Actively Recruiting
Effects of Physical and Psychosocial Stress on Functional Hypothalamic Amenorrhea in Exercising Women
Led by University of Colorado, Colorado Springs · Updated on 2026-01-08
54
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
159 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
The goal of this clinical trial is to determine how changes in exercise and psychosocial stress may influence the risk of menstrual cycle irregularities in female runners and cyclists. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does the implementation of exercise or psychosocial stress effect circulating reproductive hormones (i.e., estradiol, progesterone, luteinizing hormone) and menstrual cycle length? * Is there an additive effect of combined exercise and psychosocial on circulating reproductive hormones (i.e., estradiol, progesterone, luteinizing hormone) and menstrual cycle length? Participants will be asked to do the following over the \~3 month enrollment period: * attend a laboratory visit at the beginning and end of the study to have their resting metabolic rate, aerobic fitness, and body composition tested * monitor their menstrual cycle length, daily perceived stress levels, physical activity, and diet each month * provide several urine and saliva samples each month * either maintain their usual physical activity and lifestyle habits (control group), increase the duration of their weekly running or cycling mileage by 30% (exercise stress group), complete cognitive function tasks designed to be stressful (psychosocial stress group), or increase the duration of their weekly running or cycling mileage by 30% and complete cognitive function tasks designed to be stressful (exercise + psychosocial stress group) during the final month of enrollment. Researchers will compare control, exercise stress, psychosocial stress, and exercise + psychosocial stress groups to see if there is an effect on circulating reproductive hormones (i.e., estradiol, progesterone, luteinizing hormone) and menstrual cycle length.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Effects of Physical and Psychosocial Stress on Functional Hypothalamic Amenorrhea in Exercising Women
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Female participants aged 18 to 35 years
- Participate in structured running or cycling exercise for at least 30 minutes on 4 or more days per week
- Have regular menstrual periods every 21 to 35 days
- Have not used hormonal contraceptives for at least the past 6 months
- Are not currently pregnant, breastfeeding, or trying to become pregnant and have not been pregnant or breastfeeding in the past 12 months
- Have never been diagnosed with menstrual cycle disorders such as menorrhagia, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, menstrual migraines, ovarian cancer, ovarian insufficiency, uterine or endometrial cancer
- Have never been diagnosed with metabolic diseases such as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Cushing disease, Addison's disease, or diabetes
You will not qualify if you...
- Missing more than 4 consecutive days of aerobic exercise if assigned to exercise intervention groups
- Reporting inability to participate or modifying exercise due to health problems or injury as indicated on the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center Questionnaire
- Clinical low energy availability defined as less than 30 Kcal/kg fat free mass during first two months of monitoring
- Menstrual cycle lengths less than 21 days or greater than 35 days during first two months of monitoring
- Lack of expected rise in progesterone and luteinizing hormone levels during monitoring
- Starting hormonal contraceptive use during the study
- Becoming pregnant during the study
- Diagnosed with menstrual cycle disorders or metabolic diseases during the study
- Diagnosed with major cardiovascular, respiratory disease, or musculoskeletal injury
- Unable to follow study instructions for procedures
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States, 80918
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
M
Marissa Baranauskas, PhD
CONTACT
K
Kristen Rudd, PhD
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
FACTORIAL
Primary Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Number of Arms
4
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