12 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
Background: - Isolated (or Congenital) GnRH Deficiency (IGD) is a rare disease. People who have this go through puberty late. Some never reach puberty or don t complete it without treatment. They also may have an impaired sense of smell or other health problems. Research shows that disorders like this can have a negative effect on a person s psychological profile. Objective: - To understand the psychological outcomes in people with IGD. These can include depression, anxiety, poor health, and poor social function. Eligibility: * Adults age 18 and over with IGD. They must be currently on a full dose of hormone replacement therapy for at least 3 months. * Healthy adult volunteers. Design: * Participants will get a username and password. This will give them access to questions online. They can do this from any computer connected to the Internet. * Participants will log in and complete the questionnaires. There are 5 total, but they will appear as 1 continuous set of questions. Answering them takes about 1 hour or less. * The first set is about the participant s disorder. The rest ask about depression, anxiety, global health, and social function. * All answers will be used for research and to better understand reproductive disorders. Only researchers from the NIH Unit on Genetics of Puberty and Reproduction and from this study will know which answers belong to which participant.
In this study, we will measure levels of reproductive hormones and metabolic markers in subjects with isolated GnRH deficiency disorders and compare them to healthy control populations. Our goals are (1) to chart the range of hormonal and metabolic biomarkers in healthy subjects and those with reproductive disorders and (2) to correlate reproductive and metabolic phenotypes with genetic changes within patients with reproductive disorders and healthy controls.
The goal of this study is to test whether the hormone kisspeptin has the potential to prospectively diagnose adolescents with self-resolving or permanent delayed puberty. Some children with delayed puberty will eventually enter puberty on their own. However, some children with delayed puberty have a permanent condition and require medical treatment to undergo puberty. Right now, there is no reliable diagnostic tool to tell whether a child's delayed puberty will be self-resolving or permanent. The hormone kisspeptin has the potential to prospectively diagnose adolescents with self-resolving or permanent delayed puberty.
The goal of this study is to learn about the role of kisspeptin in the reproductive system. Kisspeptin is a naturally occurring hormone in humans that causes the release of other hormones, including gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in the body.
The aims of this study are: 1) to identify genes that play a role in human pubertal development and reproduction, 2) to characterize the phenotypic spectrum of patients with these gene defects, and 3) to discern the mode of inheritance for disorders caused by these gene defects. We are specifically interested in genes that cause Kallmann syndrome, idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH), precocious (early) puberty, and delayed puberty. Individuals do not have to travel to Boston to participate in this study.
Men with Idiopathic Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism (IHH) lack a hormone called gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH). This hormone is important for starting puberty, maintaining testosterone levels, and fertility. The purpose of this study is to research the effects of treating IHH men with GnRH for 7 days.
The purpose of the study is to examine how Kallmann syndrome (KS) and idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (IHH) affect reproductive hormones. These disorders are caused by a defect in Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) secretion. GnRH is a hormone released by a small gland in the brain called the hypothalamus. When GnRH is released, it signals another gland in the brain, the pituitary, to secrete the reproductive hormones that influence sex hormone (testosterone, estrogen) levels and gamete (sperm, egg cell) production. This study involves a detailed evaluation and 24-48 hours stay at the hospital. In this study, males and females ages 16 and older with IHH have a detailed evaluation which involves an overnight study at the hospital. Some men (18 years and older) may continue on to receive treatment with pulsatile GnRH. This treatment replaces the hormone which is absent in IHH and results in normalized testosterone and typically is effective in developing fertility.
The investigators are doing this research study to look at the relationship between testosterone (the main sex hormone in men) and insulin (the hormone that controls blood sugar levels) in men with Idiopathic Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism (IHH). The investigators hypothesize that normalizing testosterone levels in men with IHH enhances insulin sensitivity, reduces visceral fat, increases lean body mass, and improves the lipid profile.
Background: - The body produces gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) about every 2 hours. GnRH travels through the bloodstream to the pituitary gland, where it stimulates the gland to produce hormones called gonadotropins. These hormones stimulate the testicles or ovaries. The testicles produce testosterone and develop sperm. The ovaries produce estrogen and prepare for ovulation. Normal estrogen and testosterone levels are required for puberty. Some people, however, have either low levels or total lack of GnRH. This can cause problems with puberty and fertility. Researchers want to study people with low or no GnRH to better understand how it affects puberty and fertility. Objectives: - To study disorders of GnRH production. Eligibility: * Adult men and women at least 18 years of age with low or no gonadotropin levels. * Adolescents between 14 and 18 years of age with low or no gonadotropin levels. Design: * Participants will be screened with a physical exam and medical history. Blood and urine samples will be collected. * Participants will have tests to look at their hormone levels. Blood samples may be collected after taking different drugs, including insulin and cortisone. A 24-hour urine sample will be collected. * Participants will have imaging studies to look at bone and brain development. They will also have ultrasounds of the kidneys, abdomen, and reproductive organs. * Tests of smell and hearing will be used to look for abnormalities in these senses.
The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of synthetic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) upon the pituitary and ovaries of women with infertility. Women diagnosed with GnRH deficiency, hypothalamic amenorrhea or acquired hypogonadic hypogonadism, will participate in this study. It is hoped that administration of GnRH will lead to proper stimulation of the pituitary gland and to normal ovulation and menstruation. \*\*WE ARE CURRENTLY RECRUITING ONLY WOMEN WITH A DIAGNOSIS OF IDIOPATHIC HYPOGONADIC HYPOGONADISM (IHH)\*\* Pulsatile GnRH has been approved by the FDA for use in women with primary amenorrhea due to complete GnRH deficiency. The overall goals of this protocol are to continue to use pulsatile GnRH in GnRH-deficient and other anovulatory women for ovulation induction and to examine specific physiologic hypotheses, which can only be addressed in this patient population.
This research study involves the use of the drugs Letrozole, GnRH, and NAL-GLU GnRH antagonist. Letrozole is a drug that is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in breast cancer treatment that has been found to block the formation of estrogen. The NAL-GLU GnRH antagonist is a drug that temporarily blocks the action of GnRH. GnRH is a hormone that the body makes that stimulates other hormones that then control the function of the ovary. The purpose is to study the effects of the administration of letrozole in women with GnRH deficiency at the same time that they receive gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH). In addition, administration of letrozole and NAL-GLU GnRH antagonist in healthy women with normal menstrual cycles will be done to evaluate the role of estrogen in the control of the hormone FSH, or Follicle Stimulating Hormone, in the female reproductive cycle. A better understanding of FSH control may help in the development of new treatments for women with difficulty conceiving.
Background: Functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (functional HA) is a condition where a woman s period stops for a temporary time. This is due to improper function of the hypothalamus. This is the part of the brain that directs the whole reproductive system. Researchers want to learn more about functional HA. They also want to learn how diet, exercise, and other factors may change women s menstrual cycles. Objective: To better understand functional HA. Eligibility: Healthy women ages 18-28 years old who: * Have regular periods * Exercise no more than 4 hours a week * Had their first period at age 11-14 Design: Participants will be prescreened over the phone. Participants will be screened with: * Blood and urine tests * Medical history * Physical exam. Participants will have 9 or 10 visits over about 3 menstrual cycles. These include: * Repeat of screening tests * Questionnaires * Exercise test * Resting energy expenditure test: Participants fast overnight before the test. They lie on their back under a canopy for a half hour. * Body composition test: This is done with a dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan. * Pelvic ultrasound * For two full-day visits, an IV is inserted into an arm vein. The IV takes a blood sample every 10 minutes for 8 hours. Participants will keep logs: * Menstrual cycle log * Diet log for three 4-day cycles Participants will receive test kits to complete at home: * Daily blood and urine sample * Ovulation Participants will take a daily iron supplement. They will wear a wristband that monitors activity 24 hours a day. Participants will stick to a special diet for two 5-day periods of time. They will complete two 4-day exercise programs....