The acceptability of a combined oestrogen/progestogen contraceptive vaginal ring

The acceptability of a vaginal ring releasing ethinyl oestradiol 20 mcg per day and norethindrone acetate 1 mg per day was assessed during a six-month phase II trial comparing three different regimens, which was carried out simultaneously in Los Angeles and Sydney. Sixty women were enrolled in Sydney and 90 in Los Angeles. On admission into the study, the women were asked to complete a questionnaire which gave details of age, last contraceptive method used, contraceptive methods used in the past and their reason for liking or disliking previous contraceptive methods, as well as their reason for stopping the last method. On completion of the study or leaving the study for any reason, each woman was asked to complete an acceptability questionnaire which included her experiences with the ring and the rating of the method. The responses to these two questionnaires form the basis of this report. The overall rating of the ring was similar in both the Sydney and Los Angeles groups. Sixty-nine percent of women rated the method as very good. Seventy-two percent of women in Los Angeles and 62% of women in Sydney liked the ring much more than their most liked previous method. In both groups the method they liked best apart from the ring was the pill (62% in Sydney and 53% in Los Angeles). The major reasons for liking the ring were convenience of use, effectiveness and no requirements for taking medication daily. Most women in both studies would recommend the ring to others (92% in Sydney and 89% in Los Angeles).