The Menopause Transition: Estrogen Variability, Stress Reactivity and Mood
Status:
Terminated
Trial end date:
2020-05-10
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Women in the menopause transition ('perimenopause') are exposed to extreme hormone
variability, tend to experience a unique set of severe stressors (e.g., divorce, death of
loved ones), and are also at substantially elevated risk to suffer from mood and anxiety
disorders. The purpose of this research is to understand the mechanisms by which variability
in estradiol (E2) is associated with the symptoms of anxiety and anhedonia (loss of interest
and pleasure - a common symptom of depression). By stabilizing E2 variability with a hormonal
manipulation, this research will determine the degree to which the E2 variability (or E2
levels) plays a causal role in perimenopausal anxiety and anhedonia symptoms and whether it
does so by affecting biological responses to stress.