I wonder if those who have had problems are people whose periods stopped while on it?"

this could be me brett girl - apart from 2 days of bleeding one month,i didnt have AF in the 2 yaers i was on cerazette

will have to wait and see

im the person who thinks their glass is half full rather than half empty

[ShayeraHol]

Good to hear a positive story - I'm 11 months into trying post-Cerazette and starting to lose the faith, wondering if I'd screwed up with my choice of pill (as I know a couple of others who've had problems too). Hope your story is an indication that I'm a minority and others have better luck (and that maybe I get my turn soon!)

[lemonmoon]

Nice to hear some other people's experiences - really interesting to find out that there are different kinds of progesterone especially, Broodzilla, which probably explains some of the different effect it has on people.

Thought that perhaps I should add that I was on cerazette for five years and didn't have AF once while I took it.

still reeling from the bfp thanks for the congrats

[Poledra]

Congrats Lemonmoon!

I was on Cezarette for about 14 months between DD2 and DD3. No periods at all (was BFing when I started it). It took me about 5 months to conceive DD3 - I was 36, so not an excessively long time.

I still think that you will find considerably more negative stories about any medication on the internet than positive - as you say, people who don't have problems don't write about it. Different medications suit different people. I've gone back on Cezarette, as it happened to suit me.

Enjoy your pregnancy!

[Blondeshavemorefun]

lemonmoon - 5 years - that makes me feel better!!

[Claire236]

Broodzilla - I'm the same as you in that I can't take the combined pill due to migraines. Having conceived within a week of coming off a different mini-pill to Cerazette & this time round it's been 6 months & still no BFP it seems logical that it's something to do with Cerazette. Obviously there's no way of knowing that for sure but there's plenty of anecdotal evidence out there. Incidentally I did look for the same type of info about other mini-pills & didn't find anywhere near as many problems associated with other mini-pills. I suppose the flip side of having a longer window to take Cerazette could be that it takes longer before your body gets back to normal when you stop taking it.

[JumpingJellyfish]

I was on cerazette for only 2.5 months while finishing breastfeeding, came off it and started to TTC, and I'm now on cycle 8 & no BFP. Previously I was incredibly fortunate to conceive straightaway so I am wondering if anything strange is going all (although suspect it's just lack of good, erm, timing etc. in the BDing dept). I bled constantly while on cerazette, and had more pronounced mood swings so wouldn't choose to go on it again really. I am going to look into agnus castus (and evening primrose oil) just in case it might help.

Congrat Lemonmoon

[mrstoast222]

I don't know if I feel better or worse!!!! Was on combined pill for 10 years and cerazette for 1 year, stopped 8 months ago and periods erratic, between 4-6 weeks (ans no bleeding on cerazette) My poor hubby thinks I'm a sex pest but to no avail
Tried Agnus castrus and dong quai - but neither helped.
I'm the least patient person in the world, so finding it really hard (as you all understand)
Now trying Chinese herbs in the hope that they will help balance things out.
Getting really stressed tho, as it feels like the whole world is pregnant.
It's good to read the happy endings.

[Giz5]

That's really encouraging! Thanks for sharing . I have been on Cerazette for nearly 7 years and have not bled once in that time. I was single until this year - for four years - with lots of dates but no one worth settling down with. Now I've met someone really special. He knows all about me having Endo - that's why I was put on Cerazette (couldn't use any other medical contraception because of migraine with aura) - and we've discussed me coming off Cerazette next summer (all going well). By then, I will be 36 and so I'm really hoping a miracle will happen and I will be able to conceive - fingers crossed! Thanks again for such a positive post x

[carlya17]

Hi

Just to say that I was on Cerazette for about a year (not long I know but I was on and off various pills before that and Cerazette was best for my blood pressure).

I didn't have periods on it either. I read up on it taking a while to get fertility back so I started charting my cycle when I came off it. I conceived just 12 days after taking my last pill but did 'try' about every other day.

Was actually really shocked as had prepared myself for it not happening, but hadn't prepared for it happening so quickly!

I'm currently 26 weeks and everything is fine

[Sunshine12]

Hi
Im in a bit of a panic! I have been on Cerazette for about 3 years and when I occasionally forgot to take it I got light bleeding for about 2 weeks at a time. OH and I have decided to try for our first baby so I came off it about 2 weeks ago and havent had any side effects or bleeding whatsoever. Thought this was strange so been reading about it on the internet and now worrying that its going to be a nightmare trying to get pregnant. Im 36 so as you can imagine am a bit concerned (im not getting any younger!). I specifically asked the doctor before i went on it if it could cause any delayed pregnancy or issues with fertility and they said no but after reading various things on the internet Im not so sure. Ive just ordered some cheap ovulation kits from internet but hoping that I get my period soon so I can stop worrying as sure that wont help matters either!

[lilredfrog]

I would like to thank you all. Ihave been on cerazette for 3weeks for control of bleeding and pmt!! I have been bleeding for 3 weeks, I was seriously wondering this mornin as to my mental health, aswell as my phyiscal, luckily my doc is good and told me to stop if i waswell or happy. And you have answerred all my queries, headache, lack of sleep, awful dreams, cramps,non-stopbleeding, and the feeling of losing control. Thank you to you all, I realise that this pill may work for some and you can only try it,just watch yourself.