Contraceptive Ring Research

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 21, 2007) − Dr. Ken Muse, a gynecologist and an associate professor in the University of Kentucky College of Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, is leading a new clinical trial investigating a contraceptive ring that may offer a viable alternative to women who don't want to be worried with taking a pill every day.

 

"Half of all pregnancies in the U.S. are unintended, and most of those occurred in women who thought they were using some form of contraception," Muse said. "Many such failures are thought to arise because women forget to take their contraceptive pills each day, or are delayed obtaining them or other forms of contraception routinely from a pharmacy. Because of this, newer forms of contraception focus on methods which are long-lasting and require little patient effort."

 

The study involves a flexible contraceptive ring, which women wear in the vagina for three weeks each month that releases contraceptive hormones similar to birth control pills. A similar method is currently marketed as NuvaRing® but requires obtaining and using a new ring each month. The study ring is used for an entire year. The study is sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and is being conducted at multiple sites nationwide.

 

If you are a healthy woman age 18-39, you might qualify to be part of this research study. For more information, please call (859) 257-8448.