Choosing the Right Contraceptive for Your Lifestyle in Philippines-2025

As shared in a journal published in the National Library of Medicine, there’s been a noticeable barrier when it comes to accessing family planning services in the Philippines. Regardless of the fact that family programs have already begun as far as 1971, it is due to religious views, local governance, and legal matters that has prevented its effective implementation even in modern times.

Traditional birth control methods are what Filipino couples usually do in order to avoid pregnancy. However, compared to modern contraceptive methods, this is less effective as failure rates are said to be highest when it comes to relying on periodic abstinence and withdrawal, both which fall under the category of traditional contraceptive methods.

Misconceptions About Contraceptives

False understanding about contraceptives in the Philippines is one of the reasons why people are still hesitant in using birth control and even being merely informed about the topic. However, contraceptives can also be beneficial for women who have troubles with their reproductive health, as using contraceptives can lessen period symptoms and regulate the menstrual cycles.

The following are misconceptions about contraception and birth control that you might have heard of before:

• Contraception is the same as abortion: This is false. Contraception is not the same as abortion since contraceptives — including morning-after pills — cannot terminate pregnancy. It can only prevent ovulation which stops pregnancy from occurring in the first place.

• Contraceptives encourage promiscuity: This is false. In fact, contrary to this belief, using contraceptives is actually a smart way of planning for your own future. It lets you avoid pregnancy in a responsible manner and prevents you from contracting any sexually transmitted disease.

• Contraceptives can cause infertility: This is false. Once you stop using contraceptives, your fertility goes back to normal. A method that only affects your fertility for a longer period of time is a contraception injection, but it only delays your fertility for over a year.

• Contraceptives can cause hormonal balance to the point of making you go “crazy”: This is false. Although certain birth control does cause hormonal balance, it’s not severe to the point of making someone go crazy.

• Contraceptives can cause cancer: There is no proven link between contraceptives and cancer. The risk of developing ovarian, endometrial, and colorectal cancer can even be reduced if you take birth control pills.

• Contraceptives can cause birth defects on infants: This is false. There has been no evidence that would suggest contraceptives can be the reason why infants may have birth defects.

Despite how the use of birth control has its own risks, it doesn’t match the risks involved in giving birth. Hence, being aware of modern contraceptive methods is significant as not only a part of family planning, but in taking care of your sexual well-being.

What’s the Right Contraceptive method in Philippines For You 2025

There are a lot of contraceptive options in the Philippines that you can choose from depending on what you need and what your daily life demands. For some, having a consistent schedule in taking birth control would work best, while others who have busy lives may prefer a low-maintenance method that wouldn’t need to be followed up frequently.

Short-acting Reversible Contraception

For both men and women, there are short-acting reversible contraception methods in the Philippines for people who want to have the choice of easily switching back to not using birth control. This means that resorting to these methods would prevent pregnancy only if you remember to use them consistently or on a daily basis. 

Condoms

Condoms are contraceptives for men that serve as a barrier between bodies. It’s a loose-fitting pouch that prevents semen from entering the vagina and fertilizing the egg. It also prevents the risk of being infected with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or infections (STIs). 

Effectiveness: 87% effective. There can be cases wherein the condom may be used incorrectly or tear in the middle of sexual intercourse.

Best for: 

• Men with different sexual partners, as this can prevent getting STDs or STIs
• Women with male partners who do not like to take oral contraceptives because of the hormonal side effects it brings

Birth control pills

Also known as oral contraceptives, birth control pills are contraceptives for women that contain hormones that prevent pregnancy by stopping ovulation, thickening the cervical mucus, and altering the walls of your uterus so that the egg can’t attach itself on it. Aside from acting as a contraception, it can also help in treating acne, endometriosis, severe period symptoms, and reduce the risk of developing ovarian and uterine cancer.

This is the most commonly used contraceptive in the Philippines.

Effectiveness: 99% effective — only if you use it consistently.

Best for:

• Women who has PCOS 
• Women who want to improve their sexual health and the regularity of their menstrual cycle
• Women who want to improve their skin health, such as reducing acne and excessive hair growth

Also Read: Is There a Limit to How Long You Can Take Birth Control Pills?

Diaphragm

A flexible and shallow silicone cup that works as a contraceptive for women by bending it half and inserting it inside the vagina to cover the cervix, thus stopping the sperm from fertilizing the egg. It works best if paired with another contraceptive called spermicide, a cream or gel that actively kills sperm.

Effectiveness: 83% effective. Incorrect use can significantly lessen its effectiveness.

Best for:

• Women who are willing to take the responsibility of using protection before sex
• Women who don’t want to experience hormonal changes or side effects when using hormonal contraceptives
• Women who want to be discreet with their birth control method
• Women who want a contraceptive that doesn’t need to be consistently taken every day

Contraceptive Patch

Also known as a birth control patch, this is a contraceptive for women — a thin, beige, and sticky patch that is placed either on the shoulder, upper arm, above the buttocks, abdomen below the belly button, and upper back near the shoulder blade. It can prevent pregnancy by releasing hormones through the skin and into the bloodstream. It should be worn for three weeks before removing it for one week wherein you may get your period. 

Effectiveness: 92% effective. You need to make sure that you’re applying the patch correctly and changing it right on schedule.

Best for:

• Women who want a painless option for a contraceptive
• Women who have trouble taking swallowing oral contraceptives
• Women who want to improve their sexual health and the regularity of their menstrual cycle 
• Women who want a contraceptive that doesn’t need to be consistently taken every day or used only before sex

Vaginal ring

Sometimes pertained to as a birth control ring, this contraceptive for women is a flexible ring that is inserted inside the vagina and placed along your vaginal lining where the hormones will also be absorbed. These hormones will prevent pregnancy by stopping ovulation, thickening cervical mucus which will make it difficult for the sperm to reach the egg, and changing the uterus wall that restrains the egg from attaching itself on it. It ought to stay inside your vagina for three weeks and discarded the following week.

Effectiveness: 91% effective. Incorrect use can significantly lessen its effectiveness.

Best for:

• Women who are willing to take the responsibility of using protection before sex
• Women who cannot take oral contraceptives due to gastrointestinal issues
• Women with latex allergies
• Women who prefer to have less hormonal side effects
• Women who want to be discreet with their birth control method
• Women who want a contraceptive that doesn’t need to be consistently taken every day

Long-acting Reversible Contraception

Sometimes referred to as LARCs, these methods can provide protection from unwanted pregnancy for over 3 to 12 years. It’s convenient for those wanting to opt for a contraception method that doesn’t require a schedule or to be taken consistently in order to work. To have access to these contraceptive methods in the Philippines, talk with your doctor first in order to get a prescription and have yourself be guided accordingly.

Injectable contraceptives

Another type of contraceptive for women, this is also known as birth control shots or the depo shot. It contains the hormonal medication called depot medroxyprogesterone acetate which provides protection against pregnancy for up to 14 weeks (however you may need to receive a shot every 12 weeks) and is injected to either your arm or buttocks. 

Effectiveness: 94% effective. You only need to make sure to be injected within the right schedule.

Best for:

• Women who want long-term protection from pregnancy (3 months)
• Women who are breastfeeding
• Women who want to be discreet with their birth control method
• Women who want a contraceptive that doesn’t need to be consistently taken every day or used only before sex

Contraceptive Implants

Can also be referred to as birth control implants, this contraceptive for women is a small and flexible device similar to a rod that gradually releases hormones to your bloodstream, preventing pregnancy for up to 3 years (sometimes even 5 years). It’s inserted in the inside of your upper arm by your healthcare provider and can be removed at any time.

Effectiveness: 99% effective. 

Best for:

• Women who want long-term protection from pregnancy (3 to 5 years)
• Women who are breastfeeding
• Women who can’t use estrogen-containing birth control
• Women who want to be discreet with their birth control method
• Women who want a contraceptive that doesn’t need to be taken every day or use before sex

Intrauterine device (IUD)

A birth control device that is inserted into the uterus. It works as a contraceptive for women by triggering an immune response which inflames the uterus and causes it to create an environment that can kill sperm. IUDs can work from 3 to 10 years depending on the kind of IUD inserted in your uterus.  

Effectiveness: 99% effective.

Best for:

• Women who want long-term protection from pregnancy (3 to 10 years)
• Women who want to be discreet with their birth control method
• Women who want a contraceptive that doesn’t need to be consistently taken every day or used only before sex

Permanent Contraception

Both men and women can opt to choose a birth control method that can prevent them from conceiving children for good. There are hospitals that offer these services and clinics who can offer these contraception methods in the Philippines for free.

Tubal ligation

Also called tubal sterilization or female sterilization, this contraceptive procedure for women involves cutting, blocking, or sealing off the fallopian tube which erases the possibility of the egg being fertilized by a sperm. This is an irreversible method, and can be done after vaginal childbirth, a Cesarean delivery (C-section), or another kind of abdominal surgery.

Effectiveness: 99% effective.

Best for:

• Women who permanently don’t want to get pregnant anymore

Vasectomy

A surgical contraceptive procedure for men wherein the vas deferens (tubes that carry sperm) are cut and closed off. This prevents the sperm from leaving the body and fertilizing the egg. Semen samples may still be taken every now and then to ensure that the surgery was a success. Although this procedure is reversible, it can be more expensive and doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be able to conceive a child, especially if it’s been a considerable amount of time since you had a vasectomy.

Effectiveness: 99% effective.

Best for:

• Men who permanently don’t want to have children
• Women with male partners who cannot take or undergo contraceptives

Emergency Contraception in Philippines

In cases when accidental unprotected sex occurs, it’s good to have a backup plan that you can resort to in order to prevent pregnancy from happening. However, it’s worth noting emergency contraceptives in the Philippines are not available because of lack of supplies, lack of knowledge from the people, and legal restrictions.

As of now, no emergency contraceptives in the Philippines have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Morning-after pills

This is a contraceptive for women in the form of an oral birth control that should be taken within 72 hours after having unprotected sexual intercourse. You can even take it up to 120 hours (5 days) after engaging in unprotected sex. 

Effectiveness: 85% effective. It’s more effective the sooner you take it — and cannot work once implantation or fertilization has already happened.

Best for:

• Women who are looking for a backup plan after engaging in unprotected sex without the use of contraceptives prior

Yuzpe method

Currently, this is the only option available for emergency contraception in the Philippines and works as an alternative for the morning-after pill. It involves taking two oral contraceptives that contain ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel, and then two more after 12 hours have passed. This should be done within 72 hours after having unprotected sex.

Effectiveness: 56% to 86% effective. It’s more effective the sooner you do it — and cannot work once implantation or fertilization has already happened.

Best for:

• Women who are looking for a backup plan after engaging in unprotected sex without the use of contraceptives prior

In Summary

There are short-acting contraceptives, long-acting contraceptives, and emergency contraceptives in the Philippines that can be used before and after having sex. As all of us have different lifestyles and needs, we should look for the type of birth control that is convenient, cost-effective, easy on the budget, and can serve as an effective prevention for unwanted pregnancy.

Take note that contraceptive pills are not the same as abortion pills. Abortion pills in the Philippines are not allowed and are considered illegal. Birth control pills only prevent pregnancy from happening — not terminate pregnancy or expulse an embryo or fetus, which abortion can do.

Further, before using or taking any kind of contraceptive, always remember to consult first with your healthcare provider. The information we’ve provided you is only a guide to help you choose what best contraceptive is suited for you. It’s still highly recommended to have a conversation  with your doctor about birth control to see what kind of contraceptive is aligned with what you need and ideal for your body’s wellness. 

To find the best contraceptive pills in the Philippines at an affordable price, you can visit Getmeds Online Pharmacy where they offer birth control pills for women, over-the-counter products, and prescription medicine.