Menopause Clinical Trials

This is a cross-sectional study in which the investigators will determine the impact of premature/early menopause on MSNA, BP and baroreflex sensitivity in younger (≤49 yr old) and older (≥50 yr old) women. Specifically, aim one will determine mechanisms driving autonomic dysregulation of BP in premature and early menopausal women and aim two will determine mechanisms driving autonomic dysregulation of BP in older menopausal women. The study design outlined below will permit testing of aim one and aim two. Read Less

The purpose is to determine if the two estradiol products can deliver similar amounts of estradiol after single and multiple dosing. Read Less

The overall objective of the proposed pilot project is to explore health literacy and barriers to management of PCOS across the lifespan and determine whether the cardiometabolic risks of PCOS extend beyond menopause. The investigators hypothesize that barriers to PCOS management exist and cardiometabolic risks for this population are magnified by aging and menopause. Read Less

This is a proof-of-concept phase 2 clinical trial to investigate the safety and effect of the phytoestrogenic supplement PhytoSERM on regional brain metabolism by fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG-PET) in peri- and postmenopausal women. The investigators hypothesize that there will be a significant difference between the PhytoSERM group and placebo group in glucose brain metabolism. Read Less

Depression is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), and this comorbidity contributes significantly to the morbidity and mortality of women. The menopausal transition or perimenopause is a period of vulnerability for both depression and CVD, making it a key time to study this critical public health issue. This research will preliminarily explore whether disruption in two novel stress pathways 1) the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and autonomic nervous system (ANS) and their relationship may underlie the link between these illnesses. Findings will provide important insight into potential mechanisms by which depression during perimenopause may increase risk for CVD in midlife women, which will inform potential risk reduction and treatment strategies that can improve health outcomes in this population. Read Less

The purpose of this research is to determine whether hot water therapy (i.e. taking prolonged hot baths on multiple consecutive days) decreases hot flash symptoms and improves mood in women who are undergoing or who have underwent menopause. It is hypothesized that women who undergo hot water therapy will have reduced hot flash symptoms and improved mood. Initial tracking period: Women who volunteer to participate in this study will be asked to track the frequency and intensity of their hot flash and other menopause-related symptoms for an initial two week period. Afterwards, they will start their heat therapy program. Physiological assessments: On days 1, 7, and 13 of the heat therapy sessions, the participants will enter a climate controlled room to have their thermoregulatory responses assessed. This will consist of slowly walking on a motorized treadmill in 99.5°F (37.5°C) and 30% relative humidity conditions, for 30 min, after which the humidity in the climate chamber will be progressively increased until their core temperature begins to increase (~2 hour total time). Before and/or during these trials, core temperature, heart rate, whole-body sweat losses, thermal comfort, local sweat rate, and skin blood flow will be measured, and a 6 ml (~1 tsp) blood sample will be taken, to assess how the participants respond to the heat stress. These sessions should take less than 3 hours to complete. Hot water therapy sessions: Upon enrolling in the study, the participants will be assigned to one of two groups: water bathing at 105°F or 97°F in the lab. On days 2-6 and 8-12 of the therapy sessions, the participants will immerse themselves to a water level at the shoulders for ~30 min, followed by immersion to the hip level for ~60 min (total immersion time of 90 min). Post-intervention tracking period: after completing the heat therapy sessions, the participants will be asked to continue to take baths at home once every 4 days for 1 month. During this time, the participants will be asked to record the intensity and frequency of their hot flashes daily and other menopause-related symptoms weekly. At the end of this month the participants will be given a final exit survey, in order for them to provide the researchers information about their experience participating in the study. Read Less

The overall objective of the study is to examine the effect of an 8-hour time-restricted eating intervention on lipid levels and body composition in peri- and recently postmenopausal women with untreated dyslipidemia. Read Less

This is a proof-of-concept phase 2 clinical trial to investigate the effect of the phytoestrogenic supplement PhytoSERM on vasomotor symptoms and other symptoms associated with the menopausal transition, and on blood-based biomarkers in peri- and postmenopausal women. After the screening period, participants will be randomized to PhytoSERM 50 mg pills (administered orally, once per day) or matching placebo, 1:1 allocation, for a period of 12 weeks. After 12 weeks, all participants in the placebo group will be crossed-over to receive PhytoSERM pills for the remainder of the study (open-label phase). Read Less

The menopause transition is associated with increased risk for weight gain and a shift toward storing fat in the belly region, which may increase risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The study will determine whether the stress hormone cortisol contributes to this shift. Read Less

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: Determine if pregnenolone is associated with greater reduction in anxiety symptom severity than placebo in women with mMDD. Determine if pregnenolone is associated with greater improvement in cognition than placebo in women with mMDD. Determine if pregnenolone is associated with greater improvement in quality of life than placebo in women with mMDD. Determine if pregnenolone is associated with greater improvement in vasomotor symptoms of menopause than placebo. Mechanistic Aims: Determine whether changes in neurosteroid levels with pregnenolone mediate clinical response. Determine if baseline neurosteroid levels predict pregnenolone response. 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. Read Less

The overall objective of this study is to examine the physiological responses that occur during a hot flush in postmenopausal women. The following specific aims will be executed to reach the overall objective of this study. Aim 1: To determine if hot flushes can be reliably induced with a temperature-controlled, water- circulating (TCWC) heating pad. Based on previous research, the investigators hypothesize that hot flushes will be inducible with the TCWC in symptomatic women, but not in asymptomatic women. Aim 2: To determine if heat-induced hot flushes in symptomatic women will cause reproducible cardiovascular and respiratory responses. The investigators hypothesize that heat-induced hot flushes produce similar and reproducible cardiovascular and respiratory responses to spontaneous hot flushes. Aim 3: To determine if body fat percentage influences hot flush severity or frequency during spontaneous or induced hot flushes. The investigators hypothesize that women with higher body fat have reduced hot flash severity and frequency. Read Less

Women in the menopause transition (perimenopause) experience substantial day-to-day variability in estradiol and have a 2-4-fold increase in major depression risk. About 40% of perimenopausal women are susceptible to the emergence of affective symptoms tied to changes in estradiol. Among the perimenopausal women with affective impairment, most report irritability, not "depression," is their primary source of impairment and distress. The purpose of this research is to determine the neurophysiologic basis of susceptibility to estradiol fluctuations and irritability symptoms in perimenopausal women. Read Less