Junel Fe Dosage Strengths
Junel Fe is available in two dosage strengths: Junel Fe 1/20 (1 mg norethindrone acetate/20 mcg ethinyl estradiol) and Junel Fe 1.5/30 (1.5 mg norethindrone acetate/30 mcg ethinyl estradiol), both formulated with 75 mg ferrous fumarate tablets. 1
Available Formulations
Both Junel Fe formulations come as 28-day packs containing:
Junel Fe 1/20: 21 light yellow active tablets (1 mg norethindrone acetate + 20 mcg ethinyl estradiol) plus 7 brown tablets (75 mg ferrous fumarate) 1
Junel Fe 1.5/30: 21 pink active tablets (1.5 mg norethindrone acetate + 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol) plus 7 brown tablets (75 mg ferrous fumarate) 1
Important Clinical Context
The ferrous fumarate tablets serve to facilitate a 28-day regimen but are non-hormonal and do not provide therapeutic contraceptive benefit 1. They are included to maintain daily pill-taking habits during the hormone-free interval.
Note that Junel Fe contains norethindrone acetate (not norgestimate as mentioned in the expanded question). The product is FDA-approved for contraception and, in the case of the norethindrone acetate/ethinyl estradiol combination, also approved as adjuvant therapy for acne in teens ≥15 years and adults 2.
The lower-dose Junel Fe 1/20 formulation provides 20 mcg ethinyl estradiol, which falls within the modern low-dose range (15-35 mcg) that has been associated with reduced thromboembolic risk compared to older higher-dose formulations 3.