Non-contraceptive effects of a hormone-containing vaginal ring: decrease of symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea and improvement of the quality of life. Results of an open randomized controlled study
The objective of an open-label randomized controlled study was to assess non-contraceptive effects of a vaginal ring NuvaRing (2.7 mg ethinyl estradiol and 11.7 etonogestrel) with regard to symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea, quality of life and effects on laboratory indices, as compared with barrier method of contraception (condoms). The findings showed that on the background of 6-month use of the vaginal ring NuvaRing in women the contents of PGE2 and PGF2α in menstrual blood, the frequency of symptoms of dysmenorrhea and their intensity decreased, the indices of the quality of life improved. The revealed additional effects of the vaginal ring NuvaRing, in combination with once-a-month regimen, make it a contraceptive of choice in adolescents and sexually-active women having symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea.