Combined pill
Micropil pills: price, side effects and how to take them
Micropil (norethisterone 400 mcg + ethinylestradiol 35 mcg)
Quick answer
Micropil (norethisterone 400 mcg + ethinylestradiol 35 mcg) is a combined pill. The standard pack has 21 tablets and costs from ₱80.50; a 28-tablet version with iron tablets is also sold.
No other Philippine brand has its exact formula. It needs a reseta (Prescription. All birth control pills need one in the Philippines.). Do not confuse it with Minipil, which is a different pill.
Key facts
- Generic name
- norethisterone 400 mcg + ethinylestradiol 35 mcg
- Type
- Combined pill (estrogen + progestin)
- Pack
- 21 tablets: 21 hormone, then a 7-day break
- Prescription
- Required in the Philippines
- Price this month
- From ₱80.50 a pack
- Same formula
- None in the PH
Micropil uses the progestin norethisterone together with 35 mcg of ethinylestradiol. That makes it different from the levonorgestrel pills most Filipinas know, like Trust (levonorgestrel + ethinylestradiol) and Lady (levonorgestrel + ethinylestradiol). It is the only norethisterone pill on our Philippine list, so there is no cheaper same-formula twin to switch to.[src][src]
You will see two versions on the shelf. The plain 21-tablet pack cost ₱80.50 at Rose Pharmacy and ₱93.50 at Watsons. The 28-tablet pack with iron is sold as "Micropil with iron" at Watsons (₱130.50) and "Micropil Plus" at Rose (₱112.75).[src][src] The hormone tablets are the same norethisterone and ethinylestradiol pair; the iron version adds tablets so you take one every day.
The names trip people up. Micropil is a combined pill with estrogen. Minipil is also a combined pill, with different hormones (levonorgestrel 100 mcg + ethinylestradiol 20 mcg). Neither is a progestin-only "mini pill" like Daphne (lynestrenol). Expats on a 35 mcg norethindrone pill at home can compare on our pill equivalents page.
Micropil price in the Philippines
Prices checked October 2026. Every pharmacy below requires a prescription.
| Retailer | Pack | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rose PharmacyPrescription required | 21 tablets | ₱80.50 | October 2026 |
| WatsonsPrescription required | 21 tablets | ₱93.50 | October 2026 |
| Rose PharmacyPrescription required | Micropil Plus (with iron), 28 tablets | ₱112.75 | October 2026 |
| WatsonsPrescription required | Micropil with iron, 28 tablets | ₱130.50 | October 2026 |
| Mercury Drug | No public online price | [TODO: verify] | |
| Southstar Drug | No public online price | [TODO: verify] |
How to take Micropil
21-tablet pack: take one tablet a day at about the same time for 21 days, then 7 days with no tablets. Your withdrawal bleed (The bleed during the inactive or break days of a pill pack. It is not a true period.) usually comes in the break. Start the next strip on day 8, even if you are still bleeding. A late restart stretches the hormone-free gap, which WHO treats like missed pills.[src]
28-tablet pack with iron: take one tablet every day with no break. After the hormone tablets come the iron tablets, which contain no hormones; your bleed usually comes during those. Start a new pack the next day. Check the leaflet for the exact layout of your pack, because the two versions are easy to mix up.
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 on any other day if you are reasonably sure you are not pregnant, using condoms for the first 7 days.[src] Follow your leaflet and doctor if they name a day. The pill tracker can remind you of the restart day.
Also sold as a 28-tablet pack with iron (Micropil with iron, Micropil Plus at Rose).
If you miss a Micropil pill
Micropil 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 HelperMicropil side effects and what Filipinas worry about
Like any combined pill, Micropil can cause spotting between periods, sore breasts, nausea, headaches or mood changes in the first 3 months. These usually settle.[src] If spotting or mood changes go on past about 3 months, a different formula is a normal next step to discuss with your doctor; since Micropil has no twin, a switch means a different progestin.
Combined pills, Micropil included, are not suitable for smokers aged 35 and over, people with migraine with aura, a past blood clot or high blood pressure.[src] Chest pain, a swollen painful leg or sudden breathlessness need emergency care.
Nakakataba ba ang Micropil?
"Nakakataba ba ang micro pills" comes up again and again in Philippine Google searches. 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] Some people feel bloated or hungrier in the first months. 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 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 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 moreWho should not take Micropil
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
Norethisterone 400 mcg + EE 35 mcg. Same active ingredients and dose; pack and inactive tablets can differ.
No other brand sold in the Philippines has exactly the same formula as Micropil (norethisterone + ethinylestradiol). See all pills compared.
Three legal routes
Get a prescription
Micropil 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.
Micropil FAQ
Nakakataba ba ang micro pills?
Ayon sa Cochrane review ng mga trial na may placebo, walang malaking epekto sa timbang ang combined pills tulad ng Micropil. May iba na nakakaramdam ng bloating o gutom sa unang buwan, na kadalasang nawawala.
Is Micropil the same as Minipil?
No. Micropil is norethisterone 400 mcg + ethinylestradiol 35 mcg. Minipil is levonorgestrel 100 mcg + ethinylestradiol 20 mcg. Both are combined pills, and neither is a progestin-only mini pill.
What is the difference between Micropil and Micropil Plus?
Micropil Plus (Rose) and Micropil with iron (Watsons) are 28-tablet packs that add iron tablets, so you take one every day with no break. The plain Micropil pack has 21 tablets and a 7-day break. Prices: plain from ₱80.50, with iron from ₱112.75.
Is there a cheaper same-formula brand of Micropil?
Not that we found. Micropil is the only norethisterone + ethinylestradiol 35 mcg pill on our Philippine list. If cost is the issue, ask your doctor about a different pill or free pills at a barangay health center.
Can I switch from Trust to Micropil?
It is a different progestin, so it is a real switch, not a twin swap. Ask a doctor how to time it so you are not left without protection.
Do I need a prescription for Micropil?
Yes. Micropil is a prescription medicine in the Philippines. Watsons and Rose list it as prescription required.
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
- Oral contraceptives category, Watsons PH
- Prescription Pharmacy: Contraceptive Agents, Rose Pharmacy