Clinical trial NCT04291001
Conditions: Contraception
Keywords: emergency contraception contraceptive implant ovulation
Sponsor: University of Utah
Start date: 2020-09-04; Completion date: 2024-01-12
Enrollment: 40 participants; Allocation: RANDOMIZED; Intervention model: SEQUENTIAL

Brief summary:
Same day initiation of the etonogestrel (ENG) implant and oral ulipristal acetate (UPA) would overcome contraceptive access barriers to people capable of pregnancy with recent unprotected intercourse to ongoing contraception. Current clinical guidelines recommend delaying implant initiation for at least 1 week following UPA, as well as waiting 7 days before relying on the implant for contraception after initiation alone. This pilot will assess the effects of the implant alone and the implant inserted with same-day as UPA usage on ovarian activity. A total of 40 people capable of pregnancy desiring the implant, who are not at risk for pregnancy during the study timeline, will be recruited. Participants will be randomized to implant alone or same-day implant + oral UPA. Participants will have daily ultrasounds and blood draws to assess timing of ovulation for 1 week and then an exit visit at 14 days after randomization. The primary outcome is the incidence of ovulation in the 2 randomized treatment groups. Participants may continue the implant after the study per FDA guidelines and rely on it for contraception after the study is completed.

Detailed description:
Primary Objectives:

1. To determine point estimates for the incidence of ovulation within five days of oral ulipristal acetate (UPA) administration with same day etonogestrel (ENG) implant insertion in the presence of a dominant follicle.
2. To determine point estimates for the incidence of ovulation within five days of etonogestrel (ENG) implant insertion alone in the presence of a dominant follicle.

   .

Clinical hypotheses:

• Combined oral UPA administration with same day ENG implant insertion will interfere with UPA's effect in delaying ovulation as occurs with oral progestogens given within 1-2 days of UPA.

Study Design: Pilot randomized, single site clinical trial with blinded analysis

Participant recruitment and study site: The investigators will recruit participants interested in using the ENG contraceptive implant but not currently at risk for pregnancy from Planned Parenthood Association of Utah clinics, University of Utah Hospital and Community clinics, and through targeted social media ads. All study procedures will occur at the University of Utah Hospital Outpatient OBGYN Clinic or at the University Center for Reproductive Medicine clinic.

Sample size: This is a pilot proposal to recruit a total of 40 participants across 2 study arms: (1) ENG implant only (n=20) and (2) UPA + same day ENG implant insertion (n=20). The investigators null hypotheses are:

1. ENG implant along with UPA administration in the presence of a dominant ovarian follicle will not change the expected 97% ovulation suppression within 5 days of UPA use.
2. ENG implant insertion alone in the presence of a dominant ovarian follicle will not sufficiently interrupt ovulation.

Randomization scheme: block randomization with block size of 4

Blinding protocol: This study will not be blinded as a pilot. The feasibility of the study, including clinic space limitations and provider time, relies on the same healthcare provider for implant insertion and ultrasound in many patients. All statistical analyses will be blinded to the statistician.

Participant procedures:

Screening Visit (Screening Visit 1): Subjects will be screened for eligibility and interest in the study. Each subject will have the study explained and, if participation is desired, informed consent documents will be signed prior to any study procedures. The screening visit will include: review of medical, surgical and social history, medications, menstrual dating, sexual history and contraceptive use, physical exam, including breast and pelvic, pregnancy test and a transvaginal ultrasound to ensure ability to document ovarian follicular activity in the treatment cycle.

Progesterone Visit (Screening Visit 2): This brief visit will occur on days 20-24 of the menstrual cycle and may be combined with the screening visit (Visit 1) if the time-frame is met. This visit will include a review of any interim changes (if completed separate from the screening visit) in history, medications, pregnancy risk/contraception, and a serum progesterone level will be drawn. The participants will notify the study coordinator of the 1st day of their next menses.

Ovarian monitoring (Screening Visits 3-7 +/- 2 visits): Participants will undergo transvaginal ultrasound evaluation of their ovaries three times a week starting on cycle day #7 (+/- 2 days). If/ When investigators identify a lead follicle with a mean diameter of \>13mm in at least 2 dimensions, study follow-up will switch to daily monitoring.

Treatment Day #1 (Treatment Visit #1): Once a lead follicle (\>14mm) is identified then participants will be randomized to one of two treatment groups:

1. ENG implant insertion
2. UPA 30mg PO tablet and same-day ENG implant insertion Assigned treatment will be administered (UPA and/or ENG implant insertion). Study team will obtain serum progesterone, LH levels, and estradiol levels.

Treatment Days #2-8 (Treatment Visits #2-8): Participants will follow up daily for Days 2-8. Each day investigators will obtain transvaginal ultrasound measurement of ovarian follicle size, serum progesterone, LH levels, and estradiol levels. Daily transvaginal ultrasounds will continue until either follicle rupture is documented, the follicle is \<12 mm on two consecutive visits, or Day 8 ultrasound occurs (7 days after implant insertion), whichever occurs first.

Treatment Day #14 (Exit Visit): Repeat ultrasound will occur on Day 14 following ENG implant insertion, and this will be the exit visit.

Data collection: Source documents for each participant and visit number will be completed by the study personnel at the time of the visit. Form development, data collection, and data management will occur in RedCAP, secure web platform for building and managing online databases and surveys. Source documents maintained in individual participant binders.

Assessing and reporting adverse events: The reporting period for AEs is the period immediately following the subject signing the informed consent through the 30 days following the final study visit. Each visit will include assessment of how the participant felt since the last visit, review of adverse event reports, implant insertion site reactions, lab results, and vital signs and physical exam findings. AEs will not be reported for screen failures unless a SAE is experienced during screening. For all AEs, the investigator will pursue and obtain information adequate to determine the outcome of the AE and to assess whether it met criteria for a SAE. Participants who have ongoing AEs or SAEs will be followed until resolution or stabilization or referred for additional care. AEs will be documented both on source documents and in the clinical database with SAEs reported per IRB guidelines. Participants will be provided instructions for contacting the study site to report any untoward medical occurrences. With permission from the participant, whenever possible records from all non-study medical providers related to medical occurrences will be obtained for review. AEs and SAEs will be reviewed by the Data Safety Monitoring Board.

Statistical Analyses:

The investigator and study team will be responsible for analyzing the study data. The official clinical database in RedCAP will not be analyzed until medical/scientific review has been completed, protocol violators have been identified (if appropriate), and data has been declared complete.

Variables/Time Points of Interest The primary outcome is delay in rupture of the dominant follicle by 5 days (yes/no) between group 1 (ENG implant alone) and group 2 (UPA with same day ENG implant). If the date of follicle rupture was unclear by ultrasound alone, investigators will utilize serum hormone levels to adjudicate day of rupture. These measures include day of follicle collapse, day and value of highest LH, day and value of highest progesterone level. Investigators will use an estradiol level of \>100pg/ml to confirm the enlarged follicle is the dominant follicle on the treatment day.

Statistical Methods The primary and secondary dichotomous outcome measures of ovulation by 5 days will be assessed by Wilcoxon sign rank test and demographic will be analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Power/Sample Size:

The investigator and study team will be responsible for analyzing the study data. The official clinical database in RedCAP will not be analyzed until medical/scientific review has been completed, protocol violators have been identified (if appropriate), and data has been declared complete.

Variables/Time Points of Interest The primary outcome is delay in rupture of the dominant follicle by 5 days (yes/no) between group 1 (ENG implant alone) and group 2 (UPA with same day ENG implant). If the date of follicle rupture was unclear by ultrasound alone, investigators will utilize serum hormone levels to adjudicate day of rupture. These measures include day of follicle collapse, day and value of highest LH, day and value of highest progesterone level. Investigators will use an estradiol level of \>100pg/ml to confirm the enlarged follicle is the dominant follicle on the treatment day.

This is a pilot study to obtain point estimates for future study proposals. Current data on ovulatory function with mid-cycle implant insertion or the pharmacodynamics interactions between same day UPA and ENG are lacking.

Should data show that ovulation occurs \<15% within 5 days of combined UPA use and ENG implant initiation, investigators will pursue an adequately powered study assessing ovulation delay with UPA only vs. UPA with ENG implant initiation. This finding would show that UPA's relationship with the ENG implant may be different than what has been found with oral progestogens. If ovulation occurs 15% in the first 5 days with combined use of these medications, this would support the current practice of delaying implant insertion after UPA administration.

Should data show that the ENG implant insertion alone in the presence of a dominant follicle delays or stops ovulation \>44% (the ovulation suppression of oral LNG EC), investigators will pursue an adequately powered study assessing the ENG implant alone for EC. If ovulation occurs \>15%, this would support continuation of the practice of using a backup method when an implant is inserted after the first 7 days of the menstrual cycle.

These pre-specified criteria to judge if and how to proceed are consistent with CONSORT guidelines for randomized pilot and feasibility trials.\[11\]

Arms: arm 1: Participants will receive a contraceptive implant in the setting of a dominant follicle to assess ovulation incidence and timing following insertion. arm 2: Participants will receive a contraceptive implant and oral UPA the same day in the setting of a dominant follicle to assess ovulation incidence and timing following insertion.
Interventions: intervention 1: ENG implant intervention 2: oral ulipristal acetate
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: This is an FDA-approved contraceptive device intervention 2: This is an FDA-approved oral emergency contraceptive

Protocol documents:
Prot_SAP_000.pdf: 
 
1 
 
 
 
 
 
Study Title: 
 
A pilot prospective, randomized pharmacodynamic study with assessment of ulipristal 
acetate on ovarian activity following quickstart of the etonogestrel contraceptive 
implant  
 
Institution Name 
University of Utah  
Investigator  
­  
 
Principal Investigator: Lori Gawron, MD, MPH 
 
NCT Number 
NCT04291001 
Document Date 
Jan 12, 2024 
 
 
 


 
2 
 
 
Protocol 
 
Study Design 
 
Study design: Pilot randomized, single site clinical trial with blinded analysis 
 
Participant recruitment and study site: We will recruit participants interested in using 
the ENG contraceptive implant but not currently at risk for pregnancy from University 
of Utah Hospital and Community clinics, and through targeted social media ads. All 
study procedures will occur at the University of Utah Hospital Outpatient OBGYN 
Clinic 
 
Sample size: This is a pilot proposal to recruit a total of 40 participants across 2 
study arms: (1) ENG implant only (n=20) and (2) UPA + same day ENG implant 
insertion (n=20). Our null hypotheses are: 
1)  ENG implant along with UPA administration in the presence of a dominant 
ovarian follicle will not change the expected 97% ovulation suppression within 5 days 
of UPA use.  
2)  ENG implant insertion alone in the presence of a dominant ovarian follicle will not 
sufficiently interrupt ovulation.  
 
Inclusion criteria: Healthy people, age 18-35 years, fluent in English and/or Spanish, 
BMI < 30 kg/m2, no known contraindication to either the ENG contraceptive implant 
or UPA using the CDC Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use 2016, not 
currently pregnant and not at risk of pregnancy (defined as not having penile-vaginal 
intercourse or using a non-hormonal method of contraception such as a barrier 
method, condoms, diaphragm, or cervical cap, a copper IUD, or permanent 
contraception), know the date of their last menstrual period, have a regular 
menstrual cycle (24-35 days), be willing to comply with the study requirements, and 
be willing to avoid pregnancy for study duration. 
 
Exclusion criteria: Current pregnancy or breastfeeding, use of hormonal 
contraception or exogenous hormones (estrogen, progestogen, or HCG) in the last 
month (or past 6 months for depo medroxyprogesterone acetate) planned use during 
the study, vaginal bleeding of unknown etiology, allergy to UPA or ENG, regular or 
planned use of glucocorticoids during the study, or current or planned use of any 
medication that potentially interacts with UPA or ENG.  
 
Participant adherence: Screening protocol will ensure willingness to comply with all 
study procedures. Participants will receive compensation for each component of the 
protocol. 
 


 
3 
 
Study Flowchart 
 
Study Procedures 
Randomization scheme: block randomization with block size of 4 
 
Blinding protocol: This study will not be blinded as a pilot. The feasibility of the study, 
including clinic space limitations and provider time, relies on the same healthcare 
provider for implant insertion and ultrasound in many patients. All statistical analyses 
will be blinded to the statistician.  
 
Participant procedures:  
Screening Visit (Screening Visit 1): Subjects will be screened for eligibility and 
interest in the study. Each subject will have the study explained and, if they desire to 
participate, she will sign the informed consent prior to any study procedures. The 
screening visit will include: review of medical, surgical and social history, 
medications, menstrual dating, sexual history and contraceptive use, physical exam, 
including breast and pelvic, and a transvaginal ultrasound to ensure ability to 
document ovarian follicular activity in the treatment cycle. 
 
Progesterone Visit (Screening Visit 2): This brief visit will occur on days 20-24 of the 
menstrual cycle and may be combined with the screening visit (Visit 1) if the 
timeframe is met. This visit will include a review of any interim changes (if completed 
separate from the screening visit) in history, medications, pregnancy 
risk/contraception, and a serum progesterone level will be drawn. The participants 
will notify the study coordinator of the 1st day of their next menses. 
 
Ovarian monitoring (Screening Visits 3-7 +/- 2 visits): Participants will undergo 
transvaginal ultrasound evaluation of their ovaries three times a week starting on 
cycle day #7 (+/- 2 days). If/ When we identify a lead follicle with a mean diameter of 
>13mm in at least 2 dimensions, we will switch to daily monitoring.  
 
Treatment Day #1 (Treatment Visit #1): Once a lead follicle (≥14mm) is identified 
then participants will be randomized to one of two treatment groups: 
1) ENG implant insertion 
2) UPA 30mg PO tablet and same-day ENG implant insertion 
Assigned treatment will be administered (UPA and/or ENG implant insertion). We will 
obtain serum progesterone, LH levels, and estradiol levels. 
 
Treatment Days #2-8 (Treatment Visits #2-8): Participants will follow up daily for 
Days 2-8. Each day we will obtain transvaginal ultrasound measurement of ovarian 
follicle size, serum progesterone, LH levels, and estradiol levels. We will obtain daily 


 
4 
 
transvaginal ultrasounds until either follicle rupture is documented, the follicle is <12 
mm on two consecutive visits, or Day 8 ultrasound occurs (7 days after implant 
insertion), whichever occurs first.  
 
Treatment Day #14 (Exit Visit): Repeat ultrasound will occur on Day 14 following 
ENG implant insertion, and this will be the exit visit. 
 
Data collection: Source documents for each participant and visit number will be 
completed by the study personnel at the time of the visit. Form development, data 
collection, and data management will occur in RedCAP, secure web platform for 
building and managing online databases and surveys. Source documents 
maintained in individual participant binders. 
 
Assessing and reporting adverse events: The reporting period for AEs is the period 
immediately following the subject signing the informed consent through the 30 days 
following the final study visit. Each visit will include assessment of how the 
participant felt since the last visit, review of adverse event reports, implant insertion 
site reactions, lab results, and vital signs and physical exam findings. AEs will not be 
reported for screen failures unless a SAE is experienced during screening. For all 
AEs, the investigator will pursue and obtain information adequate to determine the 
outcome of the AE and to assess whether it met criteria for a SAE. Participants who 
have ongoing AEs or SAEs will be followed until resolution or stabilization or referred 
for additional care. AEs will be documented both on source documents and in the 
clinical database with SAEs reported per IRB guidelines. Participants will be 
provided instructions for contacting the study site to report any untoward medical 
occurrences. With permission from the participant, whenever possible records from 
all non-study medical providers related to medical occurrences will be obtained for 
review. AEs and SAEs will be reviewed by the Data Safety Monitoring Board as 
below (section 2.9). 
Statistical Analysis 
Plan 
The investigator and study team will be responsible for analyzing the study data. The 
official clinical database in RedCAP will not be analyzed until medical/scientific review 
has been completed, protocol violators have been identified (if appropriate), and data 
has been declared complete. 
Variables/Time Points of Interest 
The primary outcome is delay in rupture of the dominant follicle by 5 days (yes/no) 
between group 1 (ENG implant alone) and group 2 (UPA with same day ENG implant). 
If the date of follicle rupture was unclear by ultrasound alone, we will utilize serum 
hormone levels to adjudicate day of rupture. These measures include day of follicle 
collapse, day and value of highest LH, day and value of highest progesterone level. 
We will use an estradiol level of >100pg/ml to confirm the enlarged follicle is the 
dominant follicle on the treatment day. 
 
Statistical Methods 
The primary and secondary dichotomous outcome measures of ovulation by 5 days 
will be assessed by Wilcoxon sign rank test and demographic will be analyzed using 
descriptive statistics.  
 
Power/Sample Size: 
This is a pilot study to obtain point estimates for future study proposals. Current data 
on ovulatory function with mid-cycle implant insertion or the pharmacodynamics 
interactions between same day UPA and ENG are lacking.