The Effect of Body Mass Index on Etonogestrel Hormone Levels in Women Using the Single-rod Contraceptive Implant (Eto BMI)

April 11, 2014 updated by: Kathleen M. Morrell, Columbia University

The Effect of Body Mass Index on Etonogestrel Levels in Women Using the Single-rod Contraceptive Implant

Two-thirds of young women in the United States are overweight or obese. This excess weight may affect how their body metabolizes drugs such as different birth control methods. There is a not a lot of research about how excess weight could affect the hormone levels of the contraceptive implant. Methods like the implant contain only progesterone, which is a hormone that does not increase a woman's risk of blood clot. These methods would be preferred for overweight and obese women because excess weight also increases a woman's risk of blood clot.

The investigators propose a study comparing blood hormone levels of women using the implant for at least twelve months and in all weight categories. The investigators hope to show that all women, regardless of weight, will have hormone levels high enough to prevent pregnancy.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Detailed Description

Two-thirds of reproductive-age women in the United States are either overweight or obese. Body composition may affect contraceptive hormone metabolism and possibly efficacy. Phase III studies to date included few women weighing more than 70 kilograms (134 of 923, 14.5%); there were no reported pregnancies in that group. Data about pregnancy rates for women in higher body mass index (BMI) categories using the etonogestrel implant exists, but we know little about how weight affects the serum etonogestrel levels. Progestin-only methods, such as the etonogestrel implant, may be preferred over combined methods including estrogens because obesity increases thrombosis risk.

The investigators propose a prospective study to compare serum etonogestrel levels in the second and third years of implant use between women across body mass index categories.

Based on previous studies, the investigators expect a difference in etonogestrel levels based on body weight; however, the investigators hypothesize that etonogestrel levels will remain above the threshold for ovulation suppression through three years of implant use for women across BMI categories.

The investigators will measure the serum levels of etonogestrel in normal weight (BMI < 25kg/m2), overweight (BMI ≥ 25kg/m2 and < 30kg/m2), and obese women (BMI ≥ 30kg/m2) using the single-rod contraceptive implant for at least twelve months. Their primary objective is to compare the three groups and to evaluate whether etonogestrel levels fall below the critical level for contraceptive efficacy (90 pg/mL) (Díaz 1991) in any group.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

52

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • New York
      • New York, New York, United States, 10032
        • Columbia University Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Child
  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

Female

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population is English or Spanish-speaking women ages 15-45 years old at the New York Presbyterian Hospital's Title X Family Planning Clinic and the Columbia University Medical Center's Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Family Planning Practice who have been using the etonogestrel contraceptive implant for at least the six months prior to their visit.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Woman using contraceptive implant for more than 12 months
  • English or Spanish-speaking

Exclusion Criteria:

  • None

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: Cohort
  • Time Perspectives: Prospective

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Normal weight women
Women with implant for more than twelve months who have BMI <25.
Overweight women
Women with implant for more than twelve months who have BMI > or = 25 and <30.
Obese women
Women with implant for more than twelve months who have BMI > or = 30.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Serum Etonogestrel Level
Time Frame: Up to 12 months
The investigators will measure the serum levels of etonogestrel in normal weight (BMI < 25kg/m2), overweight (BMI ≥ 25kg/m2 and < 30kg/m2), and obese women (BMI ≥ 30kg/m2) using the single-rod contraceptive implant for at least twelve months. The primary objective is to compare the three groups and to evaluate whether etonogestrel levels fall below the critical level for contraceptive efficacy (90 pg/mL) (Díaz 1991) in any group.
Up to 12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Kathleen M Morrell, MD, Columbia University

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

December 1, 2012

Primary Completion (Actual)

November 1, 2013

Study Completion (Actual)

March 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 14, 2013

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 14, 2013

First Posted (Estimate)

May 16, 2013

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

April 14, 2014

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 11, 2014

Last Verified

April 1, 2014

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • AAAK6606

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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