Comparison
Trust vs Lady
Quick answer
Trust (levonorgestrel 125 mcg + ethinylestradiol 30 mcg) and Lady (levonorgestrel 150 mcg + ethinylestradiol 30 mcg) are close cousins, not twins. Lady is usually a little cheaper, from ₱53.25 against ₱59.50 for Trust.
Trust vs Lady at a glance
| Trust | Lady | |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredients | levonorgestrel 125 mcg + ethinylestradiol 30 mcg, with iron tablets | levonorgestrel 150 mcg + ethinylestradiol 30 mcg |
| Type | Combined pill | Combined pill |
| Estrogen | 30 mcg ethinylestradiol | 30 mcg ethinylestradiol |
| Pack | 28 tablets (21 hormone + 7 other) | 28 tablets (21 hormone + 7 other) |
| Price from | ₱59.50 a pack | ₱53.25 a pack |
| Per year | ₱774 | ₱692 |
| Breastfeeding | Not in the early months | Not in the early months |
The difference, explained
These are the two pills Filipinas reach for most, and both come from the same family of hormones used in many of the world's most prescribed pills. The estrogen dose is identical. The difference is the progestin: Trust has 125 mcg of levonorgestrel per tablet, Lady 150 mcg, which is the same as Microgynon 30 used in Europe and Australia.
Both are 28-tablet packs with 21 hormone tablets. Trust's last 7 tablets are iron (ferrous fumarate), which keeps you in the daily habit. Check Lady's leaflet for what its last 7 tablets contain. Because both are 30 mcg combined pills, the WHO missed-pill rule is the same: missing 1 or 2 carries little or no risk if you take one as soon as you remember.[src]
There is no good evidence that one causes more weight change than the other; trials of combined pills found no large weight effect overall.[src] Side effects such as spotting or sore breasts in the first months are individual. If you have been fine on one, there is usually no reason to switch. If cost is the main issue, Lady is often the lowest-priced pill on the shelf, and both may be free at your barangay health center.
Which may suit you
- Trust may suit you if: You are already settled on Trust, or your health center stocks it.
- Lady may suit you if: You want the lowest pharmacy price, or the Microgynon 30 formula.
Your doctor decides with your full health history. Not sure where to start? Try Find my method.
Three legal routes
Get a prescription
All birth control pills need 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.
Frequently asked questions
Can I switch from Trust to Lady?
Many people do. Start the new pack the day after your last hormone pill, with no gap, and confirm with your doctor or pharmacist.
Is Lady the same as Trust?
No. Same estrogen dose, but Lady has 150 mcg levonorgestrel and Trust 125 mcg.
This guide is for information. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or switching birth control.
Sources
- Oral contraceptives category, Watsons PH
- Prescription Pharmacy: Contraceptive Agents, Rose Pharmacy
- Managing missed pills (Family Planning Handbook), WHO and Johns Hopkins CCP
- Combination contraceptives: effects on weight (Gallo et al.), Cochrane / PubMed