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Although the contraceptive patch and the vaginal ring each have been compared with combined oral contraceptives (OCs) in clinical trials, head-to-head comparison of these two birth control methods has been lacking. In an industry-sponsored, randomized, controlled trial sponsored by the manufacturer of the vaginal ring (NuvaRing), satisfied current or recent OC users were assigned to four cycles of the ring (249 women) or the patch (251 women). At enrollment and the final visit (during the first week of the fourth cycle), participants completed visual analog scale assessment of satisfaction and adverse effects.
The participants’ average ages were 26 (ring group) and 25 (patch group). At study completion, 71.0% of ring users but only 26.5% of …