Center for Research in Reproduction
Clinical Research Studies
The Center for Research in Reproduction is currently recruiting women with PCOS and women with regular menses, as well as adolescents with and without hyperandrogenemia (elevated levels for male hormones), for clinical research studies to determine the cause of PCOS.
Studies for Women
Study #1:
ACUTE EFFECTS OF PROGESTERONE ON LH SECRETION IN PCOS AND CONTROLS (IRB-HSR # 13368)
- The goal is to learn how progesterone acutely changes LH secretion.
- We are recruiting women with and without PCOS, 18-35 years old, with a BMI ≤ 40 kg/m2.
- Study requires 3 brief outpatient visits and two 26-hour (overnight) admissions (6pm-8pm).
- Participants will take one oral dose of progesterone, and will wear estrogen patches on two separate occasions (for 4 days each time).
- Sleep will be formally monitored.
- Compensation = $300.
Contact Lauren Lockhart at pcos@virginia.edu or (434) 243-6911 for more information.
Study #2:
EFFECT OF HYPERANDROGENEMIA ON SLEEP-WAKE CHANGES OF LH FREQUENCY (IRB-HSR # 14067)
- The goal is to assess whether testosterone influences sleep-wake differences of LH secretion.
- We are recruiting women with and without PCOS, 18-35 years old, no upper BMI limit.
- Study requires 3 brief outpatient visits and two 17-hour (overnight) admissions (2pm-7am).
- Participants will take flutamide for about 28 days.
- Sleep will be formally monitored.
- Compensation = $300.
Contact Lauren Lockhart at pcos@virginia.edu or (434) 243-6911 for more information.
Return to top of page
Studies for Adolescents
Study #3:
ABNORMAL OVARIAN FEEDBACK IN HYPERANDROGENEMIA/OBESITY (IRB-HSR # 8588)
- The goal of this study is to determine how testosterone modifies control of GnRH pulse secretion by ovarian steroids.
- We are recruiting girls at all Tanner Stages (breast) 1-5 who are hyperandrogenemic (testosterone >40 ng/dl and/or hirsutism)
- Study requires 3 brief outpatient visits and two 14-hour overnight admissions (5pm-7am).
- Participants will take physiologic oral doses of estrogen and progesterone for 7 days.
- Compensation = $200 Visa gift card.
Contact Lauren Lockhart at pcos@virginia.edu or (434) 243-6911 for more information.
Study #4:
EVOLUTION OF HYPOTHALAMIC SENSITIVITY TO OVARIAN STEROID FEEDBACK IN NORMAL PUBERTY (IRB-HSR # 14100)
- The goal of this study is to determine how the natural rise in testosterone during normal female puberty modifies control of GnRH pulse secretion by ovarian steroids.
- We are recruiting normal premenarcheal (Tanner 1-3) girls, 8-14 years old
- Study requires three outpatient visits and two 14-hour overnight admissions (5pm-7am).
- Participants will take physiologic oral doses of estrogen and progesterone for 7 days.
- Compensation = $200 Visa gift card.
Contact Lauren Lockhart at pcos@virginia.edu or (434) 243-6911 for more information.
Study #5:
SLEEP RELATED HORMONE SECRETION THROUGH PUBERTY AND IN OBESITY (IRB-HSR # 9868, # 13502)
- The goal of this study is to assess day-night patterns of hormone secretion (testosterone, estradiol, progesterone, LH, and FSH), during puberty in normal weight and obese girls.
- We are recruiting normal weight and obese girls, 7-18 years old.
- This study involves one brief outpatient visit and one overnight admission (15 or 20 hours).
- No study medications.
- Compensation = $75 - $100 Visa gift card.
Contact Lauren Lockhart at pcos@virginia.edu or (434) 243-6911 for more information.
Study #6:
OVARIAN CONTROL OF LH PULSES DURING EARLY PUBERTY (IRB-HSR # 10504)
- The goal is to determine whether progesterone acutely alters LH secretion in early pubertal girls.
- We are recruiting normal weight, premenarcheal (Tanner 1-3) girls, 9-14 years old.
- This study requires 2 brief outpatient visits and one 19-hour (overnight) admission (2pm-9am).
- Subject will take one oral dose of either placebo or physiologic progesterone.
- Compensation = $100 Visa gift card.
Contact Lauren Lockhart at pcos@virginia.edu or (434) 243-6911 for more information.
Study #7:
OVARIAN CONTROL OF LH PULSES DURING MID TO LATE PUBERTY (IRB-HSR # 13717)
- The goal is to assess whether elevated levels of testosterone influences suppression of LH pulses by progesterone.
- We are recruiting girls who are Tanner breast stage 3, 4, or 5 (and ≤ 2 years post-menarche), 10-17 year old.
- This study requires 3 brief outpatient visits and two 20-hour (overnight) admissions (4pm-noon).
- Subjects will take four oral doses of placebo and physiologic progesterone.
- Sleep is formally monitored during admissions.
- Compensation = $250 Visa gift card.
Contact Lauren Lockhart at pcos@virginia.edu or (434) 243-6911 for more information.
Study #8:
NEUROENDOCRINE EFFECTS OF ANDROGEN BLOCKADE IN ADOLESCENT PCOS (IRB-HSR # 12632)
- The goal of this study is to assess if androgen blockade restores normal sensitivity of GnRH regulation by ovarian steroids.
- We are recruiting hyperandrogenic girls, 13-17 years old.
- This study requires 5 brief outpatient visits and two 14-hour (overnight) admissions (5pm-7am).
- Subjects will take flutamide for 21 days and physiologic oral doses of estrogen and progesterone for 7 days.
- Compensation = $300 Visa gift card.
Contact Lauren Lockhart at pcos@virginia.edu or (434) 243-6911 for more information.
Study #9:
ADRENAL CONTRIBUTION TO HYPERANDROGENEMIA (IRB-HSR # 12702)
- The goal of this study is to determine the role of the adrenal gland hormone production during puberty.
- We are recruiting normal and obese girls, ages 7 to 18 years old.
- This study requires 2 brief outpatient visits and one 15-hour admission (5pm-8am).
- Subjects will take one oral dose of dexamethasone,and one IV administered dose of ACTH.
- Compensation = $100 Visa gift card.
Contact Lauren Lockhart at pcos@virginia.edu or (434) 243-6911 for more information.
Study #10:
NEUROENDOCRINE EFFECTS OF METFORMIN TREATMENT IN ADOLESCENT PCOS (IRB-HSR # 13789)
- The goal of this study is to assess if metformin induced reduction in insulin normalizes the hypothalamic effects of elevated androgens in adolescent girls.
- We are recruiting hyperandrogenemic girls, 10 to 17.
- This study requires 6 brief outpatient visits and four 16-hour (overnight) admissions (5pm-9am).
- Subjects will have 2 OGTTs, take metformin for approximately 3 months, and take physiologic oral doses of estrogen and progesterone for a total of 14 days.
- Compensation = $400 Visa gift card.
Contact Lauren Lockhart at pcos@virginia.edu or (434) 243-6911 for more information
Study #11:
HYPERANDROGENEMIA IN OBESE PERIPUBERTAL GIRLS: ROLE OF INSULIN AND LH (IRB-HSR # 13552)
- The goal is to evaluate the role of insulin resistance and high LH in causing elevated testosterone in obese girls.
- We are recruiting obese (BMI-for-age percentile ≥ 95), 8-16 years old, ≤ 2 years postmenarcheal girls.
- This study requires 2 brief outpatient visits and one 20-hour (overnight) admission (4pm-noon).
- Subjects will receive human insulin and glucose infusion (i.e., "insulin clamp" procedure), and will have insulin and glucose testing after ingesting a mixed meal.
- Compensation = $150 Visa gift card.
Contact Lauren Lockhart at pcos@virginia.edu or (434) 243-6911 for more information
Study #12:
SLEEP RELATED HORMONE SECRETION IN HYPERANDROGENEMIA IN EARLY PUBERTY (IRB-HSR # 13950)
- The goal is to see if early pubertal girls with high testosterone levels exhibit normal day-night changes of LH pulses.
- We are recruiting premenarcheal girls, 8-15 years old, both normal and hyperandrogenemic.
- This study requires 2 brief outpatient visits and one 20-hour (overnight) admission (4pm-noon).
- There are no hormonal study medications.
- Sleep is formally monitored during the admission.
- Compensation = $125 Visa gift card.
Contact Lauren Lockhart at pcos@virginia.edu or (434) 243-6911 for more information
Return to top of page
Collaborative Studies with VCU in Richmond, VA
Virginia Commonwealth University is currently sponsoring a number of research studies for women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and for women with regular menses (normal controls). Studies are available for women with PCOS who desire or do not desire pregnancy, as well as for normal control women and for postmenopausal women. If you are interested in more information about or in volunteering for one of these studies, please visit the Virginia Commonwealth University PCOS Research page.
Return to top of page
|