Combined pill
Lady pills: price, side effects and how to take them
Lady (levonorgestrel 150 mcg + ethinylestradiol 30 mcg)
Quick answer
Lady (levonorgestrel 150 mcg + ethinylestradiol 30 mcg) is a combined pill and usually the cheapest pill sold in the Philippines, from ₱53.25 for a 28-tablet pack.
It has the same hormones and doses as Microgynon 30 and Charlize.[src] It needs a reseta (Prescription. All birth control pills need one in the Philippines.), and pills are also often free at barangay health centers.[src]
Key facts
- Generic name
- levonorgestrel 150 mcg + ethinylestradiol 30 mcg
- Type
- Combined pill (estrogen + progestin)
- Pack
- 28 tablets: 21 hormone, 7 reminder
- Prescription
- Required in the Philippines
- Price this month
- From ₱53.25 a pack
- Same formula
- Charlize
Lady combines levonorgestrel (A progestin used in Trust, Lady, Charlize and Minipil.) and ethinylestradiol, the pairing used in many of the most widely prescribed pills worldwide. It is a DKT-linked brand, the same family as Trust, and some listings call it "Trust Lady".[src] At Watsons and Rose Pharmacy it cost ₱53.50 and ₱53.25 when we checked, the lowest prices of any pill brand on our list.[src][src]
A low price does not mean a weak pill. Lady has exactly the same actives and dose as Microgynon 30, a pill Hello Doctor says is not available in the Philippines; it names Lady as a local match.[src] That makes Lady the usual pick for expats coming from Microgynon, Levlen or Nordette (see pill equivalents).
Its twin is Charlize, same formula with iron tablets, from ₱73. Its close cousin is Trust (levonorgestrel 125 mcg + ethinylestradiol 30 mcg), which has a little less levonorgestrel and 7 iron tablets, from ₱59.50. If Trust is out of stock, Lady is not an identical swap, so ask your pharmacist or doctor first.
Lady price in the Philippines
Prices checked October 2026. Every pharmacy below requires a prescription.
| Retailer | Pack | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rose PharmacyPrescription required | 28 tablets | ₱53.25 | October 2026 |
| WatsonsPrescription required | 28 tablets | ₱53.50 | October 2026 |
| Mercury Drug | No public online price | [TODO: verify] | |
| Southstar Drug | No public online price | [TODO: verify] |
How to take Lady
Lady comes in a 28-tablet pack: 21 hormone tablets followed by 7 tablets with no hormones. Take one every day at about the same time, following the arrows, and start the next pack the day after you finish, with no gap. Your withdrawal bleed (The bleed during the inactive or break days of a pill pack. It is not a true period.) usually comes during the last 7 tablets.
We could not confirm from pharmacy listings whether Lady's last 7 tablets are iron or plain reminder (placebo) tablets. Check the leaflet in your pack. Either way, they are not the tablets that prevent pregnancy, which is why missing hormone tablets in week 3 matters more. The Missed Pill Helper covers that.
When to start: the WHO handbook says you can start a combined pill within the first 5 days of your period with no extra protection, or any other day if you are reasonably sure you are not pregnant, using condoms for the first 7 days.[src] Your leaflet and doctor may name a specific day. The When am I protected? calculator shows your dates.
Usually the cheapest pill on Philippine shelves. Same actives and dose as Microgynon 30.
If you miss a Lady pill
Lady is a 30 to 35 mcg combined pill. If you miss 1 or 2 hormone pills, take one as soon as you remember and carry on: WHO says there is little or no risk of pregnancy. If you miss 3 or more in a row, take one now, use condoms for 7 days, and if it happened in the last hormone week, skip the break or inactive pills and start a new pack.
If you had sex in the last 5 days and missed pills, talk to a doctor today about emergency options. If unsure, talk to a doctor or pharmacist.
Open the Missed Pill HelperLady side effects and what Filipinas worry about
In the first 3 months some people get spotting between periods, sore breasts, nausea, headaches or mood changes, which usually settle.[src] Levonorgestrel pills like Lady have a lower risk of blood clots than some newer pills (EMA uses them as the comparison point), though combined pills are still not for smokers 35 and over or people with migraine with aura.[src][src]
Filipinas on Reddit trade notes on which pill made them gain weight and which did not, and Lady comes up on both sides.[src] Others ask what happens after stopping. Fertility comes back without a significant delay after you stop the pill.[src]
Nakakataba ba ang Lady pills?
The evidence says no large effect. A Cochrane review of placebo-controlled trials found no large weight change from combined pills,[src] and the NHS says there is no evidence the pill makes you put on weight.[src] Bloating or a bigger appetite in the first months happens to some and usually settles. If it bothers you after 3 months, ask your doctor about switching. Basahin sa Taglish.
Nakakataba ba ang pills?Do pills make you gain weight?
Reviews of placebo-controlled trials have not found a large effect of combined pills on weight. Some people notice bloating or a bigger appetite in the first months, which usually settles. Weight changes over time with or without pills, which is why only controlled trials can answer this. The injectable (DMPA) is the one method with evidence of weight gain in some users.
Read moreKailangan ba ng reseta?Do I need a prescription for pills?
Yes. Birth control pills are prescription medicines in the Philippines under RA 10918. Some pharmacies used to sell them without a reseta, but since 2024 most ask for one. You can get a prescription from a doctor in person or online, or get pills free at your barangay health center.
Read moreMabubuntis ba pag mali ang pag-inom ng pills?I missed a pill. Can I get pregnant?
Missing 1 or 2 combined pills carries little or no risk if you take one as soon as you remember and carry on. Missing 3 or more in a row (2 or more for 20 mcg pills like Yaz) means using condoms for 7 days. The Missed Pill Helper walks you through it by brand.
Read moreMay kamahalan ang pills.Pills are too expensive.
Prices range widely, and several cheaper brands have the exact same formula as the expensive ones. Pills, injectables, implants and IUDs are also free at public health facilities, subject to supply.
Read moreWho should not take Lady
Who should not take it
Combined pills may not be safe for you if:
- You smoke and are 35 or older
- You get migraine with aura (flashing lights or zigzags before a headache)
- You have had a blood clot in a leg or lung, or a stroke
- You have high blood pressure
- You gave birth less than 6 weeks ago and are breastfeeding
- You have some heart, liver or diabetes conditions
Combined pills may not be safe for you. Talk to a doctor. A progestin-only pill, implant or IUD is often an option instead.
Common side effects
Spotting between periods, sore breasts, nausea, headaches and mood changes, mostly in the first 3 months. Most settle within about 3 months. More on side effects.
When to get urgent help
Go to an emergency room now for chest pain, sudden breathlessness, coughing blood, a painful swollen leg, a sudden severe headache, vision changes or weakness on one side.
Check the product is registered
Buy only from licensed pharmacies. You can look up a product on the FDA Philippines verification portal.
Same formula, different price
Levonorgestrel 150 mcg + EE 30 mcg. Same active ingredients and dose; pack and inactive tablets can differ.
Three legal routes
Get a prescription
Lady needs a prescription in the Philippines. Pick the route that suits you. For adults 18 and over.
Free at a health center
Barangay health centers, RHUs, DOH hospitals and Likhaan. Subject to supply.
See an OB-GYN in person
Clinic visit, prescription in hand. Bring it to any licensed pharmacy.
Online consult
A licensed doctor by video or chat. From ₱700 on some platforms.
Online consult options
For adults 18 and over. Fees are set by each provider and can change.
Lady FAQ
Nakakataba ba ang Lady pills?
Ayon sa Cochrane review ng mga trial na may placebo, walang malaking epekto sa timbang ang combined pills tulad ng Lady. Sabi rin ng NHS, walang ebidensya na nakakataba ang pills. May iba na nakakaramdam ng bloating o mas gutom sa unang buwan.
Is Lady the same as Trust?
Close, but not the same. Both use levonorgestrel and ethinylestradiol 30 mcg, but Lady has 150 mcg of levonorgestrel and Trust has 125 mcg. Lady's exact twin is Charlize. Ask a doctor or pharmacist before swapping between Lady and Trust.
Why is Lady so cheap? Is it less effective?
Lady costs from ₱53.25 a pack because of how the brand is priced, not because it is weaker. It has the same hormones and doses as Microgynon 30 and Charlize. How well it works depends mostly on taking it every day.
Can I buy Lady pills over the counter?
No. Lady is a prescription medicine in the Philippines, and Watsons and other chains now ask for a prescription. You can get one from a doctor in person or online, or get pills free at a barangay health center.
What are the last 7 tablets in Lady?
They contain no hormones. Pharmacy listings do not confirm whether they are iron or plain reminder tablets, so check the leaflet in your pack. Your withdrawal bleed usually comes during these days.
Is Lady the same as Microgynon 30?
Yes, by active ingredients and dose: levonorgestrel 150 mcg + ethinylestradiol 30 mcg. Hello Doctor lists Lady as a Philippine match for Microgynon 30. Inactive ingredients and pack layout can differ, so read the leaflet.
Libre ba ang Lady pills sa health center?
Libre ang pills sa mga barangay health center, RHU at DOH hospital, depende sa supply. Hindi laging Lady ang brand na available. Magdala ng ID.
This guide is for information. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or switching birth control.
Sources
- Family Planning: A Global Handbook for Providers, WHO and Johns Hopkins CCP
- Managing missed pills (Family Planning Handbook), WHO and Johns Hopkins CCP
- Combined pill: risks and side effects, NHS
- Combined pill: who can and cannot take it, NHS
- Combination contraceptives: effects on weight (Gallo et al.), Cochrane / PubMed
- Benefits of Diane 35 and its generics outweigh risks in certain patient groups, European Medicines Agency
- Microgynon 30, Hello Doctor
- DKT Philippines, DKT International
- Oral contraceptives category, Watsons PH
- Prescription Pharmacy: Contraceptive Agents, Rose Pharmacy
- DOH reminds public family planning services are free at public hospitals, Daily Tribune, 12 Jul 2025
- When will fertility return after using hormonal contraception?, Patient.info
- What contraceptive pill ang hindi nakakataba?, r/AskPinay