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Title: New Vaginal Ring Offers Nonhormonal Contraception: Presented at ACOG

"New Vaginal Ring Offers Nonhormonal Contraception: Presented at ACOG"

By Em Brown NEW ORLEANS -- May 14, 2008 -- An investigational contraceptive vaginal ring appears to completely block sperm motility, investigators reported here at the 56th Annual Meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). The contraceptive ring releases ferrous gluconate, ascorbic acid, and glycine. It keeps vaginal pH at a relatively stable level, at an average of 4.5. The ferrous gluconate binds to sperm and, on microscopy, has been shown to block sperm motility almost completely. Lead investigator Giuseppe del Priore, MD, Obstetrician Gynecologist, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York-Presbyterian Healthcare, New York, New York, and New York Downtown Hospital, New York, said that the investigational vaginal ring is being designed for eventual over-the-counter use. In a poster presentation today, Dr. del Priore reported safety and tolerability data from 22 women who used the vaginal ring for a minimum of 29 days or a maximum of 4 weeks. There were no cases of device expulsion or any adverse effects. Three sexual partners were able to detect the ring during coitus, but no discomfort was reported by the partners; these were the only complaints from either the user or her partner. Dr. del Priore reported that there were no significant changes in genital flora. Vaginal pH was maintained below 4.5 except for approximately 4 hours following coitus, when the pH increased to approximately 6.5. There were no reports of epithelial irritation or inflammation with the ring. Random ferrous gluconate vaginal fluid concentrations during normal use averaged 1,438 mcg/g. Tests after coitus revealed there was "absolutely no motility on the slide," Dr. del Priore said. Ferrous gluconate levels were much too low to have any significant level of systemic absorption, "but they are high enough to be completely spermiostatic," he noted. "Patients were very happy with the ring," he said. Women who completed questionnaires at the end of the study indicated that they "would be willing to use [the device] in the future and would recommend the product to others." Funding for this study was provided by Poly-Med, Inc. [[Presentation Title: A Pilot Safety and Tolerability Study of a Nonhormonal Vaginal Contraceptive Ring. Poster 7]

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