Adolescent and young women's experience with the vaginal ring and oral contraceptive pills.
OBJECTIVE
To compare acceptability of the vaginal contraceptive ring to that of oral contraceptive pills.


METHODS
Randomized, cross-over, 6-month study.


METHODS
Urban family planning clinic for young low-income patients.


METHODS
Sexually active females aged 15-21 years (n = 130).


METHODS
Participants were randomly assigned to use the vaginal ring or oral contraceptive pills for an initial study interval of three 28-day cycles, followed by three cycles of the alternate method.


METHODS
Participants completed surveys about method use, acceptability, and side effects at baseline, after three cycles, and after six cycles. We analyzed study data using ANOVA models for cross-over designs.


RESULTS
We did not detect higher compliance with the ring as compared to oral contraceptive pills (P = 0.176), although overall approval of the ring was significantly higher on several items measured, including liked using method (P = 0.015), would recommend it to friends (P = 0.012), and not as hard to remember to use method correctly (P < or = 0.000). Participants were less worried about health risks while using the ring (P = 0.006), but reported that the ring was more likely to interfere with sex than the pill (P < or = 0.001) and that sex partners liked the pill (P = 0.034). Most women did not report bothersome side effects with either method.


CONCLUSIONS
Adolescent and young women showed favorable acceptability of the vaginal contraceptive ring compared to oral contraceptive pills.
Stewart
Felicia H
FH
The Bixby Center for Reproductive Health Research & Policy, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, The University of California, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA.
Brown
Beth A
BA
Raine
Tina R
TR
Weitz
Tracy A
TA
Harper
Cynthia C
CC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003075:Coitus / Q000523:psychology; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D003274:Contraceptive Devices, Female / Q000009:adverse effects; D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal / Q000009:adverse effects; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017060:Patient Satisfaction
D003278:Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal