NuvaRing: at least as reliable as the pill yet with once-a-month regimen, half the dose and superior cycle control

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 11 Mar 2005 - 17:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   opinions  

NuvaRing - the once-a-month vaginal ring contraceptive from Organon - is at least as effective as the combined pill, but with the convenience of monthly dosing, half the estrogen dose and superior cycle control, according to results from two comparative studies presented today at the 12th World Congress on Human Reproduction in Venice.

The findings come at the same time as other research evaluating the contraceptive decision-making process shows that ease of use, reliability, administration frequency and cycle control are the most important determinants women use when selecting a contraceptive. Physician recommendation is also an important factor. [1]

The studies presented - the first comparative randomized controlled trials of NuvaRing versus oral contraceptives - involved more than 2000 women who were followed up for 13 cycles. In one trial against a pill containing 30mcg ethinyl estradiol (EE) and 150 mcg levonorgestrel, 1.2 pregnancies per 100 women year (the so-called Pearl Index) were reported for both treatment groups. [2] In the other trial against a pill containing 30mcg EE and 3.0 mg drosperinone a Pearl Index of 0.25 was reported for NuvaRing and 0.99 for the combined pill. When this new data is pooled with all other European trials, NuvaRing - which releases 15 mcg EE and 120 mcg etonogestrel daily - has a Pearl Index of 0.49

In addition, intended menstrual bleeding patterns - bleeding exclusively taking place during the hormone-free week - were significantly more likely to be seen in NuvaRing users than pill users. The differences between methods reached statistical significance at all cycles throughout both studies.

No clinically relevant or statistically significant changes in body weight were observed in any groups tested confirming that NuvaRing does not increase body weight.

"These findings show that NuvaRing offers a number of advantages over the pill. It might not appeal to every woman, but it is clearly an option many could consider. However, clinicians need to raise awareness about this innovative method of contraception to allow women to make informed decisions about which method of contraception best meets their needs," commented Dr. Anne Szarewski, Senior Clinical Medical Officer, Margaret Pyke Centre, London, UK, speaker at the congress.

Other benefits over oral contraceptives

Other research also presented at the congress showed that NuvaRing does not interact with two commonly used broad-spectrum antibiotics - amoxicillin and doxycycline. This means NuvaRing users do not need to take additional contraceptive precautions while taking these antibiotics.

Finally, results of the first clinical study assessing the impact of NuvaRing on the sexual life of women were also presented. These showed that women using NuvaRing or the Pill reported an overall improvement in sexual functioning but that women using NuvaRing showed significantly higher levels of sexual interest, complicity and fantasies than women using the pill.

Organon - with shared head offices in Roseland, NJ, USA and Oss, The Netherlands - creates, manufactures and markets prescription medicines that improve the health and quality of human life. Through a combination of independent growth and business partnerships, Organon strives to remain or become one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in each of its core therapeutic fields: reproductive medicine, psychiatry and anesthesia.

Organon products are sold in over 100 countries, of which more than 60 have an Organon subsidiary. Organon is the human health care business unit of Akzo Nobel.

For media inquiries
Mrs. Monique Mols
monique.mols@organon.com
N.V. Organon (Communications)
Visiting address:
Molenstraat 110
5342 CC Oss
The Netherlands

Mailing address:
P.O. Box 20
5340 BH Oss
The Netherlands

Phone +31.412.66.54.40
Fax: +31.412.66.25.68

1 Huisman D, Meagher N Poor awareness of newly available contraceptive options limits women's choices [poster reference].

2 Pearl index measures the reliability of a contraceptive. This numerical factor is expressed as the failure rate per 100 woman years of exposure. A PI of 1.0 means that if 100 women use a contraceptive for one year, one of them will become pregnant accidentally.

http://www.organon.com

• Additional
• References
• Citations