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BMC Women's Health
Published in: BMC Women's Health 1/2009

Open Access 01-12-2009 | Research article

Satisfaction and compliance in hormonal contraception: the result of a multicentre clinical study on women's experience with the ethinylestradiol/norelgestromin contraceptive patch in Italy

Authors: Pier Giorgio Crosignani, Carmine Nappi, Salvatore Ronsini, Vincenzina Bruni, Silvia Marelli, Davide Sonnino, The Italian EVRA Contrast Study Group

Published in: BMC Women's Health | Issue 1/2009

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Abstract

Background

For many women finding the right contraceptive method can be challenging and consistent and correct use over a lifetime is difficult. Even remembering to take a birth control pill every day can be a challenge. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate women's experience with a weekly ethinylestradiol/norelgestromin contraceptive patch (EE/NGMN patch), given new technologies recently developed in hormonal contraception to increase women's options in avoiding daily dosing.

Methods

In 24 Italian sites, 207 women received the EE/NGMN patch for up to 6 cycles. At study end, overall satisfaction and preference, as well as compliance, efficacy and safety, were evaluated.

Results

175 women (84.5%) completed the study. The overall satisfaction rate was 88%; convenience and once-a-week frequency of the patch were especially appreciated. At baseline, 82 women (39.4%) were using a contraceptive method, mainly oral contraceptives and barrier methods, but only 45.1% were very satisfied/satisfied; after 6 months with the patch, 86.3% of this subset was very satisfied/satisfied. Considering the method used in the 3 months before the study entry, 78.1% strongly preferred/preferred the patch, for convenience (53.9%), ease of use/simplicity (28.9%), fewer (9.2%) and less severe (2.6%) side effects. Compliance was very high: 1034/1110 cycles (93.2%) were completed with perfect compliance and the mean subject's compliance score was 90%. One on-therapy pregnancy occurred. The patch was safe and well tolerated: adverse events frequency was low, with predominantly single reports of each event. Most of them started and subsided during cycle 1.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that the EE/NGMN patch is associated with high satisfaction levels and excellent compliance. At study end, the majority of women indicated that they would continue using the patch.
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Metadata
Title
Satisfaction and compliance in hormonal contraception: the result of a multicentre clinical study on women's experience with the ethinylestradiol/norelgestromin contraceptive patch in Italy
Authors
Pier Giorgio Crosignani
Carmine Nappi
Salvatore Ronsini
Vincenzina Bruni
Silvia Marelli
Davide Sonnino
The Italian EVRA Contrast Study Group
Publication date
01-12-2009
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Women's Health / Issue 1/2009
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6874
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6874-9-18

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