Etonogestrel (ENG) Implant Insertion for Emergency Contraception With Oral Levonorgestrel (LNG) vs Placebo

Generating Evidence to Improve Same-day Etonogestrel (ENG) Implant Insertion for Emergency Contraception

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are highly effective to prevent pregnancy when used for emergency contraception (following unprotected intercourse in the last 3 days), but data are lacking for people who desire an etonogestrel (ENG) contraceptive implant in this situation. This proposal will identify the most effective way to start an implant for emergency contraception using a randomized controlled trial comparing pregnancy risk between those receiving the implant vs. the implant plus oral emergency contraception (EC). Data from this project will inform clinical practice and add another option, the implant, for those desiring a long acting, highly effective contraceptive method when they present for emergency contraception.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Emergency Contraception
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Etonogestrel implant with Oral Levonorgestrel emergency contraception 1.5mg; Device: Etonogestrel implant with oral placebo

Detailed Description

Oral emergency contraception (EC), is commonly used after recent unprotected intercourse to avoid undesired pregnancy, but does not provide ongoing contraception. Rigorous data allow for use of intrauterine devices (IUDs) as both EC and ongoing contraception, but EC efficacy data on use of the etonogestrel (ENG) implant, is lacking. The CDC Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use support initiation of the ENG implant if oral levonorgestrel (LNG) is given concomitantly for EC. This recommendation lacks supporting evidence and serves as a barrier to method initiation, as oral LNG is not typically available in clinics when clients desire an implant. Additionally, oral LNG efficacy decreases in higher body mass index (BMI) users and the role of BMI on efficacy with co-administered oral LNG and the ENG implant is unknown. As the ENG implant is also a synthetic progestogen with a rapid rise and consistent systemic levels, it could plausibly serve as stand-alone EC or increase the efficacy of oral LNG with co-administration. Moreover, the EC mechanism of action, which is related to ovulatory suppression with oral EC, may differ if the implant is initiated with or without oral LNG, impacting efficacy in mid cycle users. This study addresses the following research gaps around use of the ENG implant for EC that serve as barriers to provider comfort with these options: efficacy with and without oral LNG, efficacy differences by BMI, and ovulation frequency with and without oral LNG. The investigators propose a randomized, placebo-controlled, non-inferiority study to determine if the ENG implant alone is no worse than the ENG implant + oral LNG for EC, using a 3.5% non-inferiority margin. The investigators will include clients who present to Planned Parenthood Association of Utah clinics with report of unprotected intercourse within 72 hours who desire EC. Eligible EC clients interested in an implant with a negative pregnancy test will be allocated 1:1 to a study group: (1) ENG implant + oral LNG or (2) ENG implant + placebo. Our experienced research staff will follow up with participants for 4-week efficacy data as primary outcome. Our aims include: (1) To compare the efficacy of the ENG Implant + oral LNG to the ENG Implant + placebo for EC in 790 participants assessed by pregnancy status four weeks after implant placement, (2) To compare pregnancy risk by BMI category (the investigators anticipate half of the 790 participants will have a BMI ≥25) between and within the ENG Implant + oral LNG and the ENG Implant + placebo groups, and (3) To evaluate ovulation frequency within 5 days of insertion of ENG Implant + oral LNG or ENG implant + placebo in 202 participants who are mid cycle (day 7-14 post menses) at time of enrollment assessed by serum progesterone levels and urine fertility monitor results. Our short-term goal is to expand evidence on the efficacy of implant initiation with or without oral LNG to meet the needs of EC clients. Our long-term goals are to develop evidence-based clinical guidelines to inform global contraceptive practices, allow for equity in long acting reversible contraception counseling at the time of EC, and support reproductive autonomy for people to achieve to their life goals.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 790
• Phase: Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Corinne Sexsmith, MPH; Phone Number: 801-213-2419; Email: corinne.sexsmith@hsc.utah.edu
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Sarah Elliott, MPH; Phone Number: 801-646-7066; Email: sarah.elliott@hsc.utah.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • Utah
    • Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, 84102
      • Recruiting
      • Planned Parenthood Association of Utah
      • Contact: Corinne Sexsmith
      • Sub-Investigator: David Turok, MD, MPH

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Between 18-35 years old
• Unprotected intercourse within 72 hours
• Biologically capable of pregnancy (intact uterus without prior sterilization surgery
• Fluent in English and/or Spanish
• Have a regular menstrual cycle (21-35 days)
• Known last menstrual period (+/- 3 days)
• Working (cell) phone number
• Willing to comply with the study requirements
• Willing to abstain from any CYP3A4 inducer for 5 days

Exclusion Criteria:

• Current pregnancy (+urine pregnancy test in clinic)
• Breastfeeding
• Contraindication to ENG or LNG based on CDC MEC/SPR
• Sterilization, hysterectomy, or has an IUD or contraceptive implant in place
• Vaginal bleeding of unknown etiology
• Previous use of EC in same cycle
• Allergy to LNG or ENG
• History of intolerance/ side effects with ENG Implant
• Current (past 7 days) use of any CYP3A4 inducer
• Plan to use any other steroid hormone in the next 4 weeks (testosterone, estrogen, progesterone)
• Ended a pregnancy at or under 20 weeks gestational age within last 2 weeks
• Ended a pregnancy over 20 weeks gestational age in last 6 weeks
• Use of any injectable hormonal contraceptive (Depo-Provera) in the last 15 weeks
• Use of any oral EC, contraceptive pills, patches, vaginal rings, or an IUD or Implant in the last 2 weeks

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Prevention
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Quadruple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Etonogestrel contraceptive implant with oral levonorgestrel; Patients will be randomized 1:1 to each arm and will receive the contraceptive implant with a same-day encapsulated pill with either oral levonorgestrel 1.5mg	Drug: Etonogestrel implant with Oral Levonorgestrel emergency contraception 1.5mg; Single pill of oral levonorgestrel 1.5mg X 1 dose (e.g. Plan B) same day as contraceptive implant insertion
Placebo Comparator: Etonogestrel contraceptive implant with placebo; Patients will be randomized 1:1 to each arm and will receive the contraceptive implant with a same-day encapsulated pill with placebo X 1 dose	Device: Etonogestrel implant with oral placebo; Single pill of placebo same day as contraceptive implant insertion

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Efficacy of the etonogestrel contraceptive implant with placebo for emergency contraception by BMI category	Pregnancy rate = # of pregnancies / participants in the placebo arm stratified by BMI category	1 month after enrollment
Efficacy of the etonogestrel contraceptive implant with oral levonorgestrel for emergency contraception	Pregnancy rate = # of pregnancies / participants in the oral levonorgestrel arm	1 month after enrollment
Efficacy of the etonogestrel contraceptive implant with oral levonorgestrel for emergency contraception by BMI category	Pregnancy rate = # of pregnancies / participants in the oral levonorgestrel arm stratified by BMI category	1 month after enrollment
Ovulation frequency within 5 days of implant insertion in the oral levonorgestrel arm	Incidence of ovulation within 5 days after implant insertion measured by urine fertility monitor results and serum progesterone	5 days after implant insertion
Ovulation frequency within 5 days of implant insertion in the placebo arm	Incidence of ovulation within 5 days after implant insertion measured by urine fertility monitor results and serum progesterone	5 days after implant insertion
Efficacy of the etonogestrel contraceptive implant with placebo for emergency contraception	Pregnancy rate = number of pregnancies / participants in the placebo arm	1 month after enrollment

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Implant continuation	Participants continuing implant use at one month as a proportion of all participants having successful placement of implant at study entry. Measured by probabilities estimated using Kaplan-Meier approach.	4 weeks after insertion
Implant satisfaction	Likelihood of satisfaction by study group using ordinal regression. Measured by 5-point ordinal scale (5-point ordinal scale: (1) very unsatisfied, (2) unsatisfied, (3) neutral, (4) satisfied, (5) very satisfied). Measured by	4 weeks after insertion

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Lori Gawron
• Collaborators: Planned Parenthood Association of Utah
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Lori Gawron, MD, MPH, University of Utah

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 6, 2023
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 31, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): May 31, 2028

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 30, 2023
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 30, 2023
• First Posted (Actual): December 8, 2023

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 8, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 4, 2024
• Last Verified: April 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: contraception; etonogestrel implant; oral levonorgestrel
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Disease Attributes; Emergencies; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Hormones; Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists; Contraceptive Agents, Hormonal; Contraceptive Agents; Reproductive Control Agents; Contraceptives, Oral; Contraceptive Agents, Female; Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic; Contraceptives, Oral, Hormonal; Progestins; Levonorgestrel; Desogestrel; Etonogestrel
• Other Study ID Numbers: 00152448

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: Yes
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No