Coming off of Desogestrel progesterone-only pill

[ILCTM]

I was put on this to try and help with my periods as my cycles have been getting shorter, sometimes only 17 days long. I've been on the Desogestrel now for 5 months and it's been pretty much non-stop bleeding, light, but still heavy enough to need a tampon. I can't take much more of this so I think I'm going to stop taking it, but I just wondered when you stop taking it, do you get a period very soon after or does it take a while to settle back down? I just want this bleeding to stop.

I bled like that for 6 months - then no period for the next 10 years (while on it). Would you consider hanging on a little longer?

When I stopped, my periods gently phased back in (light at first before settling to "normal" over a few months. Nothing shocking thank goodness.

Maybe it's worth hanging on then if that's the case. I was just thinking after 5 months, nothing is going to change, but if you say 6 months, I'll maybe finish this and the next pack and hope for the same.

I had spotting on and off when I started with it if I had the cheaper generic version. I now have the branded cezazette and I have no issues and have been taking it for about 7 years with no periods now.

Which one are you taking? Are you needing it for contraception? And what's your weight?

The commonest is Cerazette (may have other tradenames too); it contains 75 mcg of desogestrel. It usually gives erratic periods for a few months before settling to no periods for the majority (but not) women.

It's fine for most women to take 2 cerazette/day and that can help to stop the bleeding. The higher dose is also recommended if you're at all overweight., which a lot of doctors are unaware of. Check about this with your prescribing doctor if you want to try it as they are the only people who can say if that's suitable for you.

It's out of the body pretty quickly when you stop it (that's the reason you need to take other contraceptive precautions even after a short break), so you will get back to whatever is your natural cycle quickly.

However, if you're perimenopausal (are you? the altering cycle length made me wonder that), then you are now a few months further down the line so you may well find that your natural cycle has changed further in that time.

It says it's Desogestrel 75 micrograms. It also says Morningside Healthcare Ltd on the pack, there's no other branding on it, but when I've googled, the box looks exactly like the Zelleta ones, just without that brand name.

No, not taking it for contraception, the nurse just thought it might help stop my periods. I also get really bad period pains as well as ovulation cramps, so she said it would definitely stop the ovulation ones.

I've no idea if I'm perimenopausal or not. The only thing that's made me wonder is the shortening cycles.

Also weight wise, I'm 5ft 2 and weight about 8.5 stone, so not overweight.

I had this too, bleeding for about 6 months then it pretty much stopped, occasionally I would have a light period but irregularly.

I think I'll stick it out then for a few more months. That's another symptom I've had from this, my boobs have gotten bigger which I hate, I had enough to start with, but if my periods stop completely, then I'm happy with that. Fingers crossed.

@ILCTM how did you get on op. I’m having the same trouble. 3 months in and thinking I may stop?

@Fightingtobepositive I decided to keep going. I'm now on to my 7th month. The period just gone, I bled for about 16 days. I've now not had any bleeding for about 3 days, but I don't know. I think I'm going to give it this month and see if I can finally get more than 15 days bleed-free. if I can't, then I'm gonna stop it. The only reason I'm still taking it is just because my periods are so much lighter, I'm not getting PMT and my period pains are so much better than before. If only I could just stop bloody bleeding all the time, then I'd be quite happy!

@ILCTM yes the exact same for me. My periods were awful and I also had ovulation bleeding so hoping it would all stop but like you I just bleed most days now without the pain and the heaviness. I stopped last Saturday after 3 months I’m hoping I’ll by some miracle get a normal period and only bleed for that once a month. But we will see.