Birth control pills for PCOS (now called PMOS): Diane vs Althea vs Yaz

Key facts

What it is

Combined oral contraceptive pill (estrogen plus a progestin)

Rx or supplement

Prescription only. A doctor screens you first.

Typical PH cost per month

About ₱487.45 to ₱943 a box (one box per cycle)

Evidence (2023 Guideline)

●●○Moderate evidence

Time to see results

1 to 3 months for cycles; about 6 months for hair and skin

Who prescribes

OB-GYN (sometimes a dermatologist or endocrinologist)

Diane or Althea? They are the same formula

Filipinas on r/PCOSPhilippines ask this every week: “Switching from Diane 35 to Althea for PCOS, what should I expect?” and “Mas mura kasi Althea pills kaya ko sya cinoconsider uli.” (thread, thread.)

The answer: Diane-35 and Althea both contain cyproterone acetate 2 mg plus ethinylestradiol 35 mcgCPA/EE: Cyproterone acetate plus ethinylestradiol, the formula in Diane-35 and Althea., per their Watsons and Southstar listings. Cybelle is sold with the same formula. The hormones and amounts match, so the difference you pay is brand, not strength. Diane-35 costs about ₱695.75 per box at Southstar; Althea costs ₱487.45 per box to ₱540 per box.

Yaz, Yasmin and Lizelle are a different family. They use drospirenone 3 mg as the progestin. Yaz has 20 mcg of ethinylestradiol; Yasmin and Lizelle have 30 mcg. Filipino users describe Lizelle as the local counterpart of Yasmin.

Compare every pill

Sort by price, estrogen dose or guideline position. Prices come from our price file; rows without a checked price say so.

What the 2023 Guideline says

• Combined pills could be recommended for irregular cycles and for hirsutism (unwanted hair), and no specific type can be recommended over another (Rec 4.2.4).
• 35 mcg ethinylestradiol plus cyproterone acetate preparations should be considered second-line (Rec 4.2.5), mainly because of the risk of blood clots. In the Philippines this formula (Diane-35, Althea, Cybelle) is often the first prescription.
• For hirsutism specifically, the combined pill is the preferred medicine (Rec 4.4.1).

What this means for you: second-line does not mean dangerous or wrong for you. It means the guideline would usually try another combined pill first. If you are already on Diane-35 or Althea, keep taking it and ask your doctor at your next visit: “Is a different pill an option for me, given my clotting risk?” Do not stop suddenly on your own; stopping mid-pack can bring on bleeding and leaves you without contraception.

How the pill helps PCOS

In PCOS, the ovaries often make more androgensandrogens: Hormones like testosterone. Everyone has them; in PCOS they are often higher. and release eggs less often. A combined pill switches off the ovary's monthly cycle and lowers androgen activity. That is why it can bring predictable bleeds, fewer breakouts and slower hair growth. The regular withdrawal bleed also protects the womb lining, which matters if your periods are months apart.

The pill manages symptoms while you take it. It does not change the underlying condition, which is why some women feel their PCOS “came back” after stopping. That is expected, not a failure. Pills do not address insulin resistance, so the guideline still asks for a 75 g OGTT and a lipid profile, whatever pill you take.

Who it suits, and who should not take it

The combined pill often suits women with PCOS who:

• want regular, predictable periods and protection of the womb lining;
• have acne or unwanted hair from high androgens;
• also want contraception (remember: PCOS is not contraception).

A doctor must screen you first. All combined pills are prescription-only in the Philippines. Doctors check for migraine with aura, smoking if you are over 35, a past blood clot or a family history of clots, and high blood pressure, among other things. Buying “Diane 35 Thai” or other pills without a prescription skips that screening.

If you are trying to get pregnant, the pill is not the right tool; see the fertility guide. For a deeper comparison of pills and their risks, our sister site birthcontrolphilippines.com covers every brand.

Side effects and fears

Early side effects are common and often settle within the first two or three packs: spotting, breast tenderness, nausea and mood changes. Filipinas on r/PCOSPhilippines describe their first month on Althea with lines like “Less oily na face ko” and “Naging antukin” (thread). Those are personal reports, not evidence, but they show you are not alone. Tell your doctor about mood changes that worry you.

Cost per month

One box covers one cycle. Diane-35 works out to about ₱695.75 a month and Althea to about ₱487.45 to ₱540. PhilHealth Konsulta does not list oral contraceptives among its covered medicines, and the PH study of Filipino women with PCOS found that cost was one reason people stopped. See the full cost guide.

Safety

This guide is for information. Talk to a doctor before starting or changing any treatment.