Oral Contraceptive Pills Compared to Vaginal Rings

YOUNG WOMEN'S EXPERIENCES: ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE PILLS VS The VAGINAL RING

The purpose of this study is to determine whether teens and young women would prefer the Nuvaring to oral contraceptive pills after having tried both methods.

Sexually active young women (n=130), aged 15-21 years, were randomly assigned to use either the vaginal ring or oral contraceptive pills for an initial study interval of three 28-day cycles, followed by three cycles of the alternate method. Participants completed surveys about method use, acceptability and side effects at baseline, after three cycles, and after six cycles, as well as in a follow up telephone interview one month after study completion.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Sexually active young women (n=130), English or Spanish speaking, aged 15-21 years, able and willing to try oral contraceptives and vaginal rings for 6 months

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not able or willing to use hormonal contraceptives, moving out of the area, pregnant or intending to become pregnant during the study time frame, not sexually active