Effects on cycle control and bodyweight of the combined contraceptive ring, NuvaRing, versus an oral contraceptive containing 30 microg ethinyl estradiol and 3 mg drospirenone.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The objective of this study was to compare cycle control, cycle-related characteristics and bodyweight effects of NuvaRing with those of a combined oral contraceptive (COC) containing 30 microg of ethinyl estradiol and 3 mg of drospirenone.

METHODS:

A randomized, multicentre, open-label trial in which 983 women were treated (intent-to-treat population) with NuvaRing or the COC for 13 cycles.

RESULTS:

Breakthrough bleeding or spotting during cycles 2-13 was in general less frequent with NuvaRing than that with the COC (4.7-10.4%) and showed a statistically significant odds ratio of 0.61 (95% confidence interval: 0.46, 0.80) with longitudinal analysis. Intended bleeding was significantly better for all cycles with NuvaRing (55.2-68.5%) than that with the COC (35.6-56.6%) (P < 0.01). Changes from baseline in mean bodyweight and body composition parameters were relatively small for both groups with no notable between-group differences.

CONCLUSION:

NuvaRing was associated with better cycle control than the COC, and there was no clinically relevant difference between the two groups in bodyweight.

• Authors: I Milsom, I Lete, A Bjertnaes, K Rokstad, I Lindh, C J Gruber, M H Birkhäuser, E Aubeny, T Knudsen, C Bastianelli
• Journal: Human reproduction (Oxford, England) (Hum Reprod) Vol. 21 Issue 9 Pg. 2304-11 (Sep 2006) ISSN: 0268-1161 [Print] England
• PMID: 16763008 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Androstenes
• Contraceptives, Oral
• Drug Combinations
• NuvaRing
• etonogestrel
• Ethinyl Estradiol
• Desogestrel
• drospirenone

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Adult
• Androstenes (administration & dosage)
• Body Composition
• Body Weight
• Contraceptive Devices, Female
• Contraceptives, Oral (therapeutic use)
• Desogestrel (administration & dosage, analogs & derivatives)
• Drug Combinations
• Ethinyl Estradiol (administration & dosage)
• Humans
• Intrauterine Devices
• Menstrual Cycle (drug effects)
• Patient Compliance