Whole-Brain Dynamics in the Natural Menstrual Cycle vs. an Ovarian Stimulated Cycle: Impact of Hormonal Fluctuations on Healthy Women Undergoing Ovarian Stimulation

Launched by ART FERTILITY CLINICS LLC · Apr 2, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring how hormonal changes during different phases of the menstrual cycle affect brain activity in healthy women. The researchers want to compare the brain's responses in women who are having their natural menstrual cycles with those undergoing an ovarian stimulation procedure, which involves taking hormones to encourage the ovaries to produce eggs. Using a type of brain imaging called resting-state fMRI, they will observe how brain activity varies across different phases, such as before and after egg retrieval and during the natural cycle.

To participate in this study, women aged 25 to 35 who have a regular menstrual cycle and meet specific health criteria may be eligible. Participants should have a healthy body weight and certain hormone levels, and they should not have a history of ovarian surgery or mental health disorders. If you join this study, you can expect to undergo brain imaging during different hormonal phases, helping researchers understand how these changes impact brain function. This research could provide valuable insights into women's health and how hormonal treatments affect the brain.

Gender

FEMALE

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Age group: 25 - 35 years old
• • BMI: 20 - 30
• • Anti-Mullerian Hormone (AMH): 1.3 - 5.9 ng/ml
• • Regular Menstrual Cycle: 26-35 days
• • In case of previous use of hormonal contraception: wash-out period of 3 month
• • Meet standard safety and eligibility criteria for MRI scanning, including the absence of contraindications such as metallic implants, claustrophobia, or other medical conditions that preclude MRI
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • History of ovarian surgery
• • Pathology of the ovaries
• • Mental health disorders
• • Use of medication influencing brain function
• • Ongoing use of hormonal contraception (this would include OCP, but also patches and Mirena containing IUD)