ClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT03395756Updated Nov 5, 2020

Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate as Emergency Contraception

An Early Phase 1 interventional study of Depot-Medroxyprogestereone Acetate in Emergency Contraception and Contraception, sponsored by University of Southern California. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to female participants aged 18 Years to 39 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2020-11-05.

Sponsored by University of Southern California · Early Phase 1, Interventional, and Prevention

From the registry’s dates

  • Primary completion was Oct 2020, 6 years ago, and no results have been posted to the registry.
Phase
Early Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
30
Allocation
Non-randomized
Ages
18 Years to 39 Years
Sex
Female
01

Study summary

Background:

The prevalence of repeat unprotected intercourse after EC use in the same cycle demonstrate the need for more self-bridging emergency contraceptive options. We propose the use of intramuscular Depot Medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) as EC, which has been shown to inhibit follicular activity within 24 hours, and provide on-going contraception via suppression or disruption of ovulation.

Objective:

The objective of this study is to explore the potential of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) given as a 150-mg intramuscular injection for use as an emergency contraceptive.

Study population:

Healthy regularly menstruating women aged 18-39 years old will be invited to participate if they fulfill inclusion criteria. The participants will undergo a screening visit during the midluteal phase of their cycle, and will be enrolled if a serum progesterone level is >3ng/ml.

Methodology:

Participants will be assigned to one of three groups based on leading follicle size. Starting cycle Day 8, transvaginal ultrasounds will be performed to assess the size of the leading follicle. Once the follicle has reached the pre-assigned size, 150 mg IM DMPA will be administered. Blood will be collected for baseline hormonal assays. For 5 consecutive days, daily blood will be drawn for hormonal assays and daily transvaginal ultrasound will be performed to assess for signs of ovulation. The participant will then return for twice weekly progesterone levels for 2 weeks for study completion.

Read the detailed description

The proposed study will enroll 36 healthy, non-pregnant, non-breastfeeding, reproductive age women with regular ovulatory cycles. Potential participants will undergo screening, which will include a history, physical exam, assessment of vital signs, and blood draw for assessment of ovulation via mid-luteal progesterone levels. If her progesterone level confirms ovulatory status (> 3 ng/ml), she will be offered enrollment and assigned to one of three follicular phase groups based on her leading follicle size in the next cycle: 12-14 mm, 15-17 mm, and ≥18 mm. To determine follicle size, participants will receive serial transvaginal ultrasound (TVUS) scans of their ovarian follicles starting on cycle day 8 of the next menstrual cycle. The scans will be performed three times weekly to identify her leading follicle. Once the leading follicle has reached its assigned size, DMPA will be administered. Blood samples will be obtained prior to administration for baseline hormonal assays. One hour after administration, blood will be drawn for MPA levels. For the following five consecutive days, the participant will undergo daily TVUS to detect signs of follicular rupture and blood draws to assess serum markers of ovulation (estradiol, progesterone, and luteinizing hormone). On the first day, 24 hours after DMPA administration, blood will be drawn for MPA levels as well. After five days, the participant will return twice weekly for two weeks to provide serum progesterone levels to detect any delayed ovulation or ovulatory dysfunction. At the final visit, she will fill out a simple survey to assess her satisfaction with DMPA as an EC method, and whether she would recommend this method to others.

02

Conditions studied

  • Emergency Contraception
  • Contraception

Keywords

  • Depot Medroxyprogesterone acetate
  • Injectable birth control
03

In context

Lead sponsor

University of Southern California is the lead sponsor of 791 studies on the registry; 136 are open to participants now.

Of its 70 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 32 (46%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 39 Years
Sexes eligible
Female
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Healthy women of reproductive age (18-39 years old) with 18-30 kg/m2
  • Regular menses for the last 3 months
  • Cycle duration 24 to 35 days
  • Women using copper IUD, sterilization, or barrier methods as current or preferred method, and women reporting exclusive sex with women
  • English- or Spanish-speaking

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Any to progesterone per teh CDC Medical Eligibility Criteria (Category 3 or 4)
  • On medications that can alter, or be altered by, progesterone contraceptive hormone (e.g., aminoglutethimide or other anti-steroid medication)
  • Use of any hormonal contraceptive pill, patch, or vaginal ring in the month prior to recruitment
  • Use of depot-medroxyprogesterone acetate in teh 10 months prior to recruitment
  • Currently pregnant and/or breastfeeding
  • History of allergic reaction to depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (rash, urticaria, anaphylaxis)
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(4)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

BMI (body mass index)

Weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared. Example: 70 kg and 1.75 m gives 70 ÷ (1.75 × 1.75) ≈ 22.9.

What counts as overweight or obesity differs between countries (some use lower cut-offs), so go by the range the study states.

Contraception

Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.

Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.

Contraindication

A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.

Corticosteroids (steroids)

Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.

Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.

05

Study design

Phase
Early Phase 1
Primary purpose
Prevention
Allocation
Non-randomized
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
30 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    12-14 mm follicle size group

    Once the participant's leading follicle reaches 12-14mm, she will receive an IM administration of 150 mg Depot-Medroxyprogesterone Acetate. Prior to administration, she will have blood drawn for baseline progesterone, estradiol, and LH levels. One hour after receiving the injection, she will have blood drawn for medroxyprogesterone acetate levels. The next day, she will undergo a transvaginal ultrasound to assess the leading follicle and will have blood drawn for progesterone, estradiol, LH, and medroxyprogesterone acetate levels. For the next 4 consecutive days, she will have daily transvaginal ultrasounds to assess for signs of follicular rupture, and blood draws for hormonal assays. After, she will return twice weekly for two weeks for blood draw for progesterone levels.

    Drug: Depot-Medroxyprogestereone Acetate

  • Active comparator
    15-17 mm follicle size group

    Once the participant's leading follicle reaches 15-17mm, she will receive an IM administration of 150 mg Depot-Medroxyprogesterone Acetate. Prior to administration, she will have blood drawn for baseline progesterone, estradiol, and LH levels. One hour after receiving the injection, she will have blood drawn for medroxyprogesterone acetate levels. The next day, she will undergo a transvaginal ultrasound to assess the leading follicle and will have blood drawn for progesterone, estradiol, LH, and medroxyprogesterone acetate levels. For the next 4 consecutive days, she will have daily transvaginal ultrasounds to assess for signs of follicular rupture, and blood draws for hormonal assays. After, she will return twice weekly for two weeks for blood draw for progesterone levels.

    Drug: Depot-Medroxyprogestereone Acetate

  • Active comparator
    18 mm or greater follicle size group

    Once the participant's leading follicle reaches 18mm or greater, she will receive an IM administration of 150 mg Depot-Medroxyprogesterone Acetate. Prior to administration, she will have blood drawn for baseline progesterone, estradiol, and LH levels. One hour after receiving the injection, she will have blood drawn for medroxyprogesterone acetate levels. The next day, she will undergo a transvaginal ultrasound to assess the leading follicle and will have blood drawn for progesterone, estradiol, LH, and medroxyprogesterone acetate levels. For the next 4 consecutive days, she will have daily transvaginal ultrasounds to assess for signs of follicular rupture, and blood draws for hormonal assays. After, she will return twice weekly for two weeks for blood draw for progesterone levels.

    Drug: Depot-Medroxyprogestereone Acetate

Interventions

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Ovulation

    Follicle rupture on ultrasound preceded by LH surge 21 IU/L or greater, followed by progesterone level 3 ng/ml or greater.

    Time frame: 5 days to 3 weeks

  2. Ovulation Suppression

    Lack of follicular rupture on ultrasound with or without appropriate LH surge of 21 IU/L or greater and without elevation in progesterone levels to 3 ng/ml or greater

    Time frame: 5 days to 3 weeks

  3. Ovulatory dysfunction

    Rupture of leading follicle without appropriate LH surge (less than 21 IU/L) and without appropriate progesterone elevation after rupture (less then 3 ng/ml)

    Time frame: 5 days to 3 weeks

07

Study locations

1 site
  • University of Southern California Keck Medical Center
    Los Angeles, California 90033, United States
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Daniels K, Jones J, Abma J. Use of emergency contraception among women aged 15-44: United States, 2006-2010. NCHS Data Brief. 2013 Feb;(112):1-8. PubMed 23742711 ↗
  • ESHRE CapriWorkshop Group. Emergency contraception. Widely available and effective but disappointing as a public health intervention: a review. Hum Reprod. 2015 Apr;30(4):751-60. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dev019. Epub 2015 Feb 11. PubMed 25678571 ↗
  • Glasier A, Cameron ST, Blithe D, Scherrer B, Mathe H, Levy D, Gainer E, Ulmann A. Can we identify women at risk of pregnancy despite using emergency contraception? Data from randomized trials of ulipristal acetate and levonorgestrel. Contraception. 2011 Oct;84(4):363-7. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2011.02.009. Epub 2011 Apr 2. PubMed 21920190 ↗
  • Turok DK, Gurtcheff SE, Handley E, Simonsen SE, Sok C, North R, Frost C, Murphy PA. A survey of women obtaining emergency contraception: are they interested in using the copper IUD? Contraception. 2011 May;83(5):441-6. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2010.08.011. Epub 2010 Sep 29. PubMed 21477687 ↗
  • Mishell DR Jr. Pharmacokinetics of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate contraception. J Reprod Med. 1996 May;41(5 Suppl):381-90. PubMed 8725700 ↗
  • Ortiz A, Hirol M, Stanczyk FZ, Goebelsmann U, Mishell DR. Serum medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) concentrations and ovarian function following intramuscular injection of depo-MPA. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1977 Jan;44(1):32-8. doi: 10.1210/jcem-44-1-32. PubMed 833262 ↗
  • Fotherby K, Koetsawang S, Mathrubutham M. Pharmacokinetic study of different doses of Depo Provera. Contraception. 1980 Nov;22(5):527-36. doi: 10.1016/0010-7824(80)90105-5. PubMed 6451351 ↗
  • Petta CA, Faundes A, Dunson TR, Ramos M, DeLucio M, Faundes D, Bahamondes L. Timing of onset of contraceptive effectiveness in Depo-Provera users. II. Effects on ovarian function. Fertil Steril. 1998 Nov;70(5):817-20. doi: 10.1016/s0015-0282(98)00309-4. PubMed 9806559 ↗
  • Croxatto HB, Brache V, Pavez M, Cochon L, Forcelledo ML, Alvarez F, Massai R, Faundes A, Salvatierra AM. Pituitary-ovarian function following the standard levonorgestrel emergency contraceptive dose or a single 0.75-mg dose given on the days preceding ovulation. Contraception. 2004 Dec;70(6):442-50. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2004.05.007. PubMed 15541405 ↗
  • Shen J, Che Y, Showell E, Chen K, Cheng L. Interventions for emergency contraception. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017 Aug 2;8(8):CD001324. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD001324.pub5. PubMed 28766313 ↗
  • Wilcox AJ, Weinberg CR, Baird DD. Timing of sexual intercourse in relation to ovulation. Effects on the probability of conception, survival of the pregnancy, and sex of the baby. N Engl J Med. 1995 Dec 7;333(23):1517-21. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199512073332301. PubMed 7477165 ↗
  • Long-term reversible contraception. Twelve years of experience with the TCu380A and TCu220C. Contraception. 1997 Dec;56(6):341-52. PubMed 9494767 ↗
  • Harper CC, Speidel JJ, Drey EA, Trussell J, Blum M, Darney PD. Copper intrauterine device for emergency contraception: clinical practice among contraceptive providers. Obstet Gynecol. 2012 Feb;119(2 Pt 1):220-6. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0b013e3182429e0d. PubMed 22270272 ↗
  • Wu S, Godfrey EM, Wojdyla D, Dong J, Cong J, Wang C, von Hertzen H. Copper T380A intrauterine device for emergency contraception: a prospective, multicentre, cohort clinical trial. BJOG. 2010 Sep;117(10):1205-10. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2010.02652.x. Epub 2010 Jul 7. PubMed 20618314 ↗
  • Rowe P, Farley T, Peregoudov A, Piaggio G, Boccard S, Landoulsi S, Meirik O; IUD Research Group of the UNDP/UNFPA/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research; Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction. Safety and efficacy in parous women of a 52-mg levonorgestrel-medicated intrauterine device: a 7-year randomized comparative study with the TCu380A. Contraception. 2016 Jun;93(6):498-506. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2016.02.024. Epub 2016 Feb 23. Erratum In: Contraception. 2016 Sep;94(3):288. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2016.06.001. PubMed 26916172 ↗
  • Royer PA, Turok DK, Sanders JN, Saltzman HM. Choice of Emergency Contraceptive and Decision Making Regarding Subsequent Unintended Pregnancy. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2016 Oct;25(10):1038-1043. doi: 10.1089/jwh.2015.5625. Epub 2016 Mar 31. PubMed 27032057 ↗
  • Novikova N, Weisberg E, Stanczyk FZ, Croxatto HB, Fraser IS. Effectiveness of levonorgestrel emergency contraception given before or after ovulation--a pilot study. Contraception. 2007 Feb;75(2):112-8. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2006.08.015. Epub 2006 Oct 27. PubMed 17241840 ↗
  • Jones J, Mosher W, Daniels K. Current contraceptive use in the United States, 2006-2010, and changes in patterns of use since 1995. Natl Health Stat Report. 2012 Oct 18;(60):1-25. PubMed 24988814 ↗
  • Trussell J. Contraceptive failure in the United States. Contraception. 2011 May;83(5):397-404. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2011.01.021. Epub 2011 Mar 12. PubMed 21477680 ↗
  • Sundaram A, Vaughan B, Kost K, Bankole A, Finer L, Singh S, Trussell J. Contraceptive Failure in the United States: Estimates from the 2006-2010 National Survey of Family Growth. Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2017 Mar;49(1):7-16. doi: 10.1363/psrh.12017. Epub 2017 Feb 28. PubMed 28245088 ↗
  • Curtis KM, Tepper NK, Jatlaoui TC, Berry-Bibee E, Horton LG, Zapata LB, Simmons KB, Pagano HP, Jamieson DJ, Whiteman MK. U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use, 2016. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2016 Jul 29;65(3):1-103. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.rr6503a1. PubMed 27467196 ↗
  • Gemzell-Danielsson K, Berger C, P G L L. Emergency contraception -- mechanisms of action. Contraception. 2013 Mar;87(3):300-8. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2012.08.021. Epub 2012 Oct 29. PubMed 23114735 ↗
  • Siriwongse T, Snidvongs W, Tantayaporn P, Leepipatpaiboon S. Effect of depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate on serum progesterone levels when administered on various cycle days. Contraception. 1982 Nov;26(5):487-93. doi: 10.1016/0010-7824(82)90147-0. PubMed 6218964 ↗
  • Curtis KM, Jatlaoui TC, Tepper NK, Zapata LB, Horton LG, Jamieson DJ, Whiteman MK. U.S. Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use, 2016. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2016 Jul 29;65(4):1-66. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.rr6504a1. PubMed 27467319 ↗
  • Croxatto HB, Fuentealba B, Brache V, Salvatierra AM, Alvarez F, Massai R, Cochon L, Faundes A. Effects of the Yuzpe regimen, given during the follicular phase, on ovarian function. Contraception. 2002 Feb;65(2):121-8. doi: 10.1016/s0010-7824(01)00299-2. PubMed 11927114 ↗
  • Croxatto HB, Brache V, Massai R, Alvarez F, Forcelledo ML, Pavez M, Cochon L, Salvatierra AM, Faundes A. Feasibility study of Nestorone-ethinylestradiol vaginal contraceptive ring for emergency contraception. Contraception. 2006 Jan;73(1):46-52. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2005.06.071. Epub 2005 Nov 14. PubMed 16371294 ↗
  • Duijkers IJ, Louwe LA, Braat DD, Klipping C. One, two or three: how many directions are useful in transvaginal ultrasound measurement of ovarian follicles? Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2004 Nov 10;117(1):60-3. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2004.01.005. PubMed 15474246 ↗
  • Pardthaisong T, Gray RH. In utero exposure to steroid contraceptives and outcome of pregnancy. Am J Epidemiol. 1991 Oct 15;134(8):795-803. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a116152. PubMed 1835282 ↗
  • Pardthaisong T, Gray RH, McDaniel EB, Chandacham A. Steroid contraceptive use and pregnancy outcome. Teratology. 1988 Jul;38(1):51-8. doi: 10.1002/tera.1420380108. PubMed 2845595 ↗
  • Pardthaisong T, Yenchit C, Gray R. The long-term growth and development of children exposed to Depo-Provera during pregnancy or lactation. Contraception. 1992 Apr;45(4):313-24. doi: 10.1016/0010-7824(92)90053-v. PubMed 1387602 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reached

Ran from Aug 2018 to primary completion in Oct 2020, 25 months.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Jan 4, 2018
First posted
Jan 10, 2018
StartActual
Aug 31, 2018
Primary completionActual
Oct 30, 2020
CompletionActual
Oct 30, 2020
Last update
Nov 5, 2020
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Nov 5, 2020, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03395756
Collaborators
Society of Family Planning
Responsible party
Brian T. Nguyen, MD MSc (Assistant Professor, University of Southern California) — Principal investigator
First posted
Jan 10, 2018
Start date
Aug 31, 2018
Primary completion
Oct 30, 2020
Completion
Oct 30, 2020
Last update
Nov 5, 2020

Study contacts

Robyn L Schickler, MD
principal investigator · University of Southern California
Brian Nguyen, MD, MSCP
principal investigator · University of Southern California

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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Studies of the drug tested here: Medroxyprogesterone Acetate

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