Residual hormone levels in used contraceptive rings as a measurement of adherence to vaginal ring use

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Richard E. Haaland, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Angela Holder, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Tammy Evans-Strickfaden, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Beatrice Nyagol, KEMRI/CDC Research Field Station; Mumbi Makanga, KEMRI/CDC Research Field Station; Boaz Oyaro, KEMRI/CDC Research Field Station; Felix Humwa, KEMRI/CDC Research Field Station; Tiffany Williams, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Eleanor McLellan-Lemal, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Mitesh Desai, Emory University; Michael Huey, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2017-06-01
• Publisher: Elsevier Science Ltd.
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2017 Elsevier Inc.
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2017.03.011
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Contraception
• Volume: 95
• Issue: 6
• Start Page: 602
• End Page: 604
• Grant/Funding Information: This work is supported by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
• Keywords: Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Adherence; Obstetrics & Gynecology; Prevention; Ethinyl estradiol; Multipurpose technology; Science & Technology; Vaginal ring; Contraception; HIV; Acceptability; Efficacy
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Epidemiology; Health Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynecology; Health Sciences, Public Health

Abstract

Objective: This study sought to measure residual contraceptive hormone levels in vaginal rings as an adherence marker for monitoring product use in clinical trials. Study design: Residual etonogestrel and ethinyl estradiol levels from used NuvaRings® of 26 self-reported adherent women enrolled in a clinical trial of vaginal ring acceptability were compared to those from 16 women who used NuvaRing® as their contraceptive choice. Results: Twenty-one (81%) clinical trial rings had contraceptive hormone levels within the range of those used as a contraceptive choice. Five returned rings had unused or discordant levels of residual contraceptive hormones. Conclusion: Residual vaginal ring drug levels could help assess adherence in clinical trials.