Patient acceptability and satisfaction with Lunelle(TM) monthly contraceptive injection (medroxyprogesterone acetate and estradiol cypionate injectable suspension)

The results from a User Satisfaction Questionnaire, Treatment Assessment Questionnaire, and Global Well-Being Schedule questionnaire administered to women participating in an open-labeled, nonrandomized, parallel, controlled study comparing a new monthly injectable contraceptive containing 25 mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and 5 mg of estradiol cypionate (E₂C) (MPA/E₂C) (Lunelle(TM) Monthly Contraceptive Injection) and a triphasic norethindrone (0.5, 0.75, 1.0 mg)/0.035 mg ethinyl estradiol (NET/EE) oral contraceptive (Ortho-Novum® 7/7/7) are reviewed. Approximately 85% of all 1103 women enrolled in the comparative trial completed their initial and final questionnaires. To better assess the comparison of a new and extant method of contraception, outcome data were divided among MPA/E₂C users and new and previous oral contraceptive (OC) users. Despite the inherent inequalities in comparing an injectable to an oral method of contraception, few treatment assessment and satisfaction outcomes were significantly different when comparing MPA/E₂C users to new OC (NET/EE) users. More women in the MPA/E₂C study group reported discomfort with their method than women in either NET/EE study group; however, only 19.4% of MPA/E₂C users rated the administration of their contraceptive to be moderately uncomfortable or worse, compared to 11.7% of new NET/EE users and 13.4% of previous OC users. Among MPA/E₂C users, 86.3% reported no interference with social activities compared with 90.4% of new NET/EE users. MPA/E₂C and new NET/EE users were also similar in their responses recommending their respective contraceptive method to friends, with >90% of both groups stating that they had a very favorable experience and would definitely recommend their method to a friend. In general, MPA/E₂C was well accepted by women in the study group. Their attitudes and perceptions are similar to those of women who were starting OCs for the first time. These data support the premise that MPA/E₂C may become a well-accepted, first-line contraceptive option for women in the US.