Guidance Note
From a clinical point of view, the WHO determined the amount of ferrous fumarate used as a placebo in combined oral contraceptives is at a non-therapeutic dose and hence has no clinical relevance as an iron supplement. In line with this, UNFPA, in collaboration with other global procurers, has diversified options of prequalified combined oral contraceptives offered to countries.
Of the 8 combined oral contraceptives UNFPA supplies, only 1 contains the iron placebos, 4 contain non-iron placebos and 3 have no placebos for the 7-day hormone-free period.
