Progestin-only pill
Cerazette pills: price, side effects and how to take them
Cerazette (desogestrel 75 mcg)
Quick answer
Cerazette (desogestrel 75 mcg) is a progestin-only pill with no estrogen. Its big difference: a tablet counts as missed only after 12 hours late, against 3 hours for Daphne.[src]
All 28 tablets are active, taken daily with no break. It costs from ₱642 and needs a reseta (Prescription. All birth control pills need one in the Philippines.).
Key facts
- Generic name
- desogestrel 75 mcg
- Type
- Progestin-only pill (no estrogen)
- Pack
- 28 tablets: 28 hormone
- Prescription
- Required in the Philippines
- Price this month
- From ₱642 a pack
- Same formula
- None in the PH
Cerazette contains only desogestrel (A progestin in Marvelon (combined) and Cerazette (progestin only).), 75 mcg per tablet. It is the same progestin found in the combined pill Marvelon (desogestrel + ethinylestradiol), but without estrogen and at a lower dose. No other Philippine brand on our list has the same formula. Expats will recognise it as the UK and EU Cerazette (see pill equivalents).
The trade-off is cost. Watsons listed it at ₱642, several times the price of Daphne (from ₱161) or Exluton (from ₱218.50).[src] What you pay for is the wider 12-hour window, which helps if your days are unpredictable: night shifts, a newborn, travel.
Cerazette price in the Philippines
Prices checked October 2026. Every pharmacy below requires a prescription.
| Retailer | Pack | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| WatsonsPrescription required | 28 tablets | ₱642.00 | October 2026 |
| Mercury Drug | No public online price | [TODO: verify] | |
| Southstar Drug | No public online price | [TODO: verify] |
How to take Cerazette
Take one tablet every day at about the same time, following the arrows, and start a new pack the day after you finish. All 28 are active; there is no break and no inactive tablets. If you are more than 12 hours late, take it when you remember, keep going, and use condoms for 2 days. Some leaflets say 7 days; follow the longer advice.[src]
When to start: WHO says a progestin-only 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 2 days.[src] After a birth, your doctor will tell you when to begin.
A progestin-only pill with a 12-hour window for a late pill, longer than most progestin-only pills.
If you miss a Cerazette pill
Cerazette is a desogestrel progestin-only pill with a 12-hour window. If you are more than 12 hours late, take one as soon as you remember, keep taking one a day, and use condoms for the next 2 days (WHO handbook). Some leaflets say 7 days; follow the longer advice.
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 HelperCerazette side effects and what Filipinas worry about
Bleeding changes come first. Irregular bleeding, spotting or no bleeding are the most common effects of progestin-only pills and are not harmful.[src] Some people also get headaches, sore breasts or mood changes early on. If the bleeding pattern is hard to live with after a few months, talk to your doctor.
Nakakataba ba ang Cerazette?
The Cochrane review that found no large weight effect studied combined pills, not progestin-only pills like Cerazette.[src] If you notice a change, track it with the side effect tracker and bring it to your doctor.
Pwede ba sa nagpapadede?Can I take pills while breastfeeding?
Progestin-only pills (Daphne, Exluton, Cerazette) are the usual pill choice while breastfeeding. The NHS advises waiting until 6 weeks after birth before starting a combined pill if you are breastfeeding.
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 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 moreCerazette while breastfeeding
Cerazette has no estrogen, so it fits the usual advice for breastfeeding mothers. The NHS advises waiting 6 weeks after birth before starting a combined pill if you are breastfeeding,[src] and WHO's eligibility criteria support progestin-only pills while breastfeeding.[src] If the 3-hour window of Daphne or Exluton is hard with night feeds, the 12-hour window is a good reason to ask your doctor about Cerazette. See birth control while breastfeeding.
Who should not take Cerazette
Who should not take it
Progestin-only pills suit most people, including smokers over 35, people with migraine with aura and people who are breastfeeding. A doctor will still check your history, including any current breast cancer or serious liver disease.
Common side effects
Irregular bleeding or spotting is the most common effect. Some people have no bleeding at all. 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
Desogestrel 75 mcg (progestin only). Same active ingredients and dose; pack and inactive tablets can differ.
No other brand sold in the Philippines has exactly the same formula as Cerazette (desogestrel). See all pills compared.
Three legal routes
Get a prescription
Cerazette 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.
Cerazette FAQ
What is the difference between Cerazette and Daphne?
Both are progestin-only pills with 28 active tablets. Cerazette is desogestrel 75 mcg with a 12-hour window for late pills. Daphne is lynestrenol 500 mcg with a 3-hour window. Cerazette costs from ₱642, Daphne from ₱161.
Pwede ba ang Cerazette sa nagpapadede?
Oo. Walang estrogen ang Cerazette, kaya bagay ito sa nagpapadede. Itanong sa doktor kung kailan magsisimula pagkapanganak.
What if I take Cerazette more than 12 hours late?
Take it as soon as you remember, keep taking one a day, and use condoms for the next 2 days (some leaflets say 7; follow the longer advice). If you had sex in the last 5 days, talk to a doctor today.
Is Cerazette the same as Marvelon?
No. Both contain desogestrel, but Marvelon is a combined pill with estrogen and a higher desogestrel dose. Cerazette has no estrogen.
Why am I not getting my period on Cerazette?
No bleeding or irregular bleeding is common on progestin-only pills and not harmful. If you missed pills and had sex, a pregnancy test settles it.
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
- Medical eligibility criteria for contraceptive use, World Health Organization
- Combined pill: who can and cannot take it, NHS
- Combination contraceptives: effects on weight (Gallo et al.), Cochrane / PubMed
- Oral contraceptives category, Watsons PH
- Combined pill: risks and side effects, NHS
- Prescription Pharmacy: Contraceptive Agents, Rose Pharmacy