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New vaginal ring aims to give women more birth control choices
NCT ID NCT03432416
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This completed Phase 2 trial tested a vaginal ring that releases two hormones (Nestorone and estradiol) to prevent pregnancy. 385 healthy women aged 18-35 took part. The study compared two different ways of using the ring (continuous vs. cyclic) to see how well it works and how it affects bleeding patterns.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Nestorone and estradiol vaginal ring
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could provide a new, effective birth control option that women can use themselves.
- What could go wrong
- This is a Phase 2 trial, so it's still early. The ring may not prevent pregnancy as well as expected, or side effects could limit its use.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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385 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Feb 2018
- Finished
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Dec 2021
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 35 years
- Sex
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Female participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Good general overall health with no chronic medical conditions that result in periodic exacerbations requiring significant medical care. 2. Age 18-35 years, inclusive, at the enrollment visit. (Note: subjects must be at least 18 years of age to provide consent.) 3. Have a regular menstrual cycle 21-35 days in duration when not using hormonal contraception 4. Have an intact uterus and at least one ovary. 5. Consistent use of effective contraception during the preceding cycle with no unprotected intercourse since last use (NOTE: women who use oral, transdermal, vaginal, or implantable hormonal contraceptives in the preceding cycle must have discontinued hormone use at least 4 days prior to start of treatment and must not have had unprotected intercourse since discontinuing the method. Copper IUD or Levonorgestrel releasing IUD users must have discontinued IUD use at least 4 days prior to start of treatment and have experienced a spontaneous menses following IUD removal.) 6. No use of injectable contraceptives (e.g. depomedroxyprogesterone acetate) during the 10 months prior to screening unless the subject has returned to normal menses (two consecutive menses) since last injection. 7. Have a negative pregnancy test at the enrollment visit. 8. Have a diastolic blood pressure (BP) \<90 mm Hg and systolic BP \<140 mm Hg after 5 minutes rest in sitting position at the admission visit (below hypertension stage 2). (Note: History of hypertension stage 2 or higher, even if controlled with treatment, is exclusionary.) 9. Willing to abstain from use of non-water based (including silicone based) vaginal lubricants during the study that could adversely affect the ring, causing it to expand. 10. Understand and sign an IRB-approved informed consent form prior to screening activities (including fasting blood draws). 11. BMI ≤ 35 kg/m2 and not having previously undergone bariatric surgery. 12. Planning to have at least one act of heterosexual intercourse without the use of another contraceptive method each month during study participation until end of treatment and at risk for pregnancy. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Planning pregnancy during study participation through the end of treatment visit. 2. Within 30 days post-partum, currently breast-feeding, or has not had a spontaneous menses. 3. Post-abortal and has not had a spontaneous menses. 4. Abnormal genital bleeding. 5. Participating in another clinical trial involving an investigational product within the last 30 days (prior to screening) or planning to participate in another clinical trial during this study. 6. Not living in the catchment area of the study site. 7. Known hypersensitivity to progestins or estrogens. 8. Contraindications to combined estrogen-progestin contraceptive use including: 1. Thrombophlebitis or thromboembolic disorders. 2. Personal history of deep vein thrombophlebitis or thromboembolic disorders. 3. History of venous thrombosis or embolism in a first-degree relative \<55 years of age suggesting a familial defect in the blood coagulation system. 4. History of thrombosis or embolism OR any other personal or family history which in the opinion of the investigator suggests increased risk. 5. History of stroke. 6. Known history of any of the following genetic mutations: Factor V Leiden mutation, prothrombin mutation, antithrombin deficiency, or other clinically significant thrombophilia. 7. Known or suspected carcinoma of the breast. 8. Carcinoma of the endometrium or other known or suspected estrogen-dependent neoplasm. 9. History of cholestatic jaundice of pregnancy or jaundice with prior hormonal contraceptive use. 10. History of hepatic adenomas or carcinomas. 11. Known or suspected pregnancy. 12. Smoking in women who are or will be 35 years during the course of the trial; women \<35 years who smoke 15 cigarettes or more per day must be evaluated by the investigator for inclusion based on risk factors that would increase their risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and thromboembolism, e.g. lipid levels, glucose level, BP, BMI, family history of CVD at a young age. Individuals who use other forms of tobacco should be evaluated similarly by the investigator for inclusion based on the amount of tobacco use and their risk factors. 13. History of retinal vascular lesions, unexplained partial or complete loss of vision. 14. History of headaches with focal neurological symptoms (e.g., migraines with auras). 15. Impaired mobility (e.g. wheelchair bound, bed-ridden) that, in the opinion of the investigator, places the woman at increased risk of thrombosis. 9. Unevaluated vaginal discharge or vaginal lesions. Subjects diagnosed at screening with a chlamydia or gonococcal infection may be included in the trial following treatment completion; partner treatment is also recommended. Subjects with yeast, trichomoniasis, or bacterial vaginosis infection requiring treatment may be enrolled after treatment completion. Investigators should determine if subjects are at an elevated risk for reinfection, e.g. multiple sex partners, untreated partner, and whether such subjects can be included. Women with a history of genital herpes can be included if outbreaks are infrequent. 10. Have a known clinically significant Pap test abnormality, as managed by normal standard of care guidelines, that would require repeat evaluation or treatment during study participation based on the initial Pap findings. 11. Known benign or malignant liver tumors, renal disease or active liver disease. 12. Invasive cancer (past history of any carcinoma or sarcoma, except non-melanoma skin cancer). 13. Current or past medically diagnosed severe depression, which, in the opinion of the investigator, could be exacerbated by use of a hormonal contraceptive. 14. Known or suspected current alcohol dependence, chronic marijuana use, or any illicit drug use that may affect metabolism/transformation of study product and/or study treatment compliance. A chronic marijuana user is defined as someone who uses marijuana 4 or more times per week for study purposes. 15. Elevated fasting clinical chemistry values or complete blood count (CBC) values designated clinically significant by the investigator or medically qualified sub-investigator. 16. Uncontrolled thyroid disease. 17. Known impaired hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. 18. Known hypersensitivity to silicone rubber. 19. History of toxic shock syndrome. 20. Vaginal anatomic abnormality such as cystocele or rectocele that would preclude correct use of a vaginal ring. 21. Planning major surgery during study participation. 22. Severe current constipation. 23. Use of liver enzyme inducers or inhibitors on a regular basis. 24. Known HIV infection. 25. Use of any medications, including antibiotics that can significantly interfere with the metabolism of hormonal contraceptives. 26. Have an anticipated need for regular condom use, defined as use of at least one condom per month after enrollment. 27. Have issues or concerns (in the judgment of the investigator) that may compromise the safety of the subject or confound the reliability of compliance and information acquired in this study. 28. Any site staff member with delegated study responsibilities or a family member of a site staff member with delegated study responsibilities.
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Bellevue Hospital Center
New York, New York, 10016, United States
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Columbia University
New York, New York, 10032, United States
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Eastern Virginia Medical School
Norfolk, Virginia, 23507, United States
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Essential Access Health
Los Angeles, California, 30010, United States
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Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
Baltimore, Maryland, 21224, United States
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Oregon Health Science University
Portland, Oregon, 97239, United States
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University of California, Davis
Sacramento, California, 95817, United States
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University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio, 45267, United States
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University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, Colorado, 80045, United States
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University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States
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University of Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah, 84132, United States
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