Clinical Research Directory

Comparison of Oral Dydrogesterone and Vaginal Progesterone in Menopausal Hormone Therapy

Menopause is a natural stage in a woman's life that can be associated with symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, sleep problems, and vaginal dryness. Menopausal hormone therapy is commonly used to relieve these symptoms. In women with an intact uterus, progesterone must be used together with estrogen to protect the lining of the uterus. The purpose of this study is to compare two commonly used progesterone treatment methods in women receiving menopausal hormone therapy. All participants will use transdermal estradiol gel, and they will be randomly assigned to receive either oral dydrogesterone or vaginal micronized progesterone. This prospective randomized controlled study will evaluate the effects of these treatments on endometrial thickness, menopausal symptoms, vaginal health parameters, bleeding patterns, and quality of life over a 12-month follow-up period. The results of this study may help determine the most appropriate progesterone regimen for women undergoing menopausal hormone therapy.

Comparing Digital Therapy, Trazodone, and Daridorexant for Menopause-Related Insomnia Symptoms

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn how three current insomnia therapies (trazodone, daridorexant, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia) compare with each other in peri- and post-menopausal women. It will also learn about the safety of the treatments. The main questions it aims to answer are: Which commonly used insomnia therapies are most effective and safe for improving insomnia symptoms in peri- and post-menopausal people? How well do the treatments work for people from different backgrounds, who are at different stages of menopause, and who have different conditions common during menopause (e.g., sleep apnea, mood disturbance, etc.)? What medical problems do participants have when using these treatments? Participants will: Be asked to take trazodone every night, take daridorexant every night, or participate in an online behavioral program for insomnia, for a total of 12 months. Participate in a total of one in-person visit and 7 virtual visits (phone calls) over the 12 months. Wear (and keep) a Fitbit and fill out a daily sleep diary for at least 4 weeks over the 12 months. Fill out online surveys 4 times over the 12 months.

A Clinical Study to Assess Histological Changes From Treatment of Poly L-lactic Acid Biostimulator on Women at Various Menopausal Stages

To assess protein expression stimulated by poly L-lactic acid (PLLA) via punch biopsy at each follow-up visits compared to Baseline.

CARAMEL: Retrospective Study for Personalized Risk Assessment of Cardiovascular Disease in Menopausal and Perimenopausal Women Using Real World Data

This retrospective observational study, part of the EU-funded CARAMEL project, aims to develop and validate personalized cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment models specifically designed for menopausal and perimenopausal women (ages 40-60). The study leverages Real World Data (RWD) collected from multiple international clinical partners, including electronic health records (EHR), diagnostic imaging data, and signal data. The main objective is to improve the prediction of CVD precursors such as hypertension and dyslipidemia, as well as mid- and long-term risk of CVD events, through advanced artificial intelligence (AI) models. These models will be trained on multimodal data to capture complex, individualized risk trajectories that current risk calculators fail to address, particularly in women. Special focus is placed on under-researched, women-specific risk factors and their interactions with traditional predictors. The study includes several research objectives: (1) predicting the onset of hypertension and dyslipidemia using EHR data; (2) modeling the long-term risk of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events and disease trajectories; (3) identifying novel imaging biomarkers from routine screening tests such as mammography, DXA, ultrasound, and cardiac MRI; (4) developing multimodal prediction models combining imaging and clinical data; (5) creating automated AI tools for imaging biomarker extraction; and (6) using signal data from cardiac devices to predict disease progression and events. The study population consists of middle-aged women with retrospective data available across different health systems. The expected outcome is a validated set of stratified, personalized CVD risk models that can support targeted prevention strategies and enable more equitable, sex-specific care. This will contribute to reducing the burden of CVD in women and addressing critical gaps in early detection, clinical decision-making, and health policy. This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement No 101156210.

Comparing and Predicting the Risk of Respiratory Tract Infection (RTI) Among Post-menopausal Women on or Without Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): an Observational Cohort Study

Background: Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are a major public health concern. Global studies published in Lancet Infect. Dis. highlight the persistent morbidity and mortality from RTIs, with upper- and lower-RTIs collectively accounting for more than 100 million disability-adjusted-life-years per year. During menopause, hormonal changes alongside other factors increase the risk for illnesses, such as RTIs, COPD, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. However, it remains unknown how hormone-replacement therapy during menopause might impact the frequency or severity of RTIs. While hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is often prescribed for menopausal symptom relief, its potential impact on RTI risk and severity has not been examined. Objective: This observational cohort study aims to compare and predict the risk of RTI among postmenopausal women, with a particular focus on the influence of HRT. The principal aim is to compare the rates and severity of respiratory tract infections in postmenopausal women taking or not taking HRT. The secondary aims are to characterize risk factors for RTI in postmenopausal women and identify signals in wearable data that predict the onset of an RTI before symptoms become apparent. Methods: 400 women aged 40-60 will be studied, stratified into two groups: postmenopausal women taking HRT, and postmenopausal women not taking HRT. Participants will each be followed for six months, with RTI episodes recorded through self-reporting and confirmed by laboratory tests. Wearable devices will continuously monitor physiological parameters (e.g., heart rate, sleep patterns), and questionnaires will assess lifestyle factors, medical history, and environmental exposure. Statistical modeling and machine learning approaches will be used to analyze infection predictors and develop a model that predicts the risk of onset of an RTI. Impact: Half of the world's population inevitably undergoes menopause, and this important life transition has wide-ranging impacts on women's health and quality of life for decades. Studies show that women spend more of their lives in poor health than men, with far-reaching impacts on a woman's participation in society, career performance, and ability to care for other family members. A better understanding of risk factors for respiratory infections in menopausal women and whether hormone-replacement therapy influences RTIs will contribute much-needed knowledge to enable better health management strategies for women. Furthermore, an "early-warning" system based on wearable signals will provide a valuable tool for quick intervention and to reduce the spread of infectious illnesses. Such an "early-warning" system will subsequently be tested for applicability across a broader representation of society as a preventive health measure and tool for pandemic preparedness. Conclusion: Findings will enhance understanding of RTI risk and management in menopausal women and contribute to the development of personalized prevention strategies. Future applications include a wearable-based medical device for real-time RTI risk assessment, potentially reducing antibiotic overuse and improving healthcare efficiency. By enabling early detection and risk stratification, this study paves the way for a proactive and personalized approach to respiratory health in postmenopausal women, ultimately shifting the focus to prevention.

A Clinical Trial to Investigate the Effect of Pollen Extracts on Menopausal Symptoms in Healthy Women.

The goal of this study is to investigate the effect of pollen extracts on menopausal symptoms in healthy women The main question it aims to answer is: What is the difference in change in severity of menopausal symptoms as assessed by the total Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) score from baseline at Week 36 between Graminex Water Soluble Pollen Extract (WSPE), Lipid Soluble Pollen Extract (LSPE), and Placebo? Participants will be asked to complete the MRS assessment tool to rate their menopausal symptoms while receiving either WSPE, LSPE, or Placebo.

The Effectiveness of a Proprietary Ashwagandha Extract on Menopausal Symptoms: A Three-Arm Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo Controlled Clinical Trial

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of two proprietary ashwagandha extracts on symptoms of menopause and hormone levels, as compared to a placebo.

The Effect of Animation-Based Education on Menopausal Women's Attitudes, Behaviors, and Screening Test Participation Regarding Breast Cancer

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of education provided to women in menopause through animation on their attitudes toward breast cancer, behaviors, and screening test participation. The study will include a total of 136 women in the menopausal period, comprising 68 experimental group participants and 68 control group participants who have applied to the Orduyeri and Kırtepe Family Health Centers affiliated with the Bartın Public Health Institution. Women who agree to participate in the project, which will run from January to August 2025, will receive 40-45 minute training sessions in a suitable room at the ASM. The training sessions will be conducted in groups of 8-12 people. The training content will include information about the purpose, duration, and rules of the training. After providing information about the project, a pre-test will be administered. Through face-to-face interviews, researchers assigned to the project will show animated videos enriched with sound and images via an online program they have prepared. These videos will be 10-12 minutes long, and an interim test will be conducted. Three months after the pre-test, the women participating in the study will be contacted, and a final test will be administered in their own homes. Project data will be collected using the Personal Information Form, Champion Health Belief Scale, and Breast Cancer Awareness Scale. Descriptive statistics, independent sample t-tests, chi-square tests, and repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests will be used in the statistical analysis of the project.

The Effect of Valerian on Insomnia in Menopausal Women

Menopausal women often complain that it is difficult to fall asleep and easy to wake up at night and early in the morning and it is in the middle of night difficult to fall asleep again. If the above symptoms persist for at least three months and occur at least three times a week, plus the impact on daytime work and rest, and meet the International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ICSD-3) )'S s "Insomnia" diagnostic criteria. According to statistics, 30% to 60% of women face sleep disorders during menopause.