Coming off Cerelle

[AD23]

Hi all,

New to 'MumsNet' so not too sure on how it all works but I was posting to see if anyone on here has experienced the same symptoms as me.... I have tried looking for posts on 'Cerelle' but all of them are really old....

I recently finished my last pack of pills on the 16th Dec. The following day I had a two day bleed and then stopped for 12 days and had another two day bleed, which I was assuming was the withdrawal bleed? But in the mean time I've become SO spotty, my boobs are agony, I'm always bloated and I keep getting heart palpitations. I have come off the pill because I wanted to give myself a break and let my cycle go back to normal before me and my partner start trying for our first baby.

Bearing in mind I have been on this type of pill for 2 years with NO periods I'm worried they aren't going to come back easily....

Has anyone else experienced these symptoms? How long did it take you to get back to normal?

Thanks in advance 😊💁🏻

[CRM96]

Thank you I will start to have a look to what I need!

[BmC55x]

Just thought I would tell my experiance for anyone still looking on this thread.
Came off cerelle on january 11th.
Had sore1 boobs bloating ect for a couple of weeks.
Had a bleed 6 weeks later.
Then a 38 day cycle,30day cycle and 27day cycle.
Quite light periods only lasting 2/3 days.
Tracked ovulation and ovulated between day 15 and 18 in the cycles I had.
Currently8 weeks pregnant.
Fingers crossed that everything is ok.
Ive had bad sickness and sore boobs so taking this as a good sign.
Hope this helps.

[CRM96]

Congratulations that’s amazing I hope all goes well for you! Can I ask how old are you? I’ve had delay coming off the pill until the 4th as I have a smear because I’m turning 25.

[BmC55x]

I will be 36 in December.
Quite suprized how quick it happened In the end when everything went back to normal.
My OH is 43 aswell so was expecting it to take alot longer.

[CRM96]

That’s amazing!

[Kat668]

Congrats @BmC55x that's amazing!

I'm almost 6 months off cerelle and and still trying! It's starting to get to me a bit I must admit :(

[BmC55x]

Thankyou. @Kat668.I know I felt like that every month it came around aswell even though it wasnt long.Fingers crosses for you.
I dont know If it helped but other half was on vitamin c and zinc tablets and I was taking folic acid and vitamin d.
The month we concived we DTD everyother day from about cycle day 11.then everyday when we got the smiley flashing smiley face on clear blue.We didnt do it the day it went solid(due to one thing or another) We then did it one more time the day after had solid smiley.

[Kat668]

Thank you @BmC55x , I'm on the folic acid with vit d but hubby isn't on anything so u will definitely suggest he takes those! We are doing every other day atm (started CD9), but I'm not tracking as we both found that too stressful. I probably will go back to it if I don't fall pregnant in the next few cycles.

[BmC55x]

Ye It does get a bit much sometimes @Kat668.I got very obsessive.Tracked temp for a month but as Im a very bad sleeper anyway didnt find it helped at all.

[PinkFizz1]

Hi all, can I join?

I’m currently torn between coming off Cerelle for a few months before TTC, but also not wanting to risk pregnancy until after Xmas time.

I’ve been on it for about 10/11 years with no break or periods so I have no idea what my body is going to do when I stop taking it!

This thread has been so helpful with what to expect when coming off Cerelle, I am not looking forward to the horrendous side effects that have been reported though!

I guess I’ll have to put on my big girl pants and make a decision, although the thought of going back to using condoms for a while is not very appealing.

[CRM96]

Hi, good luck coming off! I came off on the 4/8/21 still no withdrawal bleed or any symptoms.

From what I have read it takes a while for your body to adjust!

Praying my cycle comes back soon as it’s nearly been 3 weeks.

[Theosmommy2011]

Hi @PinkFizz1 I came off my pill on the 22nd July and had a 'period' exactly 2 weeks later. I monitored my BBT and LH after and had all the signs of ovulation. I had a positive opk test, ewcm ( which I got so excited about as I hadn't seen that for ages lol ) and corresponding spikes in my temperature, so hoping I actually ovulated. I was on cerazette from january but had mirena coil for 2 and a half years prior. I did have some symtoms coming off, all hormone and similar to pregnancy symtoms but feel great now. Good luck on your journey xx

[PinkFizz1]

Thanks both! It’s a very scary but exciting thought, I just wish I had a crystal ball so I could see what my body is going to do!

I think I’ll be coming off next month. Will be back to report side effects!

[Kat668]

Welcome @PinkFizz1 ! I would definitely advise coming off maybe 3 months before TTC. I came off in March and have just got my BFP earlier this month. It took a while for my periods to get back to some form of normality. I was the same as you, 12 years on it with no period at all during that time. :)

[CRM96]

Can I ask did you have a withdrawal bleed when you can off?

[Kat668]

@CRM96 sorry if your question isn't to me, but I didn't have a withdrawal bleed at all. Had my first period 6 weeks after coming off. Was the most frustrating wait!

[CRM96]

@Kat668 yes it was! Thank you for your reply, it is so annoying waiting!

[SBtobe]

Hi Ladies,

I have been following this post for a while and it's lovely to see im not the only one when coming off the mini pill! I was on the pill for just under 3 years before I decided to come off it ready for when we wanted to try. I came off the 20th June had a period` 11th July then another one on the 3rd August so a only 24 day cycle. But after that I have had nothing I am currently on day 34 in my cycle. I have taken 2 pregnancy test both negative. I have no symptoms and actually feeling great since coming off the pill. Has anyone else suffered with this and put my mind at rest!!

[PinkFizz1]

Today is day 3 since stopping Cerelle. I haven’t had any side effects yet! I was wondering when they’d make an appearance. Hopefully not too long until my withdrawal bleed then I can start tracking my cycles and TTC!

[staceymarieox]

Hi! Hope I can jump in on this thread! Was so excited to see it was still running up to last year! 🤦‍♀️

Me and hubby are TTC #2! I came off cerelle around the 15th of November last year, I think (but I has been a crazy few months) I had a very small withdrawal bleed around a week later, and maybe a tiny bleed the week before Christmas, but I am talking tiny spots of blood, could easily be like red fluff off pj bottoms 🤣 but I was in a rush that day so just clocked the bit of red 🤷‍♀️. As of yet no period has come, no ovulation as far as I'm aware but if I'm honest I havent been rigorous with my testing of that, and still no positive pregnancy test either! I used cerelle from around January 2018, until March 2019 when we started TTC DS, I had no withdrawal for that but a period around 6/8 weeks later! Went back on cerelle when advised after having DS in April 2020, and been on it until last year!

I'm having sore boobies, back pain like cramps, mine were always intense so it was like a ring around my lower back and tummy when I had period cramps, but since having an epidural I get an achey/crampy back anyway so could be that! I have the emotions all over the place and one week where my sex drive went through the roof which I thought could be a sign of ovulation! My sex drive has now dropped right down to the point I want it, but its like 8th on the list of things I need to get done today kinda thing 🤣🤣🤣 is this just me? Is it just taking a while? We're not rushing for baby#2 it happens if/when it does but even with that mind-set the negative tests still upset you!

Amazing news to all those who have conceived their babies in the time since the post began and also best of luck to those who haven't or who are hoping to have #2,#3 etc!

Sorry for rambling I think I just needed a space to vent it all out!

[Paulakami2022]

Hi everyone, really sorry im completely new to this but need someones advice!. I have come of the Cerelle pill about 4 weeks ago since then I have not had a withdrawl bleed or any period, I had some spotting (sorry tmi) but that is about it. I feel quite nauseaous sometimes, some headaches and feel tired most of the time too. I have taken a pregnancy test but it has come back negative, has anyone else experienced this and is this normal? Should I repeat another pregnancy test in a couple of weeks or contact my doctors, I would really appreciate any advice or even reassurance 😄 thank you!

[LifeOfRiley63]

Hi @Paulakami2022 👋
We have been TTC 4.5 years and I remember coming off Cerelle like it was yesterday. Unfortunately I think you may be experiencing the withdrawal effects. They're very similar to pregnancy symptoms. Sore boobs, feeling nautious, feeling tired.
It took my body 4 months to give me a proper period (but every person is completely different and I hope this isn't the case for you) 🍀
I wouldn't recommend going to the Doctor just yet. In the UK a GP won't assist with any fertility issues until you have been TTC for 12 months. I recommend taking a test in 2 weeks time and developing some patience as you may be in for a long wait for your withdrawal bleed.
Stay strong and baby dust x 👼

[Kell84]

Hi, hoping someone can help.
I was put on cerelle on 5th June 2023 on first day of my period. I decided to stop taking them the 10th June because my period was so heavy and painful plus migraines. My period stopped after 7 days then I stopped bleeding for 3 days then started spotting. I have had constant spotting ever since so been spotting for almost 4 weeks. The spotting is only there on wiping, non on underwear. Is all this normal? Also one boob is sore but I always get the same sore boob when I am due on which I should be. Getting cramps too but no normal period just the annoying constant spotting which is only there when I go to the toilet. I didn’t think I would get these many problems when I just took cerelle for 6 days. Has anyone else been through this? Is this normal?

[Kell84]

I’m desperate to see if someone has been through the same as me. I was put on cerelle 4 weeks ago, I came off after 6 days because my bleeding was extremely heavy, it lasted 7 days. I stopped bleeding after that for 3 days then I started with spotting or withdrawal bleed. I’m still spotting/withdrawal bleeding now (4 weeks) and it’s only there really when I go to toilet, sometimes a small amount of blood in toilet and on wiping, either pink or bright red blood. Sometimes the tiniest drop on my underwear if any at all. It’s really frustrating me because my actual period should be due around now and no sign. One boob has been so painful for a week now. I normally have pain in my boob 2 days before period comes but it hasn’t come and boob is agony. I’m bloated, cramps, boob pain, headaches and spotting. Has anyone else been through this. I didn’t think taking the mini pill for only 6 days and stopping would have this affect. I’m getting really down with it

[LilyRose202]

@Kell84 Hi there! Been a long time since I posted on here! But read your messages and from my own experience, this seems normal. You weren't on it for long so I am surprised it has had such an effect but my experience was I bled every day for 4 months, nothing for 3 years after and then came off it and had the worst headache/ migraine of my life for about a week solid and generally felt rubbish for about a month. I came off as was TTC. It took us 14 months to conceive. I'm delighted to say we now have a gorgeous 5 month old daughter so it was worth the wait but I am absolutely not going back on Cerelle any time soon as I feel it really messed with my body. Give it another few weeks and things should be back to normal. If you're really concerned though, I'd phone for a docs appointment or to speak to someone who is medically trained over the phone. X