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HIVECHONCT02550067

The Evidence for Contraceptive Options and HIV Outcomes Trial

A study testing DMPA, LNG and Copper IUD in people with HIV and Contraception, run by FHI 360 at 12 sites in 4 countries.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The ECHO Study is an open-label randomized clinical trial that will compare three highly effective, reversible methods of contraception (including a non-hormonal method) to evaluate whether there is a link between use of any of these methods and increased risk of acquiring HIV infection. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 16 to 35 years, women onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
Conditions the study is for
HIV, Contraception
What is being tested?
DMPA, LNG and Copper IUD
Type of treatment
Injection or infusion
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
7,830 participants
Where
12 sitesin 4 countries
Study dates
14 Dec 2015to 31 Oct 2018
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 16 to 35 years
  • Women only
  • Healthy volunteers accepted
  • Child, Adult

Who may be able to join

  • 16-35 years of age (previously pregnant 16 and 17 year olds, where permissible by national regulations and local IRB approval)
  • HIV-seronegative
  • Wants to use effective contraception
  • Is able and willing to provide written informed consent
  • Agrees to be randomized to either DMPA, LNG implant, or copper IUD
  • Agrees to use assigned method for 18 months
Show all 11Show fewer
  • Agrees to follow all study requirements
  • Intends to stay in the study area for the next 18 months, and willing and able to provide adequate locator information
  • If has had a recent third trimester birth, is at least 6 weeks postpartum
  • Is sexually active (has had vaginal sex within the last 3 months) or was pregnant within the last 3 months
  • Agrees not to participate in studies of drugs or vaccines or any other clinical research study while participating in this study.

Who cannot join

  • Reported medical contraindications (WHO MEC Category 3 or 4) to DMPA, LNG implant, or copper IUDs, including: recent septic abortion; suspicious unexplained vaginal bleeding; breast, cervical, uterine, or ovarian cancer; high BP or heart disease, venous thromboembolism, stroke, or diabetes; liver disease or liver tumours; use of liver enzyme inducing medications
  • Is found to have pelvic tuberculosis or uterine fibroids with distortion of the uterine cavity on pelvic exam
  • Has untreated mucus and purulent cervicitis on exam, untreated pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), or untreated known gonorrhea or chlamydia
  • Has received a DMPA or NET-En injection in the last 6 months
  • Has used an implant or an IUD in the last 6 months
  • Is pregnant or intending to become pregnant in the next 18 months
Show all 9Show fewer
  • Has had a hysterectomy or sterilization
  • Has previously participated in the study
  • Has any condition (social or medical) which in the opinion of the investigator would make study participation unsafe or complicate data interpretation.

Trial locations and contacts

12 sites in 4 countries.

12 sites in 4 countries

South Africa9 sites
  • Madibeng Centre for Research

    Brits

  • Emavundleni Research Centre

    Cape Town

  • MatCH Research Unit Commercial City

    Durban

  • Effective Care Research Unit (ECRU) Frere Maternity Hospital

    East London, 5201

  • Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (WRHI)

    Johannesburg

  • Aurum Klerksdorp Gavin Churchyard Legacy Centre

    Klerksdorp, 2570

  • QM ladysmith

    Ladysmith

  • MatCH Research Unit Edendale

    Pietermaritzburg

  • Setshaba Research Centre

    Soshanguve

Other trials in South Africa

Eswatini1 site
  • FLAS/ICAP Clinic 1& Clinic 2

    Manzini

Other trials in Eswatini

Kenya1 site
  • Kisumu East Research Care and Training Program

    Kisumu

Other trials in Kenya

Zambia1 site
  • University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia

    Lusaka

Other trials in Zambia

About this study

Official title: A Multi Center, Open-Label, Randomised Clinical Trial Comparing HIV Incidence and Contraceptive Benefits in Women Using Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (DMPA), Levonorgestrel (LNG) Implant, and Copper Intrauterine Devices (IUDs)

The ECHO Study is an open-label randomized clinical trial that will compare three highly effective, reversible methods of contraception (including a non-hormonal method) to evaluate whether there is a link between use of any of these methods and increased risk of acquiring HIV infection. A randomized clinical trial among about 7,800 women in four countries, ECHO will deliver evidence to support and guide individual, policy and programmatic decisions on contraception for women at risk of acquiring HIV infection.

Read the detailed description

Approximately 7800 sexually active, HIV-negative women, 16-35 years old, seeking effective contraception, willing to be randomized to any of the study arms, and not desiring pregnancy for the duration of study participation will be randomly allocated to one of three study arms in a 1:1:1 ratio: depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), levonorgestrel (LNG) implant, copper intrauterine device (IUD).

Enrollment will require an estimated 18 months and the total duration of the clinical portion of the study is estimated to be 36 months.

The primary objective is to compare the risks of HIV acquisition between women randomized to DMPA, levonorgestrel (LNG) implant, and copper IUDs. Secondary objectives are to compare: 1) pregnancy rates among women randomized to DMPA, LNG implant, and copper IUDs, 2) rates of serious adverse events among women randomized to DMPA, LNG implant, and copper IUDs, 3) rates of adverse events that lead to method discontinuation among women randomized to DMPA, LNG implant, and copper IUDs, and 4) contraceptive method continuation rates among women randomized to DMPA, LNG implant, and copper IUDs. Tertiary objectives are to evaluate: 1) whether age modifies the relationship between the three contraceptive methods and HIV acquisition, 2) whether HSV-2 status modifies the relationship between the three contraceptive methods and HIV acquisition, and 3) early HIV disease progression among sero-converters randomized to DMPA, LNG implant, and copper IUDs. Ancillary studies will assess biological mechanisms at the interface of contraceptives and markers of HIV risk.

Conditions
HIV, Contraception
Being tested
DMPA, LNG, Copper IUD
Keywords
HIV infection, DepoLevonorgestrel, Contraception, DMPA, Copper IUD, Levonorgestrel implant, IUD
Medical subject headings
HIV Infections

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • DMPADrug

    Also called Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate

    Women randomized to DMPA, will receive an intramuscular injection of DMPA (medroxyprogesterone acetate sterile aqueous suspension 150 mg per 1 mL) at enrolment. Subsequent injections will be given every 3 months (i.e., at quarterly study visits) at the study site.

  • LNGDrug

    Also called Levonorgestrel implant

    Women randomized to implants will receive LNG implants in the arm, at enrolment from trained clinicians.

  • Copper IUDDrug

    Also called Copper T380a IUD

    Women randomized to IUDs will receive their IUDs at enrolment. Trained providers will insert T380a copper IUDs using standard insertion techniques.

Study groups in NCT02550067
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA)Active comparatorWomen randomized to DMPA, will receive an intramuscular injection of DMPA (medroxyprogesterone acetate sterile aqueous suspension 150 mg per 1 mL) at enrolment. Subsequent injections will be given every 3 months (i.e., at quarterly study visits) at the study site.
Receives: Drug: DMPA
Levonorgestrel implant (LNG)Active comparatorWomen randomized to implants will receive LNG implants in the arm, at enrolment from trained clinicians.
Receives: Drug: LNG
Copper T380a IUDActive comparatorWomen randomized to IUDs will receive their IUDs at enrolment. Trained providers will insert T380a copper IUDs using standard insertion techniques.
Receives: Drug: Copper IUD

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Compare risks of HIV acquisition between women randomized to DMPA, LNG and copper IUD

    HIV infection as measured by documented HIV seroconversion occurring post-enrolment

    Measured: From enrollment to 18 months

Secondary outcomes (4)
  1. Compare pregnancy rates among women randomized to DMPA, LNG and copper IUD

    Measured: From enrollment to 18 months

  2. Compare rates of adverse events that lead to discontinuation among women randomized to DMPA, LNG and copper IUD

    Measured: From enrollment to 18 months

  3. Compare contraceptive continuation rates among women randomized to DMPA, LNG and copper IUD

    Measured: From enrollment to 18 months

  4. Compare SAEs among women randomized to DMPA, LNG and copper IUD

    Measured: From enrollment to 18 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted15 Sep 2015 (estimated)
  2. Study start14 Dec 2015
  3. Primary completion31 Oct 2018
  4. Study completion31 Oct 2018

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Other
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
7,830 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT02550067
Sponsor's protocol ID
523201
Acronym
ECHO
Status last verified
Aug 2019
First submitted
12 Sep 2015
Last updated
20 Aug 2019
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
Individual data sharing
Yes: Individual participant data that underlie the results reported in the primary analysis, after deidentification, are available beginning 3 months following article publication ending after 36 months. The study protocol is available upon publication.The statistical code is available 3 months after publication from the corresponding author. Data is available for researchers who provide a methodologically sound proposal, which will be reviewed by the ECHO Management Committee. Proposals should be directed to icrc@uw.edu; to gain access, data requestors will need to sign a data access agreement and any proposal will require approval by the ECHO Management Committee.

Publications

  • Morrison S, Batting J, Wanga V, Beesham I, Deese J, Hofmeyr GJ, Kasaro MP, Louw C, Morrison C, Mugo NR, Palanee-Phillips T, Pleaner M, Reddy K, Scoville CW, Smit J, Stringer JSA, Ahmed K, Bukusi E, Kotze P, Baeten JM; ECHO Trial Team. True and False Positive HIV Point of Care Test Results in a Prospective Multinational Study of At-Risk African Women: Implications for Large-Scale Repeat HIV Testing in HIV Prevention Programs. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2024 Dec 1;97(4):364-370. doi: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000003497.

    PubMed 39085989
  • Hofmeyr GJ, Singata-Madliki M, Batting J, Balakrishna Y, Morroni C. Effects of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, the copper IUD and the levonorgestrel implant on testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin and free testosterone levels: ancillary study of the ECHO randomized clinical trial. BMC Womens Health. 2024 Mar 8;24(1):167. doi: 10.1186/s12905-024-02990-8.

    PubMed 38459552
  • Beesham I, Mansoor LE, Joseph Davey DL, Palanee-Phillips T, Smit J, Ahmed K, Selepe P, Louw C, Singata-Madliki M, Kotze P, Heffron R, Parikh UM, Wiesner L, Rees H, Baeten JM, Beksinska M. Brief Report: Quantifiable Plasma Tenofovir Among South African Women Using Daily Oral Pre-exposure Prophylaxis During the ECHO Trial. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2022 Sep 1;91(1):26-30. doi: 10.1097/QAI.0000000000003023. Epub 2022 Jun 9.

    PubMed 35972853
  • Bunjun R, Ramla TF, Jaumdally SZ, Noel-Romas L, Ayele H, Brown BP, Gamieldien H, Harryparsad R, Dabee S, Nair G, Onono M, Palanee-Phillips T, Scoville CW, Heller KB, Baeten JM, Bosinger SE, Burgener A, Passmore JS, Jaspan H, Heffron R. Initiating Intramuscular Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate Increases Frequencies of Th17-like Human Immunodeficiency Virus Target Cells in the Genital Tract of Women in South Africa: A Randomized Trial. Clin Infect Dis. 2022 Nov 30;75(11):2000-2011. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciac284.

    PubMed 35941737
  • Ryan R, Mussa A, Singtaa-Madliki M, Batting J, Balakrishna Y, Morroni C, Hofmeyr GJ. Effects of Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate Intramuscular Injection, Copper Intrauterine Device and Levonorgestrel Implant Contraception on Estradiol Levels: An Ancillary Study of the ECHO Randomized Trial. Front Glob Womens Health. 2022 May 20;3:887541. doi: 10.3389/fgwh.2022.887541. eCollection 2022.

    PubMed 35669313
  • Palanee-Phillips T, Rees HV, Heller KB, Ahmed K, Batting J, Beesham I, Heffron R, Justman J, Makkan H, Mastro TD, Morrison SA, Mugo N, Nair G, Kiarie J, Philip NM, Pleaner M, Reddy K, Selepe P, Steyn PS, Scoville CW, Smit J, Thomas KK, Donnell D, Baeten JM; ECHO Trial Consortium. High HIV incidence among young women in South Africa: Data from a large prospective study. PLoS One. 2022 Jun 3;17(6):e0269317. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269317. eCollection 2022.

    PubMed 35657948
  • Tanko RF, Bunjun R, Dabee S, Jaumdally SZ, Onono M, Nair G, Palanee-Phillips T, Harryparsad R, Happel AU, Gamieldien H, Qumbelo Y, Sinkala M, Scoville CW, Heller K, Baeten JM, Bosinger SE, Burgener A, Heffron R, Jaspan HB, Passmore JAS. The Effect of Contraception on Genital Cytokines in Women Randomized to Copper Intrauterine Device, Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate, or Levonorgestrel Implant. J Infect Dis. 2022 Sep 13;226(5):907-919. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiac084.

    PubMed 35263421
  • Mugo NR, Stalter RM, Heffron R, Rees H, Scoville CW, Morrison C, Kourtis AP, Bukusi E, Beksinka M, Philip NM, Beesham I, Deese J, Edward V, Donnell D, Baeten JM; Evidence for Contraceptive Options and HIV Outcomes (ECHO) Trial Consortium. Incidence of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 Infection Among African Women Using Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate, a Copper Intrauterine Device, or a Levonorgestrel Implant for Contraception: A Nested Randomized Trial. Clin Infect Dis. 2022 Sep 10;75(4):586-595. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciab1027.

    PubMed 34910143
  • Donnell D, Beesham I, Welch JD, Heffron R, Pleaner M, Kidoguchi L, Palanee-Phillips T, Ahmed K, Baron D, Bukusi EA, Louw C, Mastro TD, Smit J, Batting JR, Malahleha M, Bailey VC, Beksinska M, Rees H, Baeten JM; ECHO Trial Consortium. Incorporating oral PrEP into standard prevention services for South African women: a nested interrupted time-series study. Lancet HIV. 2021 Aug;8(8):e495-e501. doi: 10.1016/S2352-3018(21)00048-5. Epub 2021 Jun 11.

    PubMed 34126052
  • Beksinska M, Issema R, Beesham I, Lalbahadur T, Thomas K, Morrison C, Hofmeyr GJ, Steyn PS, Mugo N, Palanee-Phillips T, Ahmed K, Nair G, Baeten JM, Smit J. Weight change among women using intramuscular depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, a copper intrauterine device, or a levonorgestrel implant for contraception: Findings from a randomised, multicentre, open-label trial. EClinicalMedicine. 2021 Apr 6;34:100800. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2021.100800. eCollection 2021 Apr.

    PubMed 33898953
  • Beesham I, Welch JD, Heffron R, Pleaner M, Kidoguchi L, Palanee-Phillips T, Ahmed K, Baron D, Bukusi EA, Louw C, Mastro TD, Smit J, Batting JR, Malahleha M, Bailey VC, Beksinska M, Donnell D, Baeten JM; ECHO Trial Consortium. Integrating oral PrEP delivery among African women in a large HIV endpoint-driven clinical trial. J Int AIDS Soc. 2020 May;23(5):e25491. doi: 10.1002/jia2.25491.

    PubMed 32396700
  • Evidence for Contraceptive Options and HIV Outcomes (ECHO) Trial Consortium. HIV incidence among women using intramuscular depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, a copper intrauterine device, or a levonorgestrel implant for contraception: a randomised, multicentre, open-label trial. Lancet. 2019 Jul 27;394(10195):303-313. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(19)31288-7. Epub 2019 Jun 13.

    PubMed 31204114

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing DMPA, LNG and Copper IUD in people with HIV and Contraception, run by FHI 360 at 12 sites in 4 countries.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 11 inclusion and 9 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 Aug 2019. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 12 sites in South Africa, Eswatini, Kenya, Zambia. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Compare risks of HIV acquisition between women randomized to DMPA, LNG and copper IUD (time frame: From enrollment to 18 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02550067, which also lists 12 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 20 Aug 2019.

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