<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><sec id="j_1905-7415.1003.485_s_001_w2aab3b7b3b1b6b1aab1c16b1Aa"><h3>Background</h3><p>The NuvaRing has demonstrated efficacy and acceptability in a number of clinical studies mostly in western countries. Because of cultural differences and self-administration of the device, it may not be wellaccepted by Thai women.</p></sec><sec id="j_1905-7415.1003.485_s_002_w2aab3b7b3b1b6b1aab1c16b2Aa"><h3>Objectives</h3><p>To assess the acceptability, tolerability and satisfaction of Thai women who started to use the NuvaRing.</p></sec><sec id="j_1905-7415.1003.485_s_003_w2aab3b7b3b1b6b1aab1c16b3Aa"><h3>Methods</h3><p>The levels of acceptance by 39 clients who began using the NuvaRing were reviewed in this retrospective observational cohort study of clients at a family planning clinic in Bangkok. Ring-related and other adverse events were recorded at the end of second, fourth, and sixth cycles.</p></sec><sec id="j_1905-7415.1003.485_s_004_w2aab3b7b3b1b6b1aab1c16b4Aa"><h3>Results</h3><p>Included in this study were clients (38/39; 97%) who used the NuvaRing for six cycles consecutively. Difficulties in removing the NuvaRing were experienced by 13% of the participants and 49% felt transient vaginal discomfort; however, these problems resolved over time. Approximately one third of clients had asymptomatic watery discharges. Of the total of 229 cycles 95.1% were as usual with scheduled bleeding. Seventy-one percent of the clients were very satisfied. Before and after 6 cycles of using the NuvaRing, there were no significant clinical differences between body weight, blood pressure, duration of period, and amount of pads used per cycle found using paired 2-sample <italic>t</italic> tests.</p></sec><sec id="j_1905-7415.1003.485_s_005_w2aab3b7b3b1b6b1aab1c16b5Aa"><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>NuvaRing has demonstrated no significant effects on regular cycle continuation and had very few clients experienced adverse events. The acceptability of this device and satisfaction of using it were partly owing to structural, comprehensive counseling, and support provided by the family planning staff.</p></sec></abstract>

BackgroundThe NuvaRing has demonstrated efficacy and acceptability in a number of clinical studies mostly in western countries. Because of cultural differences and self-administration of the device, it may not be wellaccepted by Thai women.ObjectivesTo assess the acceptability, tolerability and satisfaction of Thai women who started to use the NuvaRing.MethodsThe levels of acceptance by 39 clients who began using the NuvaRing were reviewed in this retrospective observational cohort study of clients at a family planning clinic in Bangkok. Ring-related and other adverse events were recorded at the end of second, fourth, and sixth cycles.ResultsIncluded in this study were clients (38/39; 97%) who used the NuvaRing for six cycles consecutively. Difficulties in removing the NuvaRing were experienced by 13% of the participants and 49% felt transient vaginal discomfort; however, these problems resolved over time. Approximately one third of clients had asymptomatic watery discharges. Of the total of 229 cycles 95.1% were as usual with scheduled bleeding. Seventy-one percent of the clients were very satisfied. Before and after 6 cycles of using the NuvaRing, there were no significant clinical differences between body weight, blood pressure, duration of period, and amount of pads used per cycle found using paired 2-sample t tests.ConclusionsNuvaRing has demonstrated no significant effects on regular cycle continuation and had very few clients experienced adverse events. The acceptability of this device and satisfaction of using it were partly owing to structural, comprehensive counseling, and support provided by the family planning staff.

Acceptability, tolerability, and satisfaction of a contraceptive vaginal ring (the NuvaRing) among Thai women

Asian Biomedicine

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

BackgroundThe NuvaRing has demonstrated efficacy and acceptability in a number of clinical studies mostly in western countries. Because of cultural differences...

Outcome	Number of cycles (%)
Normal expected bleeding	218 (95.1)
Early and continued withdrawal bleeding	1 (0.43)
Breakthrough bleeding/spotting	7 (3.0)
Breakthrough bleeding	5 (2.1)
Breakthrough spotting	2 (0.9)
No withdrawal bleeding	7 (3.0)

Adverse events	Number of clients (%)
Dizziness	2 (5.12)
Nausea	1 (2.56)
Pelvic pain	2 (2.5)
Back pain	1 (2.5)

Variables	Baseline Mean (SD)	After 6^th cycle Mean (SD)	Mean difference	P
Body weight (kg)	56.49 (6.85)	56.49 (6.72)	0.002 (1.11)	0.998
Systolic BP (mmHg)	111.92 (7.30)	111.07 (7.84)	-1.13 (5.7)	0.23
Diastolic BP (mmHg)	69.60 (5.78)	72.10 (4.13)	2.5 (6.16)	0.017
Duration of menstrual flow (days)	4.61 (1.22)	4.15 (1.00)	-0.44 (1.00)	0.009
Amount of pads/cycle (pads)	14.42 (4.57)	13.71 (4.17)	-0.71 (2.76)	0.12

Variable	Mean (SD)/Number of clients (%) Continuous variables are presented as mean (SD), and categorical variables are presented as n (%)
Age (years)	29.2 (4.9)
Parity (%)
0	3 (7.7%)
1	28 (71.8%)
2	5 (12.8%)
>2	3 (7.7%)
Occupation
Housewife	8 (20.5%)
Employee	19 (48.7%)
Bureaucrat	4 (10.3%)
Business	3 (7.7%)
Others	5 (12.5%)
Dysmenorrhea
No	9 (23.0%)
Mild	25 (64.1%)
Moderate	5 (12.8%)
Recent method of contraception
Combined oral contraceptives	8 (20.5%)
DMPA	1 (2.6%)
Condom	20 (51.3%)
None	10 (25.6%)

Acceptability, tolerability, and satisfaction of a contraceptive vaginal ring (the NuvaRing) among Thai women

Article Category: Brief communication (Original)

Published Online: Jan 31, 2017

Page range: 235 - 241

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5372/1905-7415.1003.485

Keywords
Acceptability, contraceptive vaginal ring, NuvaRing, satisfaction, tolerability

© 2016 Somsook Santibenchakul, Unnop Jaisamrarn

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Bleeding patterns from a total of 229 cycles

Adverse events reported during the study period

Statistical analysis comparing before and after using the NuvaRing

Baseline characteristics of the clients

Acceptability, tolerability, and satisfaction of a contraceptive vaginal ring (the NuvaRing) among Thai women

Article Category: Brief communication (Original)

Published Online: Jan 31, 2017

Page range: 235 - 241

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5372/1905-7415.1003.485

KeywordsAcceptability, contraceptive vaginal ring, NuvaRing, satisfaction, tolerability

© 2016 Somsook Santibenchakul, Unnop Jaisamrarn

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Bleeding patterns from a total of 229 cycles

Adverse events reported during the study period

Statistical analysis comparing before and after using the NuvaRing

Baseline characteristics of the clients

Keywords
Acceptability, contraceptive vaginal ring, NuvaRing, satisfaction, tolerability