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 😊💁🏻

[RLI1105]

Hi Sarah,
Are you sure your second withdrawal wasn’t actaully a period? I have only been off cirelle a couple of weeks and haven’t had any form of bleeding. I know a withdrawal bleed is normal but having two so far apart could mean it was an actaul period?
Also you can get pregnant before you have an actaul period. A full period occurs after ovulation so in theory if you haven’t had a period yet you could be ovulating anytime. Having your period first before TTC just gives you a better idea of your dates and what time of the month you should be actively trying.
I hope that’s okay! I’m no expert but I hope thinks work out soon. Not knowing what is going on is just the worst! Best wishes xxxx

[eljohnson2018]

since my last post i still havent had any sort of blead but i was getting symptoms that i was ovulating so i took a ovulation test and i was at peak fatality however my husband has been really unwell so only managed a single attempt to TTC so now on count down for the next 12 days to so a pregnacy test or get my period. hopfully then i will know where i stand x

[Sazg105]

Thanks for reply. I don’t know whether to go to doctors because all they will say is wait. I might leave it 3 months if no period then I’ll book an appointment. Like you say it’s the not knowing that’s frustrating. I’ve read cerelle is the worst one to get back to normal from with it completely stopping periods for so long. Good luck to you aswell keep us posted if period starts and how long it took. I’m coming up for 8 weeks again since last one so hopefully it’ll start soon xxx

[RLI1105]

Yes keep us posted too!
I’ve not felt as anxious about it the last few days. I’ve been using one of those apps and I think I may have ovulated yesterday which is two weeks after I stopped the pill so makes sense.
I’m just trying to focus on the positives which are I’m still generally pretty young (25) and before I went on birth control my periods were really regular.
I do wish I’d stopped sooner though. Hindsight is a beauty! xxx

[CuriousC32]

Hi everyone.
It’s really great to come across people in the same situation as me. I only found this thread through some googling.
I came off my cerelle pill on 30 December. However for the majority of December I was not taking them daily probably on average every other day due to being so busy/forgetful.
At Christmas I had a ‘period’ it lasted for 5 days. It wasn’t as heavy as periods that I had 8 years ago. I’ve not had any on the pill. But sure felt like a period.
I don’t know if I count it as a period to work out when I am ovulating as I hadn’t actually stopped the pill then?
Then after stopping the pill a few days into January I had a few days of spotting here and there.
I now take pre pregnancy supplements although I know I will not conceive due to a severe lack of trying, my January workload has taken over my personal life.
We wanted to TTC next year but my GP referred to me as ‘an older person trying for a baby’ because I am 32. This has made me feel more pressure. I am not actively trying but we will Remain unprotected but if it happens it will be a blessing. I also trying to to address my other issues like my weight as I know I am probably unlikely to conceive too because of that.
It is so nice to know that there are others out there to talk too. I struggle to talk to my friends about this sort of thing and one of them in pregnant and keeps asking us all when we will have a baby. I know the reality is that it might not happen easily. Xx

[Newlyweds18]

Hello, I am totally new to this so any help is appreciated.

I’ve recently got married and stopped taking Cerelle 16th December. I only took around 8 tables throughout December as I was running low & knew I would stop anyway.

I’ve been on cerelle for around 5 years.

Since coming off the pill I haven’t had any period, or symptoms apart from sore boobs every now & then.

We are TTC but have no idea how long it can take for my periods to start, or if you can get pregnant straight away without even having a period.

Any help is appreciated C xx

[lauraemily94]

Hey,

I came off in August and had a really horrible period a couple of weeks after. I fell pregnant in November unfortunately lost the baby. But I know everyone is different my friend came off 14 months ago and doctor said still not out her system...

Get a ovulation app if you want to try conceive 😊

[CuriousC32]

Hello - Newlyweds18 my GP said with the cerelle pill you could potentially get pregnant as soon as you come off it.

I want to get an ovulation app predominately so I can see when my period is due and plan my life around it as well as TTC.
I really struggle with them Cerelle has been my saviour ... but assume I can't use one till I've had one or two period? Just a waiting game. X

[Newlyweds18]

Thank you both. I’ve woken up this morning to bad pains, went to the toilet & I have my period (tmi for some sorry) I’m really pleased. I have Ovia app I’ve been using for the last month so will see how that goes xx

[RLI1105]

My withdrawal bleed came on the 15th so I'm hoping that's me up and running for next month.
I've read that the first bleed can be quite light but mine seems to be just like my regular periods used to be.
I am also using this Ovia app. It would be good if it had a feature where you could put in initially that you were just off the pill as it is a bit skewed but it's good learning about all the signs to look for etc.

[RebootYourEngine]

Please everyone keep us updated. I will be finishing my pill strip soon and that will be me off of it. I am a little bit scared incase my periods take a while to come back but I saw a nurse who reassured me that they don't have any concerns. So fingers crossed my periods come back soon after.

[Sazg105]

I’m at the doctors for my smear tomorrow so I’m going to ask after being off the pill 4 months. I’ll put w post on tomorrow when I get back of what the nurse says xx

[eljohnson2018]

i came off my pill middle of December. . . i have since ovulated and my husband and i TTC sadly we were unsuccessful this cycle as yesterday my first period arrived x silver lining is at least i know where i am now ans fingers crossed on the way to creating a baby johnson x

[Newlyweds18]

Good luck everyone x

[Sazg105]

So had my smear test today appointment today. My sister said they’ll make you do a pregnancy test before you have as a precaution with you not having a period since November it so I said oh I’ll just do one and show them a picture to prove im not. Well those 2 lines came up and I almost died!!! Turns out I’m 6 weeks pregnant and never even knew!! Asked the doctor about it and she said the pill can come out of your system within a week. The injections can take longer to get you back on track but 3 months usually is how long it takes to come back to normal. Can’t believe how lucky I am and it hasn’t quite sunk in yet. But good luck everyone!! If I can get pregnant within 4 months after 12 years on the pill there’s hope for everyone!!! Baby dust to all!!! Xxxx

[Newlyweds18]

Amazing congratulations x

[tasyuta]

Hello!
I came off Cerelle more than a month ago, still don't have a period, was convinced that I was pregnant, did 3 tests - negative. I feel so badly constipated, even laxatives don't help. The only thing that works is prune juice, but it's causing diarrhoea.
My question is, did others who came off Cerelle experienced constipation? Please could you reply. It will help me understand whether it's a separate issue for me (it can well be), or is it related to stopping Cerelle.
Please would you help me here? I am very worried.
Thank you very much for your time :)

[CuriousC32]

Congratulations Sazg105.

I'm am anxiously waiting for my period now. It's pretty much a month since coming off the pill. My boobs are tender and sore this past week and general other feeling that the period is coming but still nothing has happened.
I'm so desperate for the period now so I can work out when I'm ovulating next! My partner and I are both really keen to start our TTC journey now. I've started working on myself and have been swimming twice this week... the potential end goal is what motivated me.
Trouble is my job is so stressful and takes up so much of my time that I want to know when I'm ovulating too so that I can purposely keep my work diary clearer those days so that I'm more relaxed in the evening and not falling asleep the second I sit down.
So for the first time ever in my life I really really want my period!!!!

[CuriousC32]

Tasyuta - have you spoken to your GP about what your experiencing?

[tasyuta]

I booked an appointment for 15th of February, that was the nearest ...

[CuriousC32]

Sounds about right with surgery's these days. Although I think if it's still really bad next week if I was you I'd get an emergency appointment.

[CuriousC32]

These withdrawal symptoms are driving me mad! I have never had sore boobs like this before they also feel like they've grown hugely. Heartburn and feeling nauseous. Been off the pill a month now, and just waiting to feel normal again.
I have the Ovia app now but can't really use it correctly as I've no idea when I'm ovulating.

Has anyone else used ovulation strips and do they work? As I've no period data to work off. I feel like I'd I would have to use them every day which would be expensive because your meant to use them roughly when you know it's ovulation time...

Feeling very fed up right now! Weaning off citalopram at the same time was probably not a good idea!

[Haldanegirl1202]

Hey, Sorry I’m really new to this, but I came off Cerelle on the 28th December and this past week or two, I’ve had seriously sore boobs, feeling sick, and still no period since my 6 day withdrawal bleed which started on the 30th roughly. Almost a month later and nothing. I’ve taken pregnancy tests because I was convinced but seeing that I’m not is getting disheartening, any advice? Sorry for the post x

[CuriousC32]

Hi haldanegirl

I came off pretty much the same time as you and I'm still waiting for a period too. My body doesn't feel like my own. My boobs have been so sore and I've been nauseous. I resorted to taking a pregnant test as the symptoms were so similar but it was negative. I knew it would be a miracle if i was pregnant anyway given that We'd not even attempted 'trying'

Just a waiting game really!

[RLI1105]

@CuriousC32 @Haldanegirl1202 It's a total waiting game!
I stopped taking Cerelle on December 30th and had a 6 day withdrawal bleed from the 15th of January. I'm now just waiting and hoping everything will settle.
Are you using any apps? I'm using Ovia but I think it's making me a bit obsessed and am constantly looking for symptoms of ovulation etc.