The combined contraceptive vaginal ring, NuvaRing®, and tampon co-usage

• Published in: Contraception (Stoneham) Vol. 69; no. 3; pp. 197 - 199
• Main Authors: Verhoeven, Carole H.J, Dieben, Th.O.M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.03.2004; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Administration, Intravaginal; Administration, Oral; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Birth control; Co-usage; Contraception - methods; Contraceptive; Contraceptive Agents, Female - administration & dosage; Contraceptive Agents, Female - blood; Contraceptive Agents, Female - pharmacokinetics; Contraceptive Devices, Female; Cross-Over Studies; Desogestrel - administration & dosage; Desogestrel - blood; Desogestrel - pharmacokinetics; Drug Administration Routes; Drug Administration Schedule; Efficacy; Ethinyl Estradiol - administration & dosage; Ethinyl Estradiol - blood; Ethinyl Estradiol - pharmacokinetics; Ethinylestradiol; Etonogestrel; Female; Genital system. Reproduction; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Medical sciences; Other methods of contraception. Sterilization; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Tampon; Tampons, Surgical; Ethinylestradiol; Efficacy; Etonogestrel; Contraceptive; Co-usage; Tampon; Human; Menstruation; Monthly; Estrogen; Ovarian hormone; Vaginal ring impregnated with active substance; Vaginal tampon; Progestagen; Local administration; Female; Sex steroid hormone; Pharmacokinetics
• ISSN: 0010-7824; 1879-0518
• DOI: 10.1016/j.contraception.2003.10.014

We investigated the effect of tampon co-usage on systemic exposure to etonogestrel (ENG) and ethinylestradiol (EE) from the combined contraceptive vaginal ring, NuvaRing®. One cycle of ring use consists of 3 weeks of ring use followed by a 1-week ring-free period. Fourteen healthy women were randomized to use both NuvaRing and tampons (Kotex® regular) or NuvaRing alone for one cycle; participants then switched to the alternate treatment regimen for a second cycle of ring use. The first tampon was self-administered on day 8 of the interaction cycle; 4 tampons a day were used for 3 consecutive days. Tampon co-usage did not result in any changes in serum ENG or EE concentrations and is thus not expected to compromise the ring's contraceptive efficacy.