Menopause Transition, Sex Hormone Deficiency and Autonomic and Vascular Function

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA · Jul 5, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how the transition into menopause affects certain body functions, specifically the autonomic nervous system (which controls involuntary actions like heartbeat) and blood vessel function. Researchers want to understand how these changes might influence women's health during this time, especially since previous studies have mostly looked at women who are already postmenopausal. They will enroll 80 women aged 45 to 55 who are going through menopause to see how their body reactions change over time.

To be eligible for this study, participants need to be women aged 45-55 who are not currently using medications that could affect their body functions, are not pregnant or breastfeeding, and are generally healthy without serious conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure. Participants can expect to undergo various assessments to measure their autonomic and vascular functions during the menopause transition. This study is important because it aims to fill gaps in our understanding of how menopause affects women's health, which can lead to better care and support during this significant life change.

Gender

FEMALE

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Female
• • age 45-55 years
• • premenopausal
• • not using any medications determined to affect autonomic function
• • eumenorrheic
• • not planning to become pregnant for the duration of participation in the study
• • English-speaking, literate, willing and able to provide informed consent.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Diabetes
• • pregnant or breastfeeding
• • cardiac or pulmonary disorders
• • severe obesity (body mass index \[BMI\] ≥ 40 kg/m 2 )
• • hypertension
• • obstructive sleep apnea
• • current use of heart or blood pressure medications, current use of hormonal contraceptives or other forms of exogenous sex hormones
• • report of nicotine/tobacco use in the last six months, report of current alcohol abuse,
• • history of treatment with chemotherapy/radiation
• • coagulopathy disorders and/or use of anticoagulant medications, and current use of anxiolytics and/or antidepressants.