Non-hormonal vaginal ring to help prevent pregnancy and STIs
Official title: Investigating end-user perspectives to inform the development of a novel non-hormonal intravaginal ring to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections
Funded at Population Council · NIH-11167706 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Comparing different designs of a non-hormonal vaginal ring with women aged 18–49 to find which are comfortable and likely to be used to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Population Council NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 22, 2021 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $905,977 |
| NIH project number | 5P50HD106793-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11167706 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are sexually active women aged 18–49 who are not pregnant and are willing to try vaginal rings during clinic visits.
✕Less likely to help
Women who want hormonal contraception, are pregnant, have medical contraindications to intravaginal devices, or are outside the 18–49 age range may not benefit from this product.
What this research studies
You would be asked to try four different non-medicated, non-hormonal vaginal rings that vary in firmness across two clinic visits. The study uses a randomized, open-label, parallel-group crossover design so each participant experiences rings in a set order. Researchers will collect your feedback on attitudes, social influences, confidence using the ring, and reactions to product features through surveys and interviews. The aim is to identify the ring features that make a non-hormonal option acceptable and likely to be used for pregnancy and STI prevention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to a comfortable, non-hormonal vaginal ring option that helps prevent both pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections for women who prefer to avoid hormones.
How similar studies have gone: Previous vaginal ring studies have shown some ring designs can be acceptable to users, but a non-hormonal ring combining copper, zinc, and lactide is a novel approach that has not yet been tested in humans.
Where this research is happening
-
Population Council
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Friedland, Barbara a — Population Council
- Study coordinator: Friedland, Barbara a
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.