ArticlePloS one2015
The Promise of Intravaginal Rings for Prevention: User Perceptions of Biomechanical Properties and Implications for Prevention Product Development.
Article in PloS one, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 31 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
31 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 36 citations in OpenAlex.
- A Qualitative Systematic Review of Women's Experiences Using Contraceptive Vaginal Rings: Implications for New Technologies.Perspectives on sexual and reproductive health · 2019Pooled it
- Trial
- Acceptability and Preference for 3-Month Versus 1-Month Vaginal Rings for HIV-1 Risk Reduction Among Participants in a Phase 1 Trial.Journal of women's health (2002) · 2022Trial
- Safety, acceptability, and pharmacokinetics of a monoclonal antibody-based vaginal multipurpose prevention film (MB66): A Phase I randomized trial.PLoS medicine · 2021Trial
- Young Women's Ratings of Three Placebo Multipurpose Prevention Technologies for HIV and Pregnancy Prevention in a Randomized, Cross-Over Study in Kenya and South Africa.AIDS and behavior · 2018Trial
- Trial
- Women's Perceptions of Novel 3-D Printed Vaginal Rings for Multipurpose Prevention.AIDS and behavior · 2026Article
- Women's Perceptions of Novel 3-D Printed Vaginal Rings for Multipurpose Prevention.AIDS and behavior · 2026Article
- First-in-line 3D-printed intravaginal ring for nonhormonal contraception.Drug delivery and translational research · 2026Article
- A process-driven approach for manufacturing personalized intravaginal rings using droplet deposition modeling.International journal of pharmaceutics · 2026Article
- First-in-line 3D-printed intravaginal ring for nonhormonal contraception.Research square · 2025Article
- Participant experiences with a multipurpose vaginal ring for HIV and pregnancy prevention during a phase 1 clinical trial: learning from users to improve acceptability.Frontiers in reproductive health · 2023Article
- Preferred product attributes of a multipurpose vaginal ring: Findings from a phase 1 trial.Frontiers in reproductive health · 2023Article
- Acceptability of a Dapivirine/Placebo Gel Administered Rectally to HIV-1 Seronegative Adults (MTN-026).AIDS and behavior · 2022Article
- Users' Preferred Characteristics of Vaginal Rings for HIV Prevention: A Qualitative Analysis of Two Phase I Trials.AIDS research and human retroviruses · 2022Article
- Use of simulated vaginal and menstrual fluids to modelInternational journal of pharmaceutics: X · 2021Article
- Multipurpose Prevention Technologies: Oral, Parenteral, and Vaginal Dosage Forms for Prevention of HIV/STIs and Unplanned Pregnancy.Polymers · 2021Review
- In vitro Study on Synergistic Interactions Between Free and Encapsulated Q-Griffithsin and Antiretrovirals Against HIV-1 Infection.International journal of nanomedicine · 2021Article
- Development of multipurpose technologies products for pregnancy and STI prevention: update on polyphenylene carboxymethylene MPT gel development†.Biology of reproduction · 2020Article
- Design and Characterization of a Novel Series of Geometrically Complex Intravaginal Rings with Digital Light Synthesis.Advanced materials technologies · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
12 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
Intravaginal rings (IVRs) are currently under investigation as devices for the delivery of agents to protect against the sexual transmission of HIV and STIs, as well as pregnancy. To assist product developers in creating highly acceptable rings, we sought to identify characteristics that intravaginal ring users consider when making decisions about ring use or non-use. We conducted four semi-structured focus groups with 21 women (aged 18-45) who reported using an IVR in the past 12 months. Participants manipulated four prototype rings in their hands, discussed ring materials, dimensionality, and "behavior," and shared perceptions and appraisals. Five salient ring characteristics were identified: 1) appearance of the rings' surfaces, 2) tactile sensations of the cylinder material, 3) materials properties, 4) diameter of the cylinder, and 5) ring circumference. Pliability (or flexibility) was generally considered the most important mechanical property. Several ring properties (e.g., porousness, dimensionality) were associated with perceptions of efficacy. Women also revealed user behaviors that may impact the effectiveness of certain drugs, such as removing, rinsing and re-inserting the ring while bathing, and removing the ring during sexual encounters. As product developers explore IVRs as prevention delivery systems, it is critical to balance product materials and dimensions with use parameters to optimize drug delivery and the user experience. It is also critical to consider how user behaviors (e.g., removing the ring) might impact drug delivery.
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What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.