Stress and Menstrual Health in Young Women
Official title: The Influence of Non-energetic Stressors on Human Menstrual Function
Run by Duke University · NCT07566260 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests whether non-energetic stressors, like heat, sleep loss, and exercise, disrupt menstrual hormones in pre-menopausal women.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 22 Years to 38 Years |
| Sex | Women only |
| Enrollment | 600 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Duke University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Durham, North Carolina) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | May 28, 2026 |
| Main results expected | August 2028 |
| Study ends | August 2029 |
| Registry record updated | September 9, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07566260 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are pre-menopausal women, 22–38 years old, BMI 18.5–30, who are habitually sedentary and not using hormonal birth control.
✕Probably not a fit
Individuals who have had recent childbirth or lactation, or who have reproductive disorders or are currently on thyroid medications, may be less likely to benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This interventional study enrolls pre-menopausal women aged 22–38 with BMI 18.5–30 to examine how stressors not tied to energy state affect reproductive hormones and menstrual function. Over six months, participants undergo a two-month stress intervention with measurements of cortisol, norepinephrine, sex hormones, and total energy expenditure. The study compares brain- versus ovary-driven hormonal changes and explores whether stress-related hormonal shifts align with changes in energy expenditure. Interventions include heat stress, sleep stress, and exercise stress, with separate cohorts based on exercise activity. The research is conducted at Duke University under the lead sponsorship of Duke University.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could improve understanding of how stress affects menstrual health and guide non-pharmacologic strategies to manage menstrual dysfunction related to stress.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work supports that stress can influence reproductive hormones, but the role of non-energetic stressors specifically on menstrual regulation is less established and this study seeks to clarify it.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Adult pre-menopausal females, 22-38 years old with a BMI of 18.5-30.0 * Habitually sedentary (less than 60 minutes MVPA/week) for Exercise cohort Exclusion Criteria: * Individuals on hormonal birth control (oral contraception, injection, implant, or intrauterine device) * Individuals with incidence in the last 6 months of childbirth, lactation, pregnancy, or functional hypothalamic amenorrhea (FHA) * Individuals with a BMI \<18.5 or \>30.0 * Individuals with reproductive disorders (e.g. endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)) * Individuals taking thyroid medications * Individuals who have undergone or are undergoing menopause * MVPA \>60 min/week (for Exercise cohort)
Where it's running
-
Duke University
Durham, North Carolina, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Herman Pontzer, PhD — Duke University Evolutionary Anthropology Department
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.