Ovulation inhibition with a new vaginal ring containing trimegestone.

OBJECTIVES

The primary objective was to determine the lowest trimegestone (TMG) dose, administered via a vaginal ring, that effectively inhibited ovulation.

STUDY

DESIGN

Single-centre, open-label, single-dose, parallel-group clinical trial with adaptive design. Eighty healthy female volunteers with proven ovulatory cycles were allocated to treatment with a vaginal ring during 28 days, with an average daily release rate of either 46 µg, 94 µg, 147 µg, or 184 µg TMG (20 women/group). Ultrasound measurements of follicular growth and endometrial thickness, and blood sampling for follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estradiol and progesterone determinations were performed every 3rd (±1) day from treatment day 4 (±1) until day 28 (±1), and in a follow-up phase after ring removal, until study day 39 (±1). Trimegestone concentrations were measured at each visit in the treatment phase.

RESULTS

Mean age and body mass index were 28.8 years and 23.15 kg/m2. One subject in the lowest dose group (46 µg/day) ovulated, no ovulations were seen in the higher dose groups. The degree of ovarian suppression increased with the dose. Median estradiol levels were 119, 36.5, 33.2 and 27.2 pg/mL in the 46, 94, 147 and 184 µg/day groups, respectively. Ovarian activity was resumed in the follow-up phase. Plasma TMG levels gradually declined over the treatment period and showed dose proportionality. The study treatment was safe and well tolerated.

CONCLUSION

The release rate of 94 µg TMG per day was the lowest effective dose for ovulation inhibition. The study results justify further development of the TMG-ring as progestogen-only contraceptive.

IMPLICATIONS: The vaginal ring releasing TMG seems to be an effective new progestogen-only contraceptive preparation, having the advantage of once-a-month vaginal insertion.