Exploring how sex, hormones, and identity affect pain sensitivity
Official title: State of Hormones Impact Nociceptive Expression
Run by University of Alabama at Birmingham · NCT05787470 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is trying to see how gender identity and hormone levels affect how different people feel pain.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 120 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Alabama at Birmingham Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Birmingham, Alabama) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | March 1, 2023 |
| Main results expected | July 31, 2027 |
| Study ends | July 31, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | July 2, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT05787470 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are individuals aged 18-65 who self-identify as cisgender men, cisgender women, transgender men, or transgender women and have been on or off hormone treatment for at least six months.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients experiencing chronic pain or those with certain medical conditions such as HIV or cardiovascular disease may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This observational study aims to investigate the relationship between gender identity, hormone levels, and pain sensitivity among different groups, including cisgender men, cisgender women, transgender men on testosterone, transgender women on estradiol, and their counterparts not on hormone therapy. Participants will undergo quantitative sensory testing to assess their sensitivity to cold, pressure, and heat, while also providing blood samples for hormone and immune cell analysis. Additionally, questionnaires will evaluate psychological and social factors that may influence pain perception. The study seeks to enhance understanding of how these variables interact to affect pain experiences.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to more personalized pain management strategies that consider gender identity and hormonal influences.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been studies examining pain sensitivity in relation to gender identity, this specific approach integrating hormone levels and immune response is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * self-identification as one of the above gender identities * understanding of verbal and written English. * participants that have been on/off hormone treatment for at least 6 months Exclusion Criteria: * pain in at least 3/7 days/week for the past 3 months * HIV positive diagnosis * cardiovascular or pulmonary disease * regular use of opioid pain medications * uncontrolled hypertension (i.e. SBP/DBP of \> 150/95) * current illness accompanied by fever (body temperature \>38 °C) * prostatectomy, hysterectomy or oophorectomy * hospitalization due to psychiatric illness within the last 6 months.
Where it's running
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University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Robert Sorge, Phd — University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Psychology
- Study coordinator: Tammie Quinn, BA
- Email: tquinn@uab.edu
- Phone: (205) 934-8743
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.