Emergency (information only)
Can I use Trust pills as emergency contraception?
Quick answer
Only with a doctor's advice. Some doctors may advise an older emergency method that uses ordinary combined pills like Trust (levonorgestrel + ethinylestradiol), but WHO says it is less effective and causes more nausea and vomiting than dedicated emergency pills.[src] A copper IUD within 5 days of sex is the most effective option. We do not publish amounts or timing. Talk to a doctor today.
Why so many Filipinas ask this
Dedicated emergency pills have not been registered in the Philippines since 2001, when Postinor's registration was revoked.[src] Trust is cheap, from ₱59.50 a pack, and many people already have a strip at home. So when a condom breaks or a pill was missed, the first search is often "can I use my Trust instead?". Some brand and pharmacy websites even publish amounts. We do not, and here is why.
What WHO says about this method
WHO lists an older emergency method that uses combined pills containing ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel. It also says this method is less effective than dedicated emergency pills and causes more side effects, especially nausea and vomiting.[src] In the Philippines, some doctors may advise it because the dedicated pills are not available. That decision belongs to a doctor who knows your dates, your health history and the exact pill you have.
Like all emergency contraception, it is not abortion. WHO says emergency pills work by preventing or delaying ovulation and do not harm a pregnancy that has already started.[src]
Why guessing from the internet is risky
- Brands are not interchangeable. Trust, Lady (levonorgestrel + ethinylestradiol) and Charlize (levonorgestrel + ethinylestradiol) contain different amounts of hormone per tablet, and many other brands use a different progestin altogether. An amount that someone posted for one brand does not carry over to another.
- The brown tablets do nothing here. In Trust, the brown tablets are iron, not hormones.[src] People mix them up when they are panicking. See what the brown pills are.
- Vomiting can undo it. Nausea and vomiting are common with this method.[src] A doctor can tell you what to do if that happens; a forum cannot.
- It can hide the real problem. If you were already on Trust and missed some, the answer may be different. Check the Missed Pill Helper first, then talk to a doctor.
Filipinas on Reddit describe days of worry after a missed Trust pill, piecing together advice from strangers.[src] That is experience, not evidence, but it shows why a short consult beats a long search.
The more effective option: a copper IUD
Talk to a doctor today: Pulse Clinic Manila, Likhaan, your OB-GYN, a DOH hospital, your barangay health center, or a teleconsult below. For adults 18 and over. If you are under 18, go to your health center or tell a parent or an adult you trust.
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
How many Trust pills should I take for emergency contraception?
We do not publish amounts or timing. The right advice depends on the brand, your dates and your health, and only a doctor can give it. A copper IUD within 5 days is the most effective option. Talk to a doctor today.
Pwede bang gamitin ang Trust bilang emergency contraception?
Doktor lang ang makakapagsabi. May lumang paraan na gumagamit ng combined pills, pero ayon sa WHO mas mababa ang bisa nito at mas madalas magdulot ng pagsusuka. Ang copper IUD sa loob ng 5 araw ang pinaka-epektibo. Kumausap ng doktor ngayon din.
Is using Trust this way an abortion?
No. WHO says emergency contraception works by preventing or delaying ovulation and does not end or harm a pregnancy that has already started.
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
- Trust pill listing: Prescription Required, Watsons PH
- Birth control methods and where to get them, PhilSTAR Life, 25 Sep 2024
- I missed 1 Trust pill, r/birthcontrol