Combined pill
Ermina pills: price, side effects and how to take them
Ermina (drospirenone 3 mg + ethinylestradiol 20 mcg)
Quick answer
Ermina (drospirenone 3 mg + ethinylestradiol 20 mcg) is a low-dose combined pill with the same formula as Yaz and Lizelle.
It is listed as a 24-tablet pack from ₱720, the lowest of the three when we checked. It needs a reseta (Prescription. All birth control pills need one in the Philippines.).
Key facts
- Generic name
- drospirenone 3 mg + ethinylestradiol 20 mcg
- Type
- Combined pill (estrogen + progestin)
- Pack
- 24 tablets: 24 hormone
- Prescription
- Required in the Philippines
- Price this month
- From ₱720 a pack
Ermina has the same drospirenone (A progestin used in Yaz, Yasmin and their same-formula brands.) and ethinylestradiol doses as Yaz. It was ₱720 at Rose Pharmacy, with the same figure on Find My Method,[src][src] against ₱815 for Lizelle and ₱889 for Yaz. We did not find a Watsons listing. Our research does not name Ermina's maker.
The one real difference is the pack. Yaz and Lizelle are 28 tablets (24 hormone plus 4 inactive). Ermina is listed as 24 tablets, and we could not confirm whether it includes inactive tablets or how long the break is. Read the leaflet in your pack before you start, and ask your pharmacist if anything is unclear.
Ermina price in the Philippines
Prices checked October 2026. Every pharmacy below requires a prescription.
| Retailer | Pack | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rose PharmacyPrescription required | 24 tablets | ₱720.00 | October 2026 |
| Mercury Drug | No public online price | [TODO: verify] | |
| Southstar Drug | No public online price | [TODO: verify] |
How to take Ermina
Take one hormone tablet a day at about the same time, following the arrows. What happens after the 24th tablet depends on your pack: check the leaflet for whether you take a break and for how many days, then start the next pack exactly when it says. Do not assume it works like Yaz. Getting the restart wrong is the main way people end up with a longer hormone-free gap, which WHO treats like missed pills.[src]
As a 20 mcg pill, missing 2 hormone tablets in a row already counts as the stricter case.[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]
Listed as a 24-tablet pack. [TODO: verify whether Ermina includes inactive tablets and the break length]
If you miss a Ermina pill
Ermina 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 HelperErmina side effects and what Filipinas worry about
Early spotting, sore breasts, nausea, headaches and mood changes are possible in the first 3 months and usually settle. Light or missing bleeds are common on low-dose pills.[src] Ermina carries the same small clot risk as other combined pills and is not for smokers 35 and over or people with migraine with aura.[src]
Nakakataba ba ang Ermina?
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]
Delay ng mens habang nag-pi-pills?No period during the placebo week?
Light or missed withdrawal bleeds are common on the pill, especially low-dose pills like Yaz. If you took your pills correctly, pregnancy is unlikely, and a pregnancy test settles it. Start your next pack on schedule.
Read moreDelikado ba ang pills?Are pills dangerous? What about blood clots?
The risk of a blood clot on the combined pill is real but small. Combined pills are not suitable for smokers 35 and over, people with migraine with aura, a past clot, high blood pressure and some other conditions. Chest pain, leg swelling or sudden breathlessness are emergencies.
May kamahalan ang pills.Pills are too expensive.
Prices range widely, and several cheaper brands have the exact same formula as the expensive ones. Pills, injectables, implants and IUDs are also free at public health facilities, subject to supply.
Read moreThe 24-tablet pack and lighter bleeds
Ermina shares the Yaz formula, whose 24 hormone days are designed to shorten the hormone-free stretch; with Yaz and Lizelle that comes with 4 inactive days. Many people on this formula notice lighter bleeds, and some barely bleed at all, which is common on low-dose pills.[src] Because we could not confirm Ermina's break, follow your leaflet rather than the Yaz schedule.
Who should not take Ermina
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
Drospirenone 3 mg + EE 20 mcg. Same active ingredients and dose; pack and inactive tablets can differ.
Three legal routes
Get a prescription
Ermina 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.
Ermina FAQ
Is Ermina the same as Yaz?
The active ingredients and doses are the same: drospirenone 3 mg + ethinylestradiol 20 mcg. Ermina is listed as a 24-tablet pack, while Yaz has 28. Ermina costs from ₱720 and Yaz from ₱889.
Does Ermina have placebo pills?
We could not confirm it. Ermina is listed as 24 tablets. Check the leaflet in your pack for whether there is a break and how long it is.
Pwede ba lumipat mula Yaz papuntang Ermina?
Pareho ang hormones, pero maaaring iba ang pack. Itanong sa doktor o pharmacist kung paano lumipat para walang gap sa proteksyon.
What if I miss 2 Ermina pills?
As a 20 mcg pill, 2 missed in a row is the stricter case: take one now and use condoms for 7 days. Check your leaflet and use the Missed Pill Helper. If you had sex in the last 5 days, talk to a doctor today.
Do I need a prescription for Ermina?
Yes. Ermina is a prescription medicine in the Philippines and Rose Pharmacy lists it under prescription contraceptives.
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
- Prescription Pharmacy: Contraceptive Agents, Rose Pharmacy
- Contraceptive pill in the Philippines, Find My Method
- Oral contraceptives category, Watsons PH