How testosterone affects the brain's control of reproduction
Androgen effects on the reproductive neuroendocrine axis
This project looks at how male-level testosterone treatment changes brain signals that control ovulation and fertility in transgender men and others assigned female at birth.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11367898 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient's perspective, the team will follow people (including transgender men) who take testosterone to see how it changes hormone patterns that trigger ovulation. They combine clinical visits and blood sampling with lab studies to pinpoint which brain cells and receptors (including kisspeptin neurons and the androgen receptor) are responsible. The work aims to map the time course and targets of androgen effects on pulsatile and surge luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion. Findings will come from human clinical measurements alongside complementary mechanistic experiments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people assigned female at birth who are taking or planning to take testosterone (including many transgender men) or those with high androgen levels and irregular menstrual cycles who can attend clinic visits and give blood samples.
Not a fit: People assigned male at birth, those not exposed to high androgen levels, or individuals seeking immediate fertility treatment are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could improve fertility counseling and lead to strategies that protect or restore normal reproductive hormone patterns for people using testosterone.
How similar studies have performed: Previous clinical and animal studies show androgens can disrupt reproductive hormones, but directly testing androgen receptor effects in kisspeptin neurons is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- University of California, San Diego — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kauffman, Alexander S — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Kauffman, Alexander 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.