Recruitment for Research Studies
Clinical Research Studies for PCOS
The Center for Research in Reproduction is currently recruiting women with PCOS, as well as adolescents with and without hyperandrogenemia (elevated levels for male hormones), for clinical research studies to determine the cause of PCOS.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Studies for Adolescents
- The goal of this study is to determine whether a urine test (“urine DENND1A RNA”) is associated with testosterone levels in adolescent girls.
- We are recruiting all girls ages 8-17 years of age
- This study requires 1 brief outpatient visit
- No study medications
- Compensation is a $75 gift card.
Contact: Melissa Gilrain at pcos@virginia.edu or (434) 243-6911 for more information.
Center for Research in Reproduction is seeking young female volunteers that have been diagnosed with hyperandrogenism, PCOS, or hirsutism (fascial hair) ages 10 to 17. Participants must have not taken contraceptive pills or hormonal medications for 3 months prior to the study. The goal is to learn how suppression of progesterone changes luteinizing hormone (LH) pulse frequency. Participation in this study will require 7 study visits over 2-4 months. The 1st (screening) visit would last about 1.5 hours – to make sure your daughter qualifies for the study and that it is safe for her to participate. Four outpatient visit that will last about 30 minutes each and two overnight admissions at the Clinical Research Unit that will last about 17 hours (2:00PM to 7:00AM). We will monitor hormone levels during this admission. Volunteers will take spironolactone or a placebo twice daily for a minimum of 2 weeks and up to 40 days prior to an overnight admission and three doses of progesterone on the day of the overnight admission. Compensation for completion is $500.
Contact: Melissa Gilrain at pcos@virginia.edu or (434) 243-6911 for more information.
Center for Research in Reproduction is seeking young healthy female volunteers ages 7 to 17 that not have taken contraceptive pills or hormonal medications for 3 months prior to the study. In this study, we aim to discover whether LH pulses are different in girls with high testosterone levels (compared to those with normal testosterone levels). This study requires 2-3 visits (1-2 outpatient visits and 1 overnight admission) to the UVA Clinical Research Unit. The 1st (screening) visit would last about 1.5 hours – to make sure your daughter qualifies for the study and that it is safe for her to participate. The overnight admission to the Clinical Research Unit will last about 20 hours (~4pm – 12pm). This visit can occur any time following screening, but will be timed to the menstrual cycle (if appropriate). We will monitor hormone levels during this admission. There are no study medications given during this study. Compensation for completion is $300.
Contact: Melissa Gilrain at pcos@virginia.edu or (434) 243-6911 for more information.
- The goal is to assess whether elevated levels of testosterone influences suppression of LH pulses by progesterone.
- We are recruiting girls who are Tanner stage 3-5 (and ≤ 4 years post-menarche).
- This study requires 3 brief outpatient visits and two 20-hour (overnight) admissions (4pm-noon).
- Subjects will take four oral doses of placebo and four oral doses of physiologic progesterone.
- Compensation is a $500 gift card.
Contact: Melissa Gilrain at pcos@virginia.edu or (434) 243-6911 for more information.
- The goal of this study is to determine the role of the adrenal glands and the ovaries in hormone production during puberty. We will also evaluate the role of insulin resistance and high LH in causing elevated testosterone in obese girls.
- We are recruiting obese (BMI-for-age percentile ≥ 95), 8 to 16 years of age, ≤ 4 years postmenarcheal girls
- This study requires 4-5 brief outpatient visits and one 18-hour (overnight) admission (4pm-10am)
- Subjects will take one oral dose of dexamethasone, one IV administered dose of ACTH, and one IV administered dose of rHCG.
- Subjects will have insulin and glucose testing after ingesting a mixed meal.
- Compensation is $750 gift card.
Contact: Melissa Gilrain at pcos@virginia.edu or (434) 243-6911 for more information.
Center for Research in Reproduction is seeking young healthy female volunteers ages 7 to 14 that not have taken any hormonal medications for 3 months prior to the study. In this study, we aim to discover how progesterone changes LH pulses in early puberty and whether this is different in girls with high testosterone levels (compared to those with normal testosterone levels). This study requires 2-3 visits (1-2 outpatient visits and 1 overnight admission) to the UVA Clinical Research Unit. The 1st (screening) visit would last about 1.5 hours – to make sure your daughter qualifies for the study and that it is safe for her to participate. The overnight admission to the Clinical Research Unit will last about 22 hours (~9am – 7am). We will monitor hormone levels during this admission. Your daughter would take a syrup (containing either progesterone or placebo) at 11:00 am, 3:00 pm, and 7:00 pm on the day of the overnight admission. Compensation for completion is $300.
Contact: Melissa Gilrain at pcos@virginia.edu or (434) 243-6911 for more information.
- In this study, we want to know if participation in a fitness support group increases enjoyment of exercise, improves average amounts of daily exercise, and improves anthropometric and biochemical indices of metabolism and PCOS among girls.
- We are recruiting girls, 7 to 21 years of age.
- This study requires participation in the Go Girls! program as well as completion of a questionnaire at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months; optional blood work and/or anthropometrics at those three time points, as well.
- Compensation is a $150 gift card.
Contact: Melissa Gilrain at pcos@virginia.edu or (434) 243-6911 for more information.
Center for Research in Reproduction is seeking female volunteers with hyperandrogenism, PCOS, or hirsutism (facial hair) ages 13 to 19. Participants must not have taken contraceptive pills or hormonal medications for 3 months prior to the study. The goal is to learn if the medication Spironolactone can normalize ovulations rates in girls with androgen excess during the time when PCOS begins. Participation in this study will require 3 outpatient visits over 21 months. The 1st (screening) visit would last about 1 hour – to make sure that you qualify for the study and that it is safe to participate. Two outpatient visits will last about 1 hour each. Volunteers will keep track of their periods and collect saliva at home twice a week for the entire study. Volunteers will also take Spironolactone twice daily for 4 months. While taking medication, participants will check urine pregnancy at home once a month and have bloodwork done once a month. Compensation for completion is up to $550.
Contact: Melissa Gilrain at pcos@virginia.edu or (434) 243-6911 for more information.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Studies for Women (18 to 49 years)
The goal of this study is to learn how a hormone called estradiol (estrogen) affects the levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) in women with PCOS compared to women without PCOS. We are currently recruiting women ages 18-35 with or without PCOS, with a BMI ≤ 40 kg/m2. Participants must not have taken contraceptive pills or hormonal medications for 3 months prior to the study. This study requires a screening visit that lasts about 1.5 hours, and 8 – 10 morning outpatient visits (8am – 8:30am). Participants will wear estradiol (estrogen) patches throughout the course of the outpatient visits. Participants will collect all of their urine during the study and wear estrogen patches for up to 8 days. Participants will have the option of having a transvaginal ovarian ultrasound. Compensation is up to $425 for completion.
Contact: Melissa Gilrain at pcos@virginia.edu or (434) 243-6911 for more information.
The goal of this study is to find out how characteristics of PCOS improve as women with PCOS get older. We are currently recruiting women with PCOS ages 20-30 and 40-49, with a BMI ≤ 40 kg/m2. Participants must not have taken contraceptive pills or hormonal medications for 3 months prior to the study. This study will require 4-5 visits. The 1st (screening) visit would last about 1.5 hours – to make sure you qualify and that it is safe for you to participate. The 2nd visit is to draw blood and perform a transvaginal ultrasound to make sure it is safe to proceed with the overnight admission. The overnight admission to the CRU will last about 15.5 hours (~5pm – 8:30am). The 4th and final outpatient visit will be the morning (7:30am – 11am) after you go home from your overnight admission. You will be asked to take 2 medications if you participate in the study. Compensation for completion is $300.
Contact: Melissa Gilrain at pcos@virginia.edu or (434) 243-6911 for more information.
The goal of this study is to see if the medication metformin is as effective as birth control pills in treating women with PCOS who are 40 to 49 years old, with a BMI ≤ 40 kg/m2 Participants must not have taken contraceptive pills or hormonal medications for 3 months prior to the study. This study requires 7 outpatient visits over 12 months. The first screening visit lasts about 1.5 hours, to make sure you qualify for the study and that it is safe for you to participate. Participants will have a transvaginal ultrasound at the 2nd visit. The remaining visits will take 1-3 hours. Participants will take metformin for 6 months and birth control for 6 months. Participants will collect saliva samples at home twice weekly. Compensation for completion is $480.
Contact: Melissa Gilrain at pcos@virginia.edu or (434) 243-6911 for more information.