Clinical acceptability of an ethylene-vinyl-acetate nonmedicated vaginal ring

In an open study the acceptability of a newly designed vaginal ring was eva luated. The ring being developed for contraceptive purposes was made of eth ylene-vinyl-acetate copolymer (EVA). In this study the ring did not contain active medication. Three groups of 20 healthy female volunteers were asked to use rings-with a diameter of 54 mm-for 21 consecutive days; each group was assigned rings with a different cross-sectional thickness of 3, 3.5, or 4 mm. Subjects were given diary cards to report on insertion and removal o f the ring and on complaints. Of the 65 women who participated, 59 completed the study and used the ring for at least 21 days, giving an acceptability of 91% (59/65). No major diff erences were found between the three types of rings except for a sensation of expulsion, which was reported more often in the group assigned the small est cross-sectional-thickness ring. Expulsion was reported once during inte rcourse in the 3.5-mm group. Insertion and removal of the rings were judged to be easy by the overall majority of the women. The ring was felt by the partner during intercourse in 35%-50% of couples. Further development of an active combined contraceptive EVA ring with a cro ss-sectional thickness of 4 mm seems a reasonable option. In future studies with the active ring, allowance for temporary removal of the ring during i ntercourse, if preferred, may be suggested. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.