Manila

Philippines / Luzon / Manila

OVERVIEW

Contraception (Birth Control)

General Note: There are many types of contraceptives, also known as "birth control," including IUDs, oral contraceptives, patches, shots, and condoms, etc. If you would like to view a full list, click here.

Laws & Social Stigmas

Contraception (or "birth control") can be purchased in the Philippines without a prescription. While you technically do need a prescription, this does not seem to be widely enforced. However, there have been many challenges to birth control access, especially from the powerful Filipino Catholic Church. For many years, birth control pills were not legal at all, and they were treated like illegal contraband, exchanged between women. When they finally were legalized, the Catholic Church strongly campaigned against their access. It is estimated that over 80% of the Filipino population is Catholic, and the Catholic Church is opposed to birth control. Today, 37% of married women in the Philippines use modern contraception and 12% use traditional family planning methods (like withdrawal, the rhythm method and periodic abstinence).

In 2000, the Mayor of Manila banned contraceptive distribution in all city-funded health centers, and the ban lasted for nearly a decade. In a turn of tide, the Filipino government signed the Reproductive Health Law, under President Benigno Aquino III, in 2012. This law required that schools provide sex education, and that health centers provide free condoms and birth control. This law was heavily challenged by the Church and religious organizations, such as the Alliance for Family Foundation Philippines, resulting in a 2-year legal battle. In the end, the Filipino Supreme Court upheld the Reproductive Health Law in 2014. Nevertheless, conservative forces managed to cut the government's budget for contraceptives, thereby making contraceptives more difficult for poor Filipino families to afford, soon afterward. Most recently, President Duterte has vowed to bring back family planning programs to the Philippines, insisting that Filipino families are too large and that the Catholic Church has kept the populace "in total ignorance" about birth control.

The Philippines has one of the highest birth rates and maternal mortality rates in Asia. Teenage pregnancy has doubled in the past decade, and 10% of Filipina teenagers are wives or mothers. Some of this can be explained by low levels of family planning knowledge and access. According to a Guttmacher Institute Study, "In the Philippines, 37% of all births are either not wanted at the time of pregnancy or entirely unwanted, and 54% of all pregnancies are unintended. On average, Filipino women give birth to more children than they want (3.3 vs. 2.4 children), highlighting how difficult it is for a woman to meet her fertility desires. This is particularly striking among the poorest Filipino women, who have nearly two children more than they intend to have (5.2 vs. 3.3 children)."

What to Get & Where to Get It

• In the Philippines, there's a rather large variety of hormonal birth control brands. Some brands you can expect to see in the pharmacies are the following: Althea, Ancea, Crimson, Diane-35, Mercilon, Marvelon 28, Yaz, Yasmin, Gestodene, Gynera, Micropil, Mocropil Plus, Microgyno 30, Cazul, Femme, Seif, Blush, Femenal, Nordiol, Charlize, Lady, Nordette, Rigevidon 21 + 7, Seif, Trust Pills, Logentrol, Gracial, Logynon, Trinordiol and Natazia.
• It appears that Nuvaring (or other ring-based contraceptives) is not carried in the Philippines, or at least in large pharmacies like Generics Pharmacy and Mercury Pharmacy.
• In the public health centers, you may be able to find Microgynon 30, Nordette and Trust Pills (which can also be used as emergency contraceptives).
• You may find that the pharmacies can wildly vary in terms of prices, so it's recommended to visit a trusted and larger-brand pharmacy. One of the most reliable is called Generics Pharmacy, which has locations all over the city (and in the Philippines in general). Mercury Drug is also a recommended pharmacy.
• If you're interested in IUDs, you can get them in the Philippines for about 2300 PHP, which includes the pre- and post-ultrasounds. Total cost is about 2500 PHP with the meds (7 days of doxycycline and plenty of mefenamic for the post-procedure pain).
• If you're interested in injectables, you can get them at public health centers, private clinics or women’s health clinics (with trained service providers). You should know that, in the Philippines, the injectables available are progestogen only, also known as depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA).
• If you're interested in implants, you may be able to get them at private clinics or women’s health centers and organizations, such as Likhaan. There are reports that public health workers in Metro Manila are still being trained in how to handle them properly. However, Implanon access has been challenged and is supposedly very difficult to access due to the Catholic lobby.

Costs

You can expect to pay between 400-900 PHP for a one month supply of birth control pills. However, there are some pills brands that are much cheaper than average, ranging about 40-50 PHP. For example, at Generics Pharmacy, here are some price quotes in 2016: Althea 21 (430 PHP), Diane 35 Pills 21 (636 PHP), Yasmin Pills 28 (905 PHP), Yaz (808 PHP), Trust pills (43.75 PHP) and Lady Pills (44.75 PHP).

Emergency Contraception (Morning After Pill)

Important Notes: Emergency contraception may prevent pregnancy for three days (72 hours) and sometimes five days (120 hours) after unprotected sex. Take EC as soon as possible after unprotected sex. If you don't have access to dedicated EC, oral contraceptives can be used as replacement EC, but remember the following: 1) Only some contraceptives work as EC 2) Different contraceptives require different dosages and time schedules to work as EC 3) You must only use the first 21 pills in 28-day packs and 4) They may be less effective than dedicated EC. For general information on emergency contraceptives, click here and here.

What to Get & Where to Get It

Note: The longest-lasting EC is currently ellaOne. It lasts up to 5 days (120 hours) after unprotected sex. Check to see if your country carries ellaOne. If your country doesn't carry ellaOne, copper IUDs may also prevent pregnancy up to 5 days after unprotected sex. If none of these options are available, and it's been over 3 days since you had unprotected sex, you can still take EC, which may work up to 5 days. Note that EC pills are not 100% effective and should be taken as soon as possible.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs/STDs)

Important Notes - Learn about PEP and PrEP: If you think that you've been recently exposed to HIV (i.e. within 72 hours), seek out PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis). It's a month-long treatment to prevent HIV infection after exposure, and it may be available in your city. Take PEP as soon as possible. For more information, click here. If you are at risk of HIV exposure, seek out PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis). It's a daily oral pill that can prevent HIV infection before exposure. To learn more about PrEP, click here.

Menstruation

Note: In addition to pads and tampons, you can also use menstrual cups and menstrual underwear for your period. To learn more about menstrual cups, click here. To learn more about menstrual underwear, click here.

Abortion

Important Note: There are two main types of abortions: medical (also known as the "abortion pill") and surgical (also known as "in-clinic"). For medical abortions, you take a pill to induce abortion. For surgical abortions, a procedure is performed to induce abortion. For general information about medical and surgical abortions, click here.