From the Guidelines
Nextellis is a combined oral contraceptive pill that contains segesterone acetate, a progestin, and ethinyl estradiol, an estrogen, to prevent pregnancy. The exact formulation and dosage of Nextellis are not specified in the provided evidence, but it is known to be a type of birth control pill. According to the study 1, combined oral contraceptives, such as Nextellis, have a high effectiveness rate, with 9% of women experiencing an unintended pregnancy within the first year of typical use and 0.3% with perfect use.
Key Points to Consider
- Nextellis is a form of hormonal contraception that works by preventing ovulation, thickening cervical mucus to block sperm, and thinning the uterine lining to prevent implantation.
- The effectiveness of Nextellis is similar to other combined oral contraceptives, as reported in the study 1, which estimates that 9% of women will experience an unintended pregnancy within the first year of typical use.
- Common side effects of combined oral contraceptives, such as Nextellis, may include nausea, breast tenderness, headaches, and spotting between periods, although these are not specifically mentioned in the provided evidence.
- It is essential to take Nextellis at the same time each day to maximize its effectiveness and to use backup contraception if one or more pills are missed.
- Nextellis does not protect against sexually transmitted infections, so condoms are recommended for STI prevention, as noted in the study 1, which discusses the importance of counseling clients about the effectiveness of different contraceptive methods.
From the FDA Drug Label
ANNOVERA (segesterone acetate and ethinyl estradiol vaginal system) is a toroidal-shaped (ring), nonbiodegradable, flexible, opaque white vaginal system containing two active components, a progestin, segesterone acetate, and an estrogen, ethinyl estradiol. Each ANNOVERA releases an approximate average 0.15 mg/day of segesterone acetate and 0.013 mg/day of ethinyl estradiol when placed in the vagina over a period of 21 days of each cycle for up to 13 cycles (total of 273 days).
Nextellis is not mentioned in the provided drug labels, however, based on the information provided about ANNOVERA, which contains segesterone acetate and ethinyl estradiol, it can be inferred that Nextellis may be another name for a similar product.
- Key components: segesterone acetate and ethinyl estradiol.
- Dosage form: vaginal system.
- Release rates: approximately 0.15 mg/day of segesterone acetate and 0.013 mg/day of ethinyl estradiol. 2
From the Research
Definition and Composition of Nextellis
- Nextellis is a contraceptive vaginal ring containing segesterone acetate and ethinyl estradiol 3, 4.
- It is a combination hormonal contraceptive that prevents ovulation for up to 13 menstrual cycles in a year 4.
- The vaginal ring releases segesterone and ethinyl estradiol at estimated rates of 150 mcg/day and 13 mcg/day, respectively 3.
Mechanism of Action and Usage
- The ring is inserted into the upper two-thirds of the vagina and left in place for 21 days, then removed for 7 days 3.
- The same ring can be used for 13 cycles for a total of a year's contraception 3.
- Nextellis is a patient-controlled, procedure-free, reversible prescription birth control method 3.
Efficacy and Safety
- The contraceptive vaginal ring was found to be 97.5% effective in preventing pregnancy with a Pearl Index of 2.98 3.
- The adverse effects in women using the ring were similar in nature and frequency to those reported during the use of other hormonal contraceptives, except for the occurrence of venous thromboembolism, which was reported more often than expected 3.