When Ovulation and Period Returns After Stopping Cerazette

Cerazette (desogestrel) is a progestogen-only pill (POP) also known as the mini pill. Taken daily Cerazette inhibits ovulation in 99% of cycles and also thins the lining of the uterus (endometrium).

This stable regulation of hormones is achieved after 4-5 days of beginning treatment. Although Cerazette consumer instructions recommend the use of barrier contraception for the first 7 days especially if commenced on cycle day 2 or later.

Along the same lines, it is important to remember that the concentration of desogestrel is halved after approximately 30 hours, i.e. half-life. This means a delay of more than 12 hours, or 36 hours since the last tablet, should be treated as a missed pill by women.

Consequently, a woman can resume trying to conceive with their partner the very day you cease Cerazette, although ovulation does not return the same day. 

How Long After Stopping Cerazette Will I Ovulate

After stopping Cerazette, a woman is most likely to ovulate in the next 7 to 30 days (average 17 days). However, this is unlikely to be the same in women with irregular periods previously.

In saying that, stress, excessive exercise, change in weight or dieting during this time can also influence your hormones and therefore ovulation.

Following ovulation, a woman’s natural period will return afterwards according to their regular cycle. This is because women on Cerazette (progestogen-only pill) don’t normally have a withdrawal bleed.

How Long After Stopping Cerazette Will I Get My Period

After stopping Cerazette, a woman’s period usually returns in 21 to 44 days (average 31 days). However, this is unlikely to be the same in women who previously had irregular periods.

In fact, most Doctors recommend women wait at least 3 months for a woman’s natural cycle to re-establish itself before seeking further help.

In saying that, woman trying to conceive after stopping Cerazette may in fact become pregnant after their first ovulation, and not have a period, although this is not very common.

When To Take a Pregnancy Test After Stopping Cerazette

After stopping Cerazette, women can take a standard home pregnancy test (sensitivity 25 mIU/ml) between 10 to 12 days after ovulation to confirm whether or not she is pregnant.

Women who use the more sensitive home pregnancy test (sensitivity 10 mIU/ml) can check whether or not they are pregnant 1 day earlier, or between 9 to 11 days after ovulation.

How Long After Stopping Cerazette Will I Get Pregnant

Women usually get pregnant between 3.5 to 9.0 months (average 6.2 months) after stopping (Cerazette) progestogen-only pills.

This study showed progesterone-only pills did not significantly increase the mean time to pregnancy (TTP), compared to condoms, in couples trying to conceive following discontinuation (P-value=0.3).

	Mean TTP (months)	Earliest TTP (95% CI LL)	Longest TTP (95% CI UL)
Condom	3.9	2.7	5.2
POP	6.2	3.5	9.0

Although their is a slight increase in TTP for women stopping Cerazette, which is possibly explained by how long it takes for the endometrium to return to normal thickness.

In further analysis, long-term (> 2 years) use of progesterin-only pills increased the TTP by almost 1 month. However, every woman is different, and your first period after ceasing Cerazette will provide a better indication as to how far away your body may be from returning to normal.

On the positive side, this slight delay in pregnancy will give you time to begin folic acid supplements and assess your current diet for any deficiencies.

A Tip From Fertility Science

Finally, don’t forget to maximise your natural chances of getting pregnant when the next window comes around. A variety of studies indicate that the day before ovulation, and day of ovulation, are the two best days to have intercourse.

However, don’t fret if you can’t manage to do the deed on either of these days, as women still manage to regularly fall pregnant having intercourse a day earlier or later (2 days before ovulation or 1 day after).

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