Helping new mothers avoid smoking after childbirth
Modifying Progesterone and Estradiol Levels to Prevent Postpartum Cigarette Smoking Relapse and Reduce Secondhand Smoke Exposure in Infants and Children
This project looks at whether adjusting hormone levels can help new mothers stay smoke-free after their baby is born, protecting both mom and child.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11116923 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many new mothers who quit smoking during pregnancy start again shortly after giving birth, which can harm both themselves and their babies through secondhand smoke. We are exploring if a combination of hormones, specifically increasing progesterone and decreasing estradiol, can help prevent this relapse. Our previous work suggests that progesterone may reduce cravings and and help mothers stay smoke-free. We also saw that another hormone treatment, DMPA, was linked to longer periods of not smoking in other women. This approach aims to support new mothers in maintaining their smoke-free lifestyle.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be new mothers who have recently given birth, previously smoked, and are at risk of relapsing.
Not a fit: Patients who have never smoked or are not in the postpartum period would not directly benefit from this specific intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could offer new mothers a way to prevent smoking relapse after childbirth, leading to better health for them and their infants.
How similar studies have performed: Preliminary data from this team and other research suggest that progesterone can have protective effects on addictive behaviors, indicating a basis for this approach.
Where this research is happening
Minneapolis, United States
- University of Minnesota — Minneapolis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Allen, Sharon S — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Allen, Sharon S
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.