Combined pill
Minipil pills: price, side effects and how to take them
Minipil (levonorgestrel 100 mcg + ethinylestradiol 20 mcg)
Quick answer
Minipil (levonorgestrel 100 mcg + ethinylestradiol 20 mcg) is a low-dose combined pill. Despite the name, it contains estrogen and is not a progestin-only "mini pill".
It comes as 21 tablets with a 7-day break, costs from ₱243.75, and needs a reseta (Prescription. All birth control pills need one in the Philippines.).
Key facts
- Generic name
- levonorgestrel 100 mcg + ethinylestradiol 20 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 ₱243.75 a pack
- Same formula
- None in the PH
Minipil uses the same two hormones as Lady (levonorgestrel 150 mcg + ethinylestradiol 30 mcg), at lower doses: 100 mcg of levonorgestrel (A progestin used in Trust, Lady, Charlize and Minipil.) and 20 mcg of ethinylestradiol. Watsons listed it at ₱243.75, several times Lady's ₱53.25.[src] It is the only pill with this formula on our Philippine list, so there is no cheaper twin. Expats on Microgynon 20, Loette or Alesse at home will find it the match (see pill equivalents).
If you want a pill without estrogen, for example while breastfeeding, Minipil is not it; look at Daphne (lynestrenol) instead.
Minipil price in the Philippines
Prices checked October 2026. Every pharmacy below requires a prescription.
| Retailer | Pack | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| WatsonsPrescription required | 21 tablets | ₱243.75 | October 2026 |
| Mercury Drug | No public online price | [TODO: verify] | |
| Southstar Drug | No public online price | [TODO: verify] |
How to take Minipil
Take one tablet a day at about the same time for 21 days, following the arrows, 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. As a 20 mcg pill, Minipil has the stricter missed-pill rule: 2 missed hormone tablets in a row already count as the higher-risk case, and a late restart after the break counts too.[src]
When to start: WHO says a combined pill can start 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, with condoms for the first 7 days.[src]
A low-dose combined pill. Despite the name it is not a progestin-only 'mini pill'.
If you miss a Minipil pill
Minipil is a low-dose (20 mcg) combined pill, so the stricter rule applies sooner. Missing 1 hormone pill: take it as soon as you remember and carry on. Missing 2 or more in a row: take one now, use condoms for 7 days, and if it happened in the last hormone week, skip the 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 HelperMinipil side effects and what Filipinas worry about
Spotting between periods is common in the first months on any pill, low-dose ones included, and usually settles within 3 months.[src] Light or missed withdrawal bleeds are also common. Minipil is a levonorgestrel pill, the lower clot-risk comparison point in EMA's review,[src] but still not for smokers 35 and over or people with migraine with aura.[src]
Nakakataba ba ang Minipil?
No large effect, per a Cochrane review of placebo-controlled trials of combined pills,[src] and the NHS says there is no evidence the pill causes weight gain.[src]
Mabubuntis 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 moreBakit may spotting kahit nag-pi-pills?Why am I spotting on the pill?
Breakthrough bleeding is common in the first few months on any pill and with progestin-only methods. It usually settles. Spotting after missed pills or after emergency options does not confirm or rule out pregnancy.
Read moreNakakataba 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 moreWho should not take Minipil
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 100 mcg + EE 20 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 Minipil (levonorgestrel + ethinylestradiol). See all pills compared.
Three legal routes
Get a prescription
Minipil 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.
Minipil FAQ
Is Minipil a progestin-only pill?
No. Despite the name, Minipil contains estrogen (ethinylestradiol 20 mcg) plus levonorgestrel 100 mcg. It is a low-dose combined pill. Progestin-only pills in the Philippines include Daphne, Exluton and Cerazette.
Pwede ba ang Minipil sa nagpapadede?
Combined pill ang Minipil kaya may estrogen ito. Ayon sa NHS, maghintay ng 6 na linggo pagkapanganak bago mag-combined pill kung nagpapadede. Ang progestin-only pills tulad ng Daphne ang karaniwang pinipili.
Why am I spotting on Minipil?
Spotting is common in the first months on any pill, including low-dose pills like Minipil. It usually settles within about 3 months. If it does not, talk to your doctor.
What is the difference between Minipil and Lady?
Same two hormones, different doses. Minipil has levonorgestrel 100 mcg + ethinylestradiol 20 mcg in 21 tablets. Lady has 150 mcg + 30 mcg in 28 tablets. Minipil costs from ₱243.75 and Lady from ₱53.25.
What if I miss 2 Minipil pills?
As a 20 mcg pill, 2 missed in a row is the stricter case: take one now and use condoms for 7 days, and if it was in the last hormone week, skip the break and start a new pack. If you had sex in the last 5 days, talk to a doctor today.
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
- Oral contraceptives category, Watsons PH
- Prescription Pharmacy: Contraceptive Agents, Rose Pharmacy