Clinical Research Directory

The HOP-STEP Intervention: Improving Maternal Health in Women With Lupus sIRB

While the HOP-STEP (Healthy Outcomes in Pregnancy with SLE Through Education of Providers) program has been demonstrated to be effective in improving provider confidence, increasing contraception documentation, and facilitating equitable pregnancy planning care in a single sub-specialty clinic here at Duke, the delivery of HOP-STEP may need to be changed to increase its fit with the local context at the University of Chicago Medical Center (UCMC) and subsequent locations. Thus, the investigators will now fit the intervention into a high-minority, high-poverty academic rheumatology center, and later pilot it through a randomized trial to identify and overcome existing barriers to equitable pregnancy prevention and planning at another institution (The University of Chicago Medical Center). The objective of this study is to prepare for a multi-center trial of the HOP-STEP intervention by fitting and then piloting its implementation and measuring its potential impact on maternal outcomes.

A Study to Assess the Safety of a New Inserter Device for Paragard® (Intrauterine Copper Contraceptive)

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate that a new device inserter leads to successful and safe insertion of Paragard® IUS, comparable to the currently approved IUS inserter, in females of reproductive potential.

Project for Reproductive Equity Through Volunteers and Entrepreneurship, Networks and Technology

The PREVENT Project is a multifaceted, adolescent friendly, culturally competent program aimed to address the issues surrounding unplanned pregnancies and lack of access and uptake of contraceptive services among adolescent girls. The intervention uses a mobile platform that provides educational SMS (Short Message Service) messaging, interactive voice response, and connects adolescent girls to community based AFSRH (Adolescent Friendly Sexual Reproductive Health) counselling services, as well as discreet contraceptive access points headed by female entrepreneurs. The program will be piloted for 12 months in various wards and villages in rural and urban Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.The acceptability and practicality of the intervention will be assessed using mixed methods. Questionnaires and focus groups will be conducted with the study participants, as well as the medical and non-medical volunteers at the start and end of the pilot. The study will be heavily supported by all-female non-medical social entrepreneurs and sexual reproductive health community mentors (volunteers), and, all-female medical reproductive health team. Recruitment will also take place in hair saloons (local hair braiding and styling establishments) and other female run business such as tailors and female clothing stores that have enlisted to become contraceptive access points in the study. There will be 2 intervention groups, control and case group. Both groups will receive educational SMS (text) messages on SRH (Sexual Reproductive Health) and access individually tailored educational resources through interactive voice response (IVR) services/system via PREVENT mobile platform. In addition to personal support to be able to contact with a SRH community peer mentor in the community for AFSRH counselling and support. The case group will then have access to contraception provided with detailed and discreet information on accessing PREVENT contraceptive access points in all communities included in the study.

Etonogestrel Implant as Emergency Contraception

The investigators propose a single site, single arm, open label mechanism of action pharmacodynamic pilot study of etonogestrel implant insertion prior to an luteinizing hormone (LH) surge. The investigators will evaluate ovulation rates via serum levels of reproductive hormones and transvaginal ultrasound findings following placement of an etonogestrel implant once the dominant follicle reaches a size of 15mm or greater, but prior to an LH surge, in persons with prior documented regular cycles and confirmed ovulation. The researchers' hypothesis is that ovulation will be inhibited if the etonogestrel implant is placed prior to an LH surge. Based on data from the Food and Drug Administration label for Nexplanon, etonogestrel rises to levels associated with ovulation suppression within 8 hours of placement. Given this rapid increase, it is therefore plausible to assume that ovulation can be inhibited by the implant if placed prior to an LH surge. This study is novel as there have been no published studies evaluating an etonogestrel implant for this indication. The contribution of this proposed research to the literature is significant because current recommendations from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) regarding timing of etonogestrel implant placement are stringent and not patient-centered. Any day insertion of the etonogestrel implant is supported by retrospective data and this pharmacodynamic data would further support the literature for any day insertion without the need for additional emergency contraception. If results support the investigators' hypothesis, it could increase access to contraception and decrease duplicative therapy.

Long Term Evaluation of Scapular-inserted Contraceptive Implants

This study aims to evaluate long-term outcomes when the etonogestrel contraceptive implant is inserted at an alternative site located over the scapular. The study will evaluate the pharmacokinetics (i.e., drug levels) and side effect profiles of participants who have an etonogestrel contraceptive implant inserted at this alternative scapular site over the course of at least two years.

A 3-way Crossover Clinical Investigation to Assess the Performance of Two Different Sized Polyurethane Condoms Versus a Latex Condom in Healthy Monogamous Couples.

This investigation is designed to evaluate the performance rate of two polyurethane male condoms with different sizes and thicknesses versus a standard natural rubber latex (NRL) male condom. The purpose of this study is to see how well the experimental condoms perform compared to the latex rubber condom (for example, how often the different condom types break or slip off the penis). Sponsor also wants to find out how well couples like using the three condom types and whether they experience any problems when using the condoms (for example, irritation or discomfort).

"Vasectomy: Right for Me?" Decision Support Tool

The goal of this trial is to learn if a web-based decision aid designed to provide evidence-based information about vasectomy and other birth control options helps improve users' decision-making about birth control. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Do people who use the decision aid have better knowledge about vasectomy? * Do people who use the decision aid have lower conflict with their decision? Participants will: * Use the decision aid (if they are assigned to the intervention arm). * Answer survey questions about their knowledge, decision-making, interest in vasectomy, and healthcare navigation experiences.

I-CAN Uganda Effectiveness Trial

This is a cluster-randomized controlled trial to determine the effectiveness of the community-based "I-CAN" intervention to improve agency in contraceptive decision-making and use in rural Uganda. Lay women will be trained to serve as peer mentors to other women of reproductive age in the community, using their own lived experience to provide support and information about contraceptive choices. Villages will be randomized to either receive the intervention or not. A household survey will be conducted at baseline before implementation activities begin and 24 months later. Interviews will also be conducted with mentors, participants, male partners of participants and other stakeholders. Researchers will compare preference-aligned contraceptive use (primary outcome), contraceptive agency, contraceptive method satisfaction, preference-aligned fertility management, and use of self-injectable contraception in villages with and without the intervention to determine effectiveness.

Trial of the "Mittin" Intervention to Improve Contraceptive Side Effect Counseling and Follow-up in Ethiopia

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if the "Mittin" intervention can improve women's ability to manage their fertility in line with their preferences among women aged 15-49 using hormonal contraceptives or intrauterine devices and attending public health centers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The main question it aims to answer is: Does the Mittin intervention increase preference-aligned fertility management, contraceptive method satisfaction, and preferred contraceptive method use among participants compared to standard care? Researchers will compare women's outcomes in health centers providing the Mittin intervention to women's outcomes in health centers that offer standard care to see if Mittin improves women's ability to act in line with their contraceptive preferences. Participants will * Receive either standard contraception services (control arm) or enhanced services (intervention arm) * Participate in a survey at the beginning of the study * Participate in surveys 4 and 8 months later

Evaluation of the Contraceptive Efficacy and Safety of a New Concentration of an Antiandrogenic Progestogen Combined With a Reduced-Dose Estrogen (LUNA)

This study is a Phase III, multicenter, open-label, single-arm clinical trial designed to evaluate the contraceptive efficacy and safety of a new formulation containing N0999 in women of childbearing potential. Approximately 1,600 post-menarche women aged 14 to 45 years who are candidates for systemic hormonal contraception are expected to be enrolled. All participants will receive the investigational product, consisting of N0999 administered in a 24+4 regimen. Each treatment cycle consists of 24 active tablets followed by 4 inactive tablets. Participants will receive treatment for 13 consecutive 28-day cycles, corresponding to approximately 52 weeks of treatment. Total study participation, including screening and follow-up, is expected to be approximately 58 weeks. The primary objective of the study is to evaluate contraceptive efficacy over 13 treatment cycles using the Pearl Index in participants aged 35 years or younger. Secondary objectives include assessing the Pearl Index in the overall study population and in participants older than 35 years, evaluating the method-failure Pearl Index based on correct and consistent use, and estimating cumulative pregnancy rates using Life Table Analysis. Additional objectives include evaluating cycle control, including withdrawal bleeding, intermenstrual spotting, amenorrhea, and bleeding duration, as well as participant satisfaction with study treatment. Exploratory assessments of clinical and laboratory signs of hyperandrogenism will also be performed. The safety and tolerability of the investigational product will be evaluated throughout the study by monitoring adverse events, serious adverse events, adverse events of special interest, safety-related discontinuations, clinically relevant findings, and laboratory assessments. An Independent Data and Safety Monitoring Committee will oversee participant safety during the trial. Participants who wish to become pregnant after completing treatment may participate in an additional exploratory follow-up period of up to 12 months to characterize the return of spontaneous menstruation

Pharmacokinetic Study of Long-acting Antiretrovirals and Contraceptives in HIV

This study is being done to understand how long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) used for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and hormonal contraceptive methods affect each other when used at the same time. Women who are already using CAB-LA or not using PrEP will choose to join one of several groups based on whether they use injectable contraceptive (IM DMPA), an etonogestrel implant, or no hormonal contraceptive. Participants will have study visits every 4 to 12 weeks for up to 12 or 24 weeks after starting a contraceptive method to collect blood samples and measure levels of CAB-LA and hormone concentrations. The study will compare these levels to see if taking CAB-LA changes hormone concentrations or if using hormonal contraception changes CAB-LA drug levels. Safety, side effects, satisfaction, and continuation of CAB-LA PrEP and contraceptive methods will also be evaluated.

Oral Contraceptive Pill (OCP) Pharmacogenomics

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate how differences in specific parts of our DNA can influence how individual bodies break down the hormones contained within oral contraceptive pills, which could affect how well these birth control pills work to prevent pregnancy. The investigators are also interested in exploring how these differences in our DNA can also explain why patients taking the exact same formulation of birth control pill will experience very different side effects. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Do individuals with the CYP3A7\*1C variant have increased metabolism of both desogestrel and ethinyl estradiol when taking a combined oral contraceptive pill? * Do individuals with the CYP3A7\*1C variant experience higher rates of breakthrough ovulation while taking a desogestrel/ethinyl estradiol combined oral contraceptive pill? * What novel genetic loci are associated with alterations in steroid hormone pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics among a larger cohort of combined oral contraceptive pill users? Participants will take a specific formulation of combined oral contraceptive pill (desogestrel/ethinyl estradiol) and undergo the following procedures: * Blood draw to measure the amount of progestin and estrogen in their system from the combined oral contraceptive pill * Questionnaires to assess side effects possibly caused by the combined oral contraceptive pill * Blood draw to measure endogenous hormone levels and biomarkers that may be affected by the combined oral contraceptive pill * A transvaginal ultrasound to measure any ovarian follicles (optional procedure)

Validation of Effectiveness on NaturalCycles Users

The goal of this observational study is to measure the effectiveness of the Natural Cycles digital birth control application at preventing pregnancy in sexually active women aged 18 to 35 with no known history of infertility. The main questions it aims to answer are: * What is the pregnancy rate of the application over one year, for all users? * What is the pregnancy rate of the application over one year, for users who follow the application's instructions perfectly? Participants will: * Use the Natural Cycles application for birth control for up to one year. * Log information about daily sexual activity in the app. * Complete a questionnaire at the beginning and end of their participation. * Perform urine pregnancy tests (provided by mail) upon entry to the study, at the start of every cycle during the study, and upon exit from the study.

DYnamic decisioN Support for IntegrAting PrEP in Clinics for Young People in Alabama and Botswana

This study evaluates strategies to improve access to HIV prevention through the integration of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) into existing healthcare settings, rather than limiting delivery to specialty clinics. The study addresses barriers to PrEP uptake, including limited awareness, stigma, and restricted access, and recognizes that availability alone may not ensure initiation or sustained use. The study includes two components. First, a longitudinal cohort of current PrEP users will be followed to assess changes in access, preferences, and PrEP use over time in real-world settings. Second, a dynamic decision-support toolkit will be developed and evaluated to support patients and providers in PrEP-related decision-making. The toolkit will include patient- and provider-facing components to support clinical decision-making, improve risk understanding, and facilitate integration of PrEP into routine healthcare. The toolkit will be refined and beta-tested in selected healthcare facilities in Botswana and Alabama.

Safety of a Contraceptive Copper Vaginal Ring

Many birth control options today come with unwanted side effects or risks. Hormonal methods can affect both mental and physical health, while devices like copper IUDs carry risks such as uterine perforation or infection. This study is testing a new option: a copper vaginal ring (CVR) - a non-hormonal, non-invasive contraceptive that can be self-inserted, similar to a other vaginal rings like NuvaRing or Annovera. The main goal of this study is to assess whether the copper vaginal ring is safe to use. Researchers will also look at how comfortable and easy it is to use, whether participants follow the instructions, and how much copper accumulates in cervical mucus and vaginal fluid during use. The study will enroll 8 women of childbearing age. Participants wear the ring continuously for 28 days, inserting it on Day 5 of their menstrual cycle. Over the course of the study, participants will attend 8 in-person clinic visits, which include pelvic exams, vaginal swabs, blood draws, and cervical mucus collection. On the day the ring is removed (Day 28), small tissue samples (biopsies) are taken from the vagina and uterine lining. At the end of the study, participants will complete a short survey about their experience with the ring.

Improving Alcohol and Substance Use Care Access, Outcome, Equity During the Reproductive Years

The goal of this clinical trial is to test the effectiveness of evidence-based Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) among adult patients who screen positive to one or more risky alcohol or substance use behaviors while seeking care at a sexual and reproductive health (SRH) clinic. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does SBIRT impact patients' alcohol and substance use, SRH, mental health, physical health, quality of life, and wellbeing? * Does SBIRT effectiveness differ by ethnicity, socioeconomic status, age, gender, and urbanicity? * Does SBIRT effectiveness differ by delivery mode (in-person vs. telemedicine)? Participants will receive in-person and telemedicine SBIRT, or usual care. Participants will complete surveys at interviews at baseline, 30 days, and 3 months. Researchers will compare patients who received SBIRT to patients who receive usual care to see if patients who receive the SBIRT intervention have a greater reduction in negative outcomes as compared to those who receive usual care. In this setting, usual care consists of basic quantity and frequency questions asked inconsistently as part of the admission process and varying by provider, with no standardized approach to screening, treatment, follow-up, or referral.

Verbal Analgesia During Copper IUD Insertion After Cesarean Delivery

This open-label, parallel-group randomized controlled trial evaluated whether structured verbal analgesia reduces pain during Copper T380A intrauterine device insertion compared with standardized neutral communication in women with previous cesarean delivery and no prior vaginal birth. Eligible women requesting Copper T380A insertion were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to receive either a structured supportive communication protocol or standardized neutral procedural communication during insertion. The primary outcome was pain intensity measured on a 0-10 numerical rating scale immediately after IUD release in the uterine cavity, with pain at the final attempted insertion step used for failed insertions.

Patient-clinical Linkages to Improve Trust and Engagement in Postpartum Healthcare

Maternal mortality in the United States is higher than in peer nations and has not decreased since 1990. Beyond mortality, severe maternal mortality impacts far too many women. Not only are these high rates alarming, but notable racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities exist. These inequities are highly regional, with women living in the rural southeast part of the United States, including the Mississippi Delta, having the highest rates of maternal mortality and morbidity. Unfortunately, these disparities have proven to be stubbornly resistant to interventions, necessitating an innovative multifaceted approach focused on community practice, building trust, and prioritizing patient voices. To meet this need, this proposal aims to establish the Mississippi Delta Research Center of Excellence for Maternal Health with the goal of addressing preventable maternal mortality, decreasing severe maternal morbidity, and promoting maternal health equity in partnership with the Mississippi Delta community. This patient-clinical linkages intervention study will evaluate the effectiveness of a multilevel and multisector communication and health literacy strategy to increase trust and engagement in postpartum healthcare among women in the Mississippi Delta, with a specific focus on Black women, their families, and their communities. These research projects both have the overarching goal of partnering with the community to determine and meet the needs of pregnant and postpartum women in the Mississippi Delta and address the disparities within maternity health and health care outcomes.

Postpartum Integration of Vaccines and Contraception Trial

This study aims to examine how to implement a gender-transformative post-partum family planning program integrated into community-based infant vaccination services, and to evaluate preliminary effectiveness of this approach on postpartum contraceptive use in a low resource, rural setting.

Levonorgestrel-piroxicam Versus Ulipristal Acetate for Emergency Contraception

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the failure rate of the levonorgestrel (LNG)-piroxicam combination regimen versus ulipristal acetate (UPA) as emergency contraception (EC). The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. whether the LNG-piroxicam combination regimen has a lower failure rate than UPA for EC; 2. whether the LNG-piroxicam combination regimen has a higher percentage of pregnancies prevented than UPA for EC 3. whether there is any difference in the change in the subsequent menstrual cycle and adverse effect profile between the two regimens Participants will: 1. Take a single dose of either (i) LNG 1.5 mg plus piroxicam 40 mg and a placebo tablet resembling UPA, or (ii) UPA 30 mg plus placebo tablets resembling LNG and piroxicam. 2. Have a blood test for serum LH, oestradiol an progesterone. 3. Keep a diary of their vaginal bleeding episodes, adverse effects symptoms, any further acts of intercourse and the type of contraception used. 4. Have a follow-up either in person by phone about 1-2 weeks after the next expected menstruation. 5. If normal menstrual bleeding has not occurred by that time, a pregnancy test will be carried out.

Study of the Safety and Contraceptive Efficacy of Relugolix Combination Therapy in Women With Uterine Fibroids or Endometriosis Who Are at Risk for Pregnancy

The purpose of this study is to assess the contraceptive efficacy of relugolix combination therapy.

Contraceptive Efficacy Study of Ovaprene

This will be a multi-center, single arm, open-label study of Ovaprene, a non-hormonal intravaginal ring, to investigate the contraceptive effectiveness, safety and acceptability of Ovaprene.

Influences of Long-acting Reversible Contraceptives on Iron Status and Physiological Responses to Extreme Environments in Women

Over recent years, military service women have shown increasing interest in utilizing long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs; i.e., implants or intrauterine devices, IUDs). While clinically, LARC have been proven safe and effective at preventing pregnancy \& decreasing menstrual symptoms, it is unclear what impact this type of contraceptive may have on physiological responses to extreme environments (heat, cold and high altitude). Additionally, iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia are prevalent in U.S. military women which likely affect health and performance. There is evidence to suggest that the prevalence of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia is lower in women utilizing LARCs, which preserve iron stores, likely due to reduced menstrual blood loss that compounds with each cycle over the course of months. Due to the increasing interest in the utilization of LARCs it is important to understand what, if any, impact these methods of contraception may have on a female Soldier's physiological responses. The overall goal of the present study is to characterize iron status and physiological responses (including but not limited to sweating, skin blood flow, ventilation, and heart rate) to extreme environmental stressors of heat, cold and high altitude (i.e. hypobaric hypoxia) in women utilizing LARCs. Up to thirty-three individuals (n=18 LARCs, n=15 monophasic oral contraceptives) will complete testing visits separated by at least 48 hours for environmental testing visits. During heat stress testing, measures of core body temperature, skin temperature, and sweat rate will be measured during a standardized protocol in hot, humid conditions. During cold stress, measures of body core temperature, metabolic heat production, skin blood flow and temperature (at both distal extremity and proximal body sites) will be assessed in order to better quantify the impact of exogenous sex hormones via LARCs and OCs in volunteers exposed to the cold. Measurements will be obtained during a standardized protocol in cold air (\~90 min; 10°C). For altitude, cardiopulmonary responses will be assessed during rest and exercise during an acute altitude exposure (4300m). Blood samples will be collected throughout the investigation in order to quantify sex hormone concentrations, iron status, and inflammatory biomarkers in response to environmental stressors. The investigators will also utilize laboratory tests (i.e., carbon monoxide (CO) rebreathing technique) and collect blood samples to quantity iron stores in these groups of women. To characterize iron status, the Soldier Performance Health and Readiness (SPHERE) epidemiological data repository will be utilized to quantify the prevalence of iron deficiency and iron deficient anemia diagnoses between women using LARCs and women not utilizing LARCs.

Arterial Vascular Effects of Estetrol-drospirenone Combined Oral Contraceptive Pill

The goals of this clinical trial are to investigate the effect of the estetrol (E4)-drospirenone combined oral contraceptive (COC) pill on flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery and pulse wave velocity (PWV), in comparison to the ethinylestradiol (EE)-levonorgestrel COC pill, and to compare their respective effects on blood pressure, chronic inflammatory markers, as well as glycaemic and lipid indices. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does E4-drospirenone COC have significantly smaller effects then EE-levonorgestrel COC on FMD, PWV, blood pressure, chronic inflammatory markers, as well as glycemic and lipid indices. Researchers will compare E4-drospirenone to EE-levonorgestrel to see if the former has lower arterial vascular and metabolic risks. Participants will: * be randomised to take E4-drospirenone or EE-levonorgestrel COC pill according to product insert; * visit the clinic at baseline and 6 and 12 months post-recruitment for checkups and tests