33 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
During perimenopause (the time just prior to menopause), women often notice many biological, psychological, and social changes. In particular, some women experience depressive symptoms during perimenopause that are severe enough to warrant antidepressant medication. Whether or not women with perimenopausal depression respond to antidepressant medication may depend on the level of estrogen in their blood. This study will investigate whether estrogen will help women who only partially respond to antidepressant medications, as well as examine how different doses of estrogen may affect individuals differently.
The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate how iron status and heavy bleeding during the menopausal transition affect women's cognitive function and quality of life. The main questions it aims to answer are: * What is the association between iron status, cognitive function, mood, quality of family relationships, and quality of life in perimenopausal women? * How does iron repletion, via supplementation, affect cognitive function, mood, quality of family relationships, and quality of life in perimenopausal women? The investigators will compare the effect of iron supplements to a placebo (gelatin capsule) to see if iron supplements could improve iron status, cognitive function, mood, quality of family relationships, and quality of life of iron-deficient and/or anemic women undergoing the menopausal transition. Each participant will: * Make 2 visits (about 2 hours each - baseline and endline) to the Clinical Research Center at Purdue * Make a very brief visit at midpoint (about 10 minutes) for a checkup * Take a daily study supplement or placebo for 4 months
This study aims to identify how the progesterone metabolite allopregnanolone affects behavior and neurobiology that may underlie perimenopausal depression.
The goal of this study is to pilot test a 12-week behavioral intervention among perimenopausal Latinas (age 40-55 years) that integrates evidence-based education with physical activity, stress management, and coping skills training to: 1) reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and arterial stiffness; 2) improve nutrition, physical activity, and sleep behaviors; and 3) improve stress management, coping strategies, and self-efficacy. This study will recruit participants from two community groups: one group will be randomly assigned to complete the intervention; the other will be a wait-list control.
The purpose of this study is to identify the impact of estradiol (E2) on the mechanisms that regulate vascular endothelial function in peri-menopausal (PERI) women. This study is the first step in understanding factors contributing to endothelial dysfunction in women with advancing reproductive age and in response to E2 administration.
NUTRAFOL® Women's Balance supplement is a novel nutraceutical supplement, scientifically formulated to specifically target the multiple underlying causes of hair loss and thinning in women. NUTRAFOL® Women's Balance capsules are comprised of primary and secondary ingredients, designed to restore hair health from the inside out. In addition to the necessary vitamins, minerals, proteins to support the nutritional needs of hair, it also contains nutraceutical-grade botanical bioactives that are standardized and clinically tested. The formulation leverages the multidimensional properties of power plants, which possess a full spectrum of phytochemicals with innate capacities to work in synergy with each other to fulfill their specific therapeutic roles. Using the latest biotechnology, these ingredients are bio-optimized and standardized, extracted with patented methods that preserve their bioactive integrity and made more bio-available and bio-absorbable via specific patented technologies. Ingestion of NUTRAFOL® Women's Balance supplement over a six (6) month period will strengthen and promote the growth of hairs in perimenopausal, menopausal, and post-menopausal female subjects with self-perceived thinning hair when compared to baseline and those using the placebo tablet, with further improvement during the subsequent six (6) month open-label extension period.
Background: Some women who had depression in the perimenopause may have mood symptoms again if they stop estrogen therapy. Estrogen acts in the brain and other tissues by binding to at least three types of estrogen receptors. One of these receptors, estrogen receptor beta may affect anxiety and depression. The drug LY500307 acts only on this receptor. In this study, researchers will initially give you estrogen and then suddenly stop estrogen after three weeks. Then they will study how LY500307 affects mood symptoms. Objectives: To study how withdrawing estradiol affects mood. To test the safety and side effects of LY500307. Eligibility: Healthy women ages 45-65 who had depression related to perimenopause in recent years and whose mood systems got better with estradiol Design: -Participants will be screened with: Medical history Physical exam Blood tests Psychiatric interview Gynecological exam * Participants able to get pregnant must use effective barrier birth control throughout the study. * During the first 3 weeks, participants will wear an estrogen patch. It is 1x2 inches and will be replaced every 3 days. * For the next 3 weeks, participants will take 3 study capsules every morning. They will not know if they get the study drug or placebo. * Some participants will also take a progesterone-like drug for 1 week at the end of the medication phase of the study. * Participants will have 9 one-hour study visits. They will have blood samples and vital signs taken. They will answer questions about mood and behavior symptoms. * Participants will keep a daily log of these symptoms. * Participants will have 2 transvaginal ultrasounds. A probe is temporarily placed 2-3 inches into the vaginal canal and sound waves are used to create pictures of the lining of the uturus. * Participants will have a final visit 4 weeks after stopping the study drug. They will answer questions about mood and side effects.
HYPOTHESIS: Pregnenolone administration will be associated with greater reduction in depressive symptom severity than placebo in women with current mMDD. STUDY AIMS: Primary Aim: Determine if pregnenolone is associated with greater reduction in depressive symptom severity than placebo in women with mMDD, as measured by MADRS. Secondary Aims: 1. Determine if pregnenolone is associated with greater reduction in anxiety symptom severity than placebo in women with mMDD. 2. Determine if pregnenolone is associated with greater improvement in cognition than placebo in women with mMDD. 3. Determine if pregnenolone is associated with greater improvement in quality of life than placebo in women with mMDD. 4. Determine if pregnenolone is associated with greater improvement in vasomotor symptoms of menopause than placebo. Mechanistic Aims: 1. Determine whether changes in neurosteroid levels with pregnenolone mediate clinical response. 2. Determine if baseline neurosteroid levels predict pregnenolone response. 3. Determine whether depressive symptoms, anxiety, sleep or vasomotor symptoms improve first. A crossed-lagged panel model will explore serial correlations between changes in outcome measures.
This is a randomized, masked, placebo controlled study to assess the effect on a nutritional dietary supplement on menopausal signs and symptoms in perimenopausal women.
Using neuroimaging, the investigator will study the effects of estrogen on mood and brain function in perimenopausal women either with or without depression.
As women get older and go through menopause, levels of the female reproductive hormone estradiol decrease to low levels. Also with aging, the functioning of the arteries declines. Over time this vascular dysfunction can lead to health problems such as high blood pressure and heart disease. This study is being done to help determine what causes arteries to become unhealthy in postmenopausal women, who have low levels of the female reproductive hormone estradiol. In this study we will test whether low levels of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), a natural substance in the body that can cause the arteries to expand, explains why arteries become unhealthy in women with low levels of estradiol. To answer this question, we will study how vascular function changes with a medication that causes a short-term increase in BH4 levels when estradiol is lowered with a medication, compared to when estradiol is normal. We will also determine whether the administration of the antioxidant vitamin C, along with the medication to increase BH4 levels, will normalize vascular health in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women, and in women who have their estradiol levels lowered.
Study Background and Objectives: In the U.S. the majority of heart disease deaths are in women, not men. Much of the gender disparity in CVD rates relate to the burden of CV risk in women after the menopause. Depression has been associated with an increased risk for CVD morbidity and mortality. Even histories of recurrent depression in euthymic individuals are associated with elevated CV risk. Understanding the depression-CVD link may have particular relevance for women since women experience depression at a rate twice that of men. Substantial convergent evidence indicates that ovarian failure (estrogen deprivation) is one likely mechanism contributing to both CVD and depression in women. The perimenopause, a time associated with a two-fold increase in rates of depression, may provide an ideal opportunity for studying the pathophysiology of CV risk and depression in women. The primary objective of this study is to examine the prophylactic role of estradiol in the development of depressive symptoms and the progression of cardiovascular risk in perimenopausal women with or without histories of depression. The investigators predict that women susceptible to depression will be particularly vulnerable to the acceleration of CVD in the context of the perimenopause and, consequently, will show differentially greater benefit of estradiol treatment during the menopause transition for both indices of CV risk (e.g. inflammation, endothelial function, stress reactivity), as well as depressive symptoms.
The study hypothesis (or theory) is that monthly loss of iron before menopause may reduce women's risk of hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis. This study uses noninvasive, noncontrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of arteries in women entering menopause. This will help to determine if there is a correlation between iron accumulation and hardening of the arteries. In addition, blood levels of hormones will be measured to help show differences due to hormone levels vs. iron accumulation.
The purpose of this study is to find out why women's arteries stiffen as they go through menopause, and how this is affected by estrogen loss. We believe that arteries stiffen with the loss of estrogen because of "oxidative stress," the production of molecules that can damage cells and tissues in the body, and because the arteries lose their ability to expand, or dilate.
Recently, antidepressants have been explored as a class of medications to treat major depression in the context of perimenopause, as well as the somatic symptoms of perimenopause (such as hot flashes). Duloxetine (Cymbalta) is one of the newer antidepressants approved for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Therefore, the current study is designed to assess the efficacy of duloxetine in a sample of women who are perimenopausal and meet criteria for MDD. We will assess impact on MDD and perimenopausal symptoms.
Recently, antidepressants and other similar acting agents have been explored as a class of medications to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in the context of perimenopause, as well as the somatic symptoms of perimenopause (such as hot flashes). Omega-3 fatty acids, which include eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are nutritional compounds with widely established health benefits and which occur naturally in fish and marine sources. Results of previous mood disorder studies have indicated that omega-3 fatty acids may be of help in the treatment of depression. Therefore, the current study is designed to examine the effectiveness and tolerability of the study drug, Omacor, (omega-3 fatty acid ethyl esters), in the treatment of major depressive disorder in perimenopausal women.
OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the possible causes of bone loss in premenopausal or perimenopausal women.
The investigators are proposing a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study assessing the ability of low-dose rapamycin to delay ovarian aging in women. Animal studies have shown the potential of rapamycin in slowing or reversing some age-associated pathways.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the drugs raloxifene and rimostil in treating perimenopause-related depression. Perimenopause-related mood disorders cause significant distress to a large number of women; the demand for effective therapies to treat these mood disorders is considerable. Estradiol replacement therapy (ERT) has demonstrated efficacy in treating perimenopause-related depression. Unfortunately, there are long-term risks associated with ERT. Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMS), such as raloxifene, and phytoestrogens, such as rimostil, have estrogen-like properties and may offer a safer alternative to ERT. The effect of SERMS and phytoestrogens on mood and cognitive functioning need to be examined in women with perimenopause-related depression. Participants in this study will undergo a medical history, physical examination, electrocardiogram (EKG), and blood and urine tests. They will then be randomly assigned to receive one of four treatments for 8 weeks: raloxifene pills plus a placebo (an inactive substance) skin patch, rimostil pills plus placebo skin patch, estradiol skin patch plus placebo pills, or placebo patch plus placebo pills. Participants will have clinic visits every 2 weeks. During the visits, blood will be drawn and participants will meet with staff members and complete symptom self-rating scales. A urine and blood sample will be collected at the beginning and end of the study. At the end of the study, participants who received placebo or whose study medication was ineffective will be offered treatment with standard antidepressant medications for 8 weeks. Non-menstruating women will receive progesterone for 10 days to induce menstrual bleeding and shedding of the inner layer of the uterus, which may have been stimulated by the study medications.
Starting in early-perimenopause, changes in systemic and tissue level metabolism result in an accelerated loss of muscle mass and an increase in body fat. Our preliminary work indicates that metabolic alterations, specifically a decrease in whole-body protein balance, increase in abdominal adiposity, and reduced metabolic flexibility during exercise is most evident in perimenopause. Exercise is a potent stimulator of skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity. High intensity interval training (HIIT) has been shown to be an effective exercise strategy to support cardiometabolic health in overweight and obese young women. Skeletal muscle is critical to maintaining metabolic health and functionality across the lifespan, and is considered the primary diver of whole-body insulin resistance.There is a significant decrease in muscle mass across the menopause transition, which is often exacerbated by a significant gain in fat mass and visceral fat. Protein consumption prior to HIIT has resulted in improvements in energy expenditure and fat oxidation in young women. The overarching objective of this study is to determine the metabolic response of HIIT compared to traditional aerobic exercise in early and late perimenopausal women. Aim 1 will examine the metabolic responses (glucose, insulin sensitivity, energy expenditure) of HIIT vs aerobic exercise, combined with pre-exercise carbohydrate or protein ingestion, in overweight/obese (BMI: 28-40 Kg/m\^2) early and late perimenopausal women. Aim 2 will explore the impact of perimenopause on the fat oxidation and protein turnover before and after exercise. Lastly, aim 3 will explore the modulating effect of intramuscular fat on these metabolic outcomes.
Using neuroimaging, the investigator will study the effects of estrogen on mood and brain function in perimenopausal women with depression.
The Inovium Ovarian Rejuvenation Treatment is a PRP-based autologous treatment used in combination with a stimulated IVF sequence and Pre-Implantation Genetic Screening to treat infertility in women experiencing menopause, perimenopause, and premature ovarian failure.
Women in the menopause transition ('perimenopause') are exposed to extreme hormone variability, tend to experience a unique set of severe stressors (e.g., divorce, death of loved ones), and are also at substantially elevated risk to suffer from mood and anxiety disorders. The purpose of this research is to understand the mechanisms by which variability in estradiol (E2) is associated with the symptoms of anxiety and anhedonia (loss of interest and pleasure - a common symptom of depression). By stabilizing E2 variability with a hormonal manipulation, this research will determine the degree to which the E2 variability (or E2 levels) plays a causal role in perimenopausal anxiety and anhedonia symptoms and whether it does so by affecting biological responses to stress.
This is a pilot study, assessing the ability and safety of the use of VR101 intravaginal ring to relieve the symptoms of vaginal dryness, in peri and post-menopausal women. VR1010 is designed to release glycerol. The study will assess the duration of lubrication/ moisturization of the vagina with the VR101 intravaginal ring in place (up to 7 days) and participant satisfaction of the device. Study participants will insert the intravaginal ring and leave it in place for an initial 7 days and then repeat this process a 2nd time. Participants will respond to questionnaires, complete a daily diary and come in for 4 separate study visits. Each study visit will involve a brief vaginal exam. Upon removal of the initially inserted device (7 days after first study visit), participants will insert a second device for an additional 7 days and undergo the same evaluation.
Hormonal treatment of perimenopausal women has frequently utilized oral contraceptive pills (OCPs). Because of their ability to suppress ovulation and establish cycle control, OCPs have become a popular option, and one that is FDA approved for use until menopause. However, use of OCPs in women in their 40's and 50's carries significant cardiovascular risks. Venous thromboembolism risk is 3-6 fold greater in OCP users, and the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) is approximately doubled in OCP users over the age of 40. This occurs at an age where the background population risk of MI begins to increase, such that the absolute number of cases rises substantially. Women with additional risk factors for cardiovascular disease have a much greater risk for MI (6-40-fold) in association with OCPs. There are also large subgroups of midlife women who are not candidates for OCP use, such a smokers and migraineurs. Moreover, the trend towards lower estrogen dosing with OCPs containing 20 micrograms of ethinyl estradiol has not led to a detectable decrease in thromboembolic risk. Because of their increased potential risks, it is appropriate to seek alternatives to OCPs and to explore lower doses of hormones to relieve perimenopausal symptoms that occur prior to a woman's final menses. Recent evidence indicates that the hypothalamic-pituitary axis of reproductively aging women is more susceptible to suppression by sex steroids that previously believed. It is possible that hormone doses as low as 50 micrograms of transdermal estradiol (TDE) can suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary axis of midlife women. It is also tempting to speculate that the low but measurable circulating doses of levonorgestrel that are present when a woman uses the Mirena intrauterine system (IUS) can contribute to or even independently suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, and reduce the hormonal fluctuations that result in worsening of perimenopausal symptoms. The combination of low dose TDE plus Mirena may therefore confer superior symptom control as well as contraceptive effectiveness, at far less risk.
This is a study to determine if Fosamax (alendronate), a medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, is effective in decreasing the rate of bone loss which often begins to increase in the three to five years preceding the menopause (perimenopausal transition). During the three to five years prior to the menopause, the rate of bone loss increases. One way that physicians treat this is with oral contraceptive medication. However, the incidence of complications from oral contraceptives after the age of 40 increases. Therefore, a non-hormonal means of preventing bone loss should be useful. Fosamax (alendronate) is in a class of compounds called bisphosphonates. This study is being done to determine whether Fosamax can be used to prevent the increased rate of bone loss during the perimenopausal transition.
This study evaluates the effects on mood when stopping estrogen replacement therapy. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of estrogen levels on perimenopausal depression. This study will examine short-term withdrawal of estrogen in women whose mood had improved with estrogen therapy. Perimenopause-related mood disorders cause significant distress in a large number of women. Evidence suggests that estradiol may have beneficial effects in women with perimenopausal depression. However, the effect of declining estradiol secretion during perimenopause has not been fully examined. Peri- and post-menopausal women who experience a remission of perimenopause-related depression symptoms while on estrogen therapy and a control group of healthy volunteers on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) will be switched from their current form of HRT to estradiol for a 3-week period; volunteers will also complete symptom ratings to confirm the absence of mood symptoms. Participants will then be randomly assigned to either continue estradiol or take a placebo (an inactive pill) for an additional 3 weeks. Mood ratings will be used to determine response to estradiol withdrawal. ...
The goal of this study is to examine the impact of a diet high in fresh lean pork, compared to a plant-based diet, on cardiovascular function and vasomotor symptoms in perimenopausal women with overweight and obesity. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. How does a diet high in pork, compared to a plant-based diet, affects blood lipids, endothelial function, and blood pressure? 2. How does a diet high in pork, compared to a plant-based diet, affects blood nitrate, cardiometabolic biomarkers, inflammatory biomarkers, and vasomotor symptoms? Researchers will compare the diet high in pork to a plant-based diet to see if pork helps improve cardiovascular and mesopause symptoms. Participants will: * Consume both of the diets, each for 4 weeks, with a washout period between 2 and 6 weeks in between the diets trials * Visit the clinic 5 times with weekly meal pick ups during the diet trials * Undergo testing procedures including: weight and body composition, blood pressure and pulse, endothelial function using ultrasound of upper arm, microvascular blood flow, blood draws, physical activity measurements, and questionnaires.
A combination of synergistic dietary supplements is hypothesized to significantly improve self-reported measures of menopausal symptoms when compared with a baseline without the intervention.
Trial of imaging guided intra-ovarian injection to improve ovarian function in clinical settings of Premature Ovarian Failure, Perimenopausal and /or early postmenopausal symptomatology and related hormonal deficiencies. The study will compare the effectiveness of autologous Platelet Rich Plasma alone versus Stromal Vascular Fraction (tSVF and/or cellular stromal vascular fraction (cSVF) in combination with Platelet Rich Plasma as regards efficacy and duration of ovarian reactivation in women with acquired Premature Ovarian Failure, Menopausal, and Perimenopausal women.