Poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) and poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-co-sodium methacrylate) [P(HEMA-co-SMA)] hydrogels with different compositions were prepared to be used as intravaginal rings

and their gelation time

water content

mechanical properties and morphology were investigated. The water content of PHEMA and P(HEMA-co-SMA) hydrogels decreased as the concentration of the monomer and the degree of crosslinking increased

while the water content significantly increased as the content of SMA

the hydrophilic monomer

increased. The increasing of the concentration of the crosslinking agent affected the tensile and flexural properties highly. The presence of a proper small amount of SMA also led the tensile and flexural modulus to move to a higher level. The results showed that P(HEMA-co-SMA) hydrogel with high drug load and good mechanical properties at optimum preparation conditions can be prepared for intravaginal rings to deliver nonhormonal contraceptives. These results may be applied to prepare better intravaginal drug delivery devices.