Hormone therapy and chronic pain in adults
Pain Outcomes Associated with Exogenous Hormone Therapy in Adults
This project looks at whether taking hormones like testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, or anti-androgen medicines changes chronic pain and how the brain processes pain in adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kansas Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kansas City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11194447 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will follow adults who are using or exposed to different kinds of hormone therapy over time and track their pain symptoms. They will collect symptom reports, sensory testing related to nociplastic pain (pain from altered nervous system processing), and measures of brain function. The team will compare different hormone regimens to see how pain patterns and nervous system responses change. This is a prospective observational study based at an academic medical center.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (aged 21 and older) who are using, have used, or plan to use exogenous hormone therapies such as testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, or anti-androgen agents, especially those with chronic pain, are the likely candidates.
Not a fit: People under 21, those not exposed to exogenous hormones, or those whose pain is clearly due to a purely structural injury may not find direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Results could help doctors choose or modify hormone therapies to reduce chronic pain and improve symptom control for patients.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies suggest androgens may lower chronic pain while estrogens and anti-androgens might increase symptoms, but findings are inconsistent and mechanisms remain unclear.
Where this research is happening
Kansas City, United States
- University of Kansas Medical Center — Kansas City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chadwick, Andrea Lynn — University of Kansas Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Chadwick, Andrea Lynn
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.