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Hormonal Effects on the Uterus and Endometrium
This study is currently recruiting participants.
Verified by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC), March 2008
Sponsored by: Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)
Information provided by: National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00001454
  Purpose

Endometrium is the lining of the uterus. It is where the fertilized egg normally implants during pregnancy.

This study was designed to better understand the way(s) that female sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone) cause the uterus to grow and develop. It is known that these hormones are necessary to prepare the uterus for pregnancy, but the way the hormones work is unknown.

Researchers would like to identify the genes that are affected by female sex hormones by using a variety of tests (in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and culture of human endometrium).

Researchers will select women who have regular monthly menstrual cycles and study them for two cycles;

  1. The first cycle (PRE-BIOPSY CYCLE) will include daily measurements of the patient's body temperature and progesterone measurements during the last 14 days (luteal phase) of the menstrual cycle.
  2. The second cycle (BIOPSY CYCLE) will include measurements of urinary luteinizing hormone (LH) to determine the day of the LH surge. Luteinizing hormone is the hormone that causes the ovary to release the developed egg. Ovarian ultrasounds will be performed before the biopsy to determine development of the egg. Blood tests will be taken on the day of the biopsy to have an overall idea of the hormones circulating in the patient's blood. An endometrial biopsy will be taken at one of three possible times to identify endometrial products under conditions of estrogen, estrogen/progesterone, or steroid hormone withdrawal.

Condition
Pregnancy

MedlinePlus related topics: Menstruation
Drug Information available for: Progesterone
U.S. FDA Resources
Study Type: Observational
Official Title: Endometrial Mediators of Gonadal Steroid Action

Further study details as provided by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC):

Estimated Enrollment: 178
Study Start Date: April 1995
Detailed Description:

Estrogen and progesterone induce characteristic and predictable morphological changes in the endometrium that are required for successful implantation and pregnancy. The mechanism(s) by which estrogen and progesterone exert these effects on the endometrium is not known. We propose to identify genes that are induced by endogenous estrogen and progesterone using in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and culture of human endometrium obtained at hormonally different times of the cycle. Regularly cycling women not at risk for pregnancy will be studied for two menstrual cycles. The first, pre-biopsy cycle, will be characterized by daily basal body temperature measurements and a luteal phase progesterone measurement. During the biopsy cycle, urinary LH measurements will be performed to determine the day of the LH surge. Ovarian ultrasounds to assess follicular development will be performed before biopsy. Blood will be obtained on the day of the biopsy to characterize the hormonal mileau. An endometrial biopsy will be obtained either in the early follicular phase (at a follicular diameter of less than 8 mm), the late follicular phase (follicular diameter greater than 14 mm) or in the mid-(luteal phase day 6-8) or late (luteal phase day 12 - 14) luteal phase, to allow identification of endometrial products under conditions of estrogen, estrogen/progesterone and steroid withdrawal. Alternatively, endometrial tissue may be obtained from normal women and those with endometriosis at the time of menses using a cup-shaped intravaginal collecting device. Additionally, women with infertility possibly related to endometrial dysfunction will be studied in the luteal phase.

  Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:   18 Years to 43 Years
Genders Eligible for Study:   Female
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   Yes
Criteria
  • INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Healthy volunteers will be in excellent health.

Only women with regular menstrual cycles (every 26-35 days) using mechanical (condoms, diaphragm) or sterilization methods of contraception will be included.

Only women with a negative pregnancy test, normal physical examination and laboratory results, and a luteal phase progesterone value of greater than 4 ng/mL will be entered into this study.

Women with endometriosis will be recruited from those with histologically-proven endometriosis. Except for this diagnosis they will meet criteria for healthy volunteers as stated above.

Women may participate in the study on more than one occasion, but biopsies may not be performed in a "baseline" cycle.

  Contacts and Locations
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00001454

Contacts
Contact: Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office (800) 411-1222 prpl@mail.cc.nih.gov
Contact: TTY 1-866-411-1010

Locations
United States, Maryland
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike Recruiting
Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
Sponsors and Collaborators
  More Information

NIH Clinical Center Detailed Web Page  This link exits the ClinicalTrials.gov site

Publications:
Study ID Numbers: 950110, 95-CH-0110
Study First Received: November 3, 1999
Last Updated: July 18, 2008
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00001454  
Health Authority: United States: Federal Government

Keywords provided by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC):
Estrogen
Progesterone
Menses
Endometrium
Normal Volunteer

Study placed in the following topic categories:
Progesterone

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on January 15, 2009