Abstract
Aim
This study evaluates the performance of extended use of a progesterone (P)-releasing
vaginal ring (PVR) in nursing women.
Method
An open-label, noncomparative study on the safety and contraceptive efficacy of PVR
replaced every 4 months of use (instead of 3 months) in 192 PVR acceptors. PVR use
was initiated at day 59��2 (mean��SD) postpartum and continued until weaning or completing
the use of three PVRs.
Results
Plasma P levels attained with the ring decreased from 17��1 to 14��1 nmol/L (mean��SE)
from the third to the fourth month of use. These levels are still over the critical
level of 10 nmol/L required for contraceptive protection. One pregnancy occurred in
the third month of use of the second ring in 1998 woman-months of exposure. Extended
use of the ring did not appear to affect breast-feeding performance or the rate of
infant growth, and lactational amenorrhea was prolonged. No differences in the characteristics
of bleeding between the third and fourth month of ring use were observed.
Conclusion
The results indicate that use of the PVR for 4 months represents a safe and effective
contraceptive for nursing women.
Keywords
To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
Purchase one-time access:
Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online accessOne-time access price info
- For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
- For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'
Subscribe:
Subscribe to ContraceptionAlready a print subscriber? Claim online access
Already an online subscriber? Sign in
Register: Create an account
Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect
References
- Consensus statement on the use of breastfeeding as a family planning method.Contraception. 1989; 39: 477-496
- Contraceptive efficacy of lactational amenorrhea in urban Chilean women.Contraception. 1991; 43: 335-362
- Pre-registration study on the safety and contraceptive efficacy of a progesterone-releasing vaginal ring in Chilean nursing women.Contraception. 1999; 60: 9-14
- Fertility regulation in nursing women. IX. Contraceptive performance, duration of lactation, infant growth and bleeding pattern during use of progesterone vaginal rings, progestin-only pills, Norplant�� implants and copper T 380-A intrauterine devices.Contraception. 1997; 56: 223-232
- Fertility regulation in nursing women: VIII. Progesterone plasma levels and contraceptive efficacy of a progesterone-releasing vaginal ring.Contraception. 1985; 32: 603-622
- Progesterone vaginal rings for contraception during breastfeeding.in: Runnebaum B. Rabe T. Kiesel L. Advances in gynecological and obstetric research series. Female contraception and male fertility regulation. vol. 2. The Parthenon Publishing Group, New Jersey1991: 135-142
- Task Force for Epidemiological Research on Reproductive Health. Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction. Progesterone-only contraceptives during lactation: I. Infant growth.Contraception. 1994; 50: 35-53
- Contraception. 1994; 50: 55-68
- Effects of POPs on breastfeeding. Progestin-only oral contraception: a comprehensive review.Contraception. 1994; 50: 140-148
- Contraceptives for nursing women: a comparative trial of a progesterone-releasing vaginal ring and the Copper T380A IUD.Contraception. 1997; 55: 225-232
- The comparative trial of TCu 380A IUD and progesterone-releasing vaginal ring used by lactating women.Contraception. 1998; 57: 371-379
- Norplant�� implants and progesterone vaginal rings do not affect maternal bone turnover and density during lactation and after weaning.Hum Reprod. 1999; 14: 2499-2505
- Absorption and metabolism of oral progesterone.BMJ. 1980; 80: 825-827
- Women's perceptions and experience with the progesterone vaginal ring for contraception during breastfeeding.in: Beyond acceptability: user's perspectives on contraception. Reproductive Health Matters, for WHO, London1997: 49-57
- WHO Matched Reagent Programme Method Manual. 19th ed. World Health Organization, Geneva1995: 36-46
- A microcomputer software for analysis of menstrual diaries: the menstrual diary system.Contraception. 1988; 38: 157-163
- The analysis of menstrual bleeding patterns: a review.Contraception. 1988; 38: 129-156
- The PHREG procedure, preliminary documentation.SAS Institute Inc, Cary (NC)1991
- Statistical methods for rates and proportions. Wiley, New York1981: 24-36
- Prospective randomized trial to evaluate the efficacy of a vaginal ring releasing progesterone for IVF and oocyte donation.Hum Reprod. 2000; 15: 2093-2097
Article info
Publication history
Published online: June 30, 2005
Accepted:
May 6,
2005
Received:
March 3,
2005
Identification
Copyright
© 2005 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
