Urgent
Emergency contraception in the Philippines
Quick answer
Dedicated morning after pills (like Plan B or Postinor) have not been registered in the Philippines since 2001, so you will not find them at Watsons, Mercury or 7-Eleven. A copper IUD put in within 5 days of sex is the most effective emergency option, and Likhaan offers free IUDs.
Doctors may advise other options. Emergency contraception is not an abortion. Talk to a doctor today: the sooner, the better.
Do this first
Talk to a doctor today
Every hour counts. Tell the doctor when you had sex and the first day of your last period. Pick whichever you can reach fastest:
- Copper IUD, free: call or visit Likhaan Center for Women's Health (Quezon City, Manila, Pasay, Bulacan). [src]
- Emergency contraception consult: Pulse Clinic Manila in Makati.
- Teleconsult now: a licensed doctor online, below.
- Your OB-GYN or the nearest DOH hospital or barangay health center.
For adults 18 and over. If you are under 18, go to your barangay health center or tell a parent or adult you trust.
What is and is not available in the Philippines
In 2001 the Bureau of Food and Drugs (now the FDA) revoked the registration of Postinor, a dedicated emergency pill, and no dedicated emergency pill has been registered since. [src] In a DKT survey, 68% of medical providers said the FDA should reconsider the ban. [src]
| Option | Available here? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Levonorgestrel emergency pill (Plan B, Postinor, Levonelle) | No | Not registered since 2001. [src] |
| Ulipristal emergency pill (ellaOne, ella) | No | Not found in any Philippine pharmacy listing we checked. [src] |
| Copper IUD | Yes | Most effective. Free at Likhaan and public facilities; private all-in cost ₱10,000 to ₱20,000. |
| Other options a doctor may advise | Only through a doctor | See the Yuzpe method. We do not publish doses. |
Some websites say Plan B or ella can be bought here with a prescription. We could not find either on any licensed Philippine pharmacy listing. Be careful with online sellers offering "emergency pills": selling medicines through marketplaces and social media is not allowed, and you cannot know what is in them.
Emergency contraception is not abortion
This is the most common worry, so here it is plainly. The WHO says emergency contraceptive pills work by preventing or delaying ovulation, and they "do not induce an abortion". [src] They cannot end a pregnancy that has already started and do not harm one that has. [src] A copper IUD used for emergency contraception works mainly by stopping sperm and egg from meeting. [src]
The copper IUD: the most effective emergency option
When a copper IUD is inserted within 5 days of unprotected sex, the WHO says it is more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. [src] It then keeps working as ongoing contraception for years if you want to keep it. [src]
- Free: Likhaan offers free IUDs. Filipinas on Reddit describe getting an IUD there quickly after a contraception scare. [src] Public facilities also provide IUDs free, subject to supply.
- Private: an all-in copper IUD at a private clinic costs ₱10,000 to ₱20,000. See the IUD guide.
- What to expect: insertion is quick and usually causes brief, cramp-like discomfort. [src]
Other options a doctor may advise
Because dedicated emergency pills are not registered, some doctors in the Philippines may advise an older method that uses ordinary combined birth control pills, known as the Yuzpe method. The WHO lists it as an option but notes it is less effective and causes more side effects, like nausea and vomiting, than dedicated emergency pills. [src]
Why we do not publish doses
The right amount depends on the exact hormones in each brand, and guessing is common and risky. Only a doctor who knows your situation can advise you. Read what the Yuzpe method is, then talk to a doctor today.
Where to go
- Likhaan Center for Women's Health: free IUDs, implants and pills. [src]
- Pulse Clinic Manila (Makati): sexual health clinic with emergency contraception consults.
- An OB-GYN you already see, or any OB-GYN clinic that inserts IUDs.
- A DOH hospital or your barangay health center.
- A teleconsult with a licensed doctor (links above). For adults 18 and over.
"Is 7 days too late for emergency contraception?"
The WHO describes emergency options as working within 5 days of unprotected sex, and pills work better the sooner they are taken. [src] Seven days is outside that window. That does not mean there is nothing to do:
- Talk to a doctor today anyway. They can look at your cycle dates and tell you what, if anything, is still possible for you.
- Plan a pregnancy test. Our test timing tool shows the earliest reliable date. A test costs ₱64.75 at Watsons.
- Start ongoing contraception so this does not happen again. See Find my method.
After emergency contraception
- Your next period may come earlier or later than usual. [src] Spotting is common and does not confirm or rule out pregnancy. [src]
- If your period is late, take a pregnancy test. The late period tool helps if you are on the pill.
- Emergency methods do not protect you from sex later in the same cycle. Use condoms until you start a regular method.
- No method except condoms protects against STIs. If you are worried about an STI, ask the doctor about testing.
- If you are on the pill and missed some, use the Missed Pill Helper to see what the WHO advises.
- Severe lower belly pain, heavy bleeding or fainting needs urgent care. Go to the nearest emergency room.
Three legal routes
Talk to a doctor today
Emergency options in the Philippines need a doctor. 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
Is there a morning after pill in the Philippines?
No dedicated morning after pill is registered in the Philippines. Postinor's registration was revoked in 2001. A copper IUD within 5 days is the most effective emergency option, and a doctor may advise other options.
Can I buy Plan B at Watsons or Mercury?
No. Plan B and similar dedicated emergency pills are not registered in the Philippines, so licensed pharmacies do not sell them. Talk to a doctor today about your options.
Can I use Trust pills as emergency contraception?
Some doctors may advise an older method that uses ordinary combined pills, called the Yuzpe method. The right amount depends on the brand, and it is less effective than other options, so only a doctor can advise you. We do not publish doses.
Is emergency contraception an abortion?
No. The WHO says emergency contraceptive pills work by preventing or delaying ovulation and do not induce an abortion. They cannot end a pregnancy that has already started.
Is 7 days too late for emergency contraception?
The WHO describes emergency options as working within 5 days of sex, and they work better the sooner they are used. At 7 days, still talk to a doctor today. They can look at your cycle, tell you what is still possible, and plan when to take a pregnancy test.
Saan makakabili ng emergency pills?
Walang rehistradong emergency pill sa Pilipinas. Ang pinaka-epektibo ay copper IUD sa loob ng 5 araw, libre sa Likhaan. Kumausap ng doktor ngayon din.
This guide is for information. Talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or switching birth control.
Sources
- Emergency contraception (fact sheet), World Health Organization
- Medical providers say FDA should reconsider ban on emergency contraceptive pills, Malaya
- Birth control methods and where to get them, PhilSTAR Life, 25 Sep 2024
- Likhaan center free contraceptives, r/Philippines
- Oral contraceptives category, Watsons PH
- Family Planning: A Global Handbook for Providers, WHO and Johns Hopkins CCP
- Combined pill: risks and side effects, NHS