Description Module
The Description Module contains narrative descriptions of the clinical trial, including a brief summary and detailed description. These descriptions provide important information about the study's purpose, methodology, and key details in language accessible to both researchers and the general public.
Description Module path is as follows:
Study -> Protocol Section -> Description Module
Description Module
Ignite Creation Date:
2025-12-25 @ 12:28 AM
Ignite Modification Date:
2025-12-25 @ 12:28 AM
NCT ID:
NCT00113867
Brief Summary:
The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of marked alterations in ovarian steroid hormones on cognitive functions in women. Sex hormones and stress hormones of women awaiting or undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF) will be compared with levels of women adopting children and women on oral contraceptives.
Detailed Description:
Much of our understanding of the effects of ovarian steroid hormones on cognitive functioning comes from studies of changes in cognitive function associated with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in post-menopausal women and changes in menstrual cycle phase in premenopausal women. If fluctuations in ovarian sex steroid hormone levels across the normal physiological range affect cognitive functions in women, then marked alterations in hormone levels should have a notable effect on cognitive function.
Hormonal in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments for female infertility result in dramatic fluctuations in estrogen levels. Women awaiting infertility treatment report negative emotions, depressed mood, declines in memory and concentration, and higher levels of reported stress compared to women who have never experienced infertility.
Four groups of twenty women each will be recruited for this observational study:
* Group 1 - IVF treatment with GnRH-a alone
* Group 2 - IVF treatment with GnRH-a plus sex steroid stimulating hormones
* Group 3 - ADPT control (women in the process of adopting children)
* Group 4 - OC (oral contraceptives) control
All groups will receive a cognitive/affect assessment twice, with a 3-week interval between assessments. Blood and salivary samples will be taken on the two test days to measure ovarian sex steroid hormone levels and stress hormone levels. Salivary samples will also be taken on a third day in between the two test days. Heart Period Variability (HPV), a measure of cardiac functioning, will be measured using electrocardiogram (ECG).
Study:
NCT00113867
Study Brief:
Protocol Section:
NCT00113867