Vaginal ring deemed 'highly acceptable' in study. (Dropout Rate 2.5% for Ring-Related Issues).

SEATTLE -- A vaginal contraceptive ring that continually releases low doses of estrogen and progestin has proven "highly acceptable" to women and their partners a large North American study.

A total of 1,177 women filled out a 21-item questionire on acceptability at the conclusion of the 13-cycle study sponsored by Organon Inc., which markets the device under the trade name NuvaRing.

The women self-inserted one ring per cycle, with 3 continous weeks of ring use followed by a 1-week ring-free nod when menses occurred, Nancy J. Alexander, Ph.D., said at the annual meeting of the American Society for productive Medicine.

Data were analyzed according to study completers and noncompleters. There was a 41% dropout rate: 2.5% of the dropouts were for ring-related reasons, and 0.8% were for bleeding. Other reasons cited were "personal" and the sire to conceive, reported Dr. Alexander, director of medical services at Organon, West Orange, NJ.

The ring was described by all users as always or frequently easy to insert by 98% of the women, and as always frequently easy to remove by 99%. Among those who completed the study, 97% said they never or only occasionally felt the ring during intercourse. Among those who discontinued, 90% never or only occasionally felt the ring.

A total of 98% of study completers and 97% of non-completers said their partners never or rarely minded the ring, she said. With regard to withdrawal bleed, 45% said it was less than when using other methods, 45% said was the same, and 10% said it was longer. Among the women who completed the study 97% said they would strongly recommend it to others, and the remaining 3% said they ...