Mirena and Estrogen for Control of Perimenopause Symptoms and Ovulation Suppression
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Purpose
Hormonal treatment of perimenopausal women has frequently utilized oral contraceptive pills (OCPs). Because of their ability to suppress ovulation and establish cycle control, OCPs have become a popular option, and one that is FDA approved for use until menopause. However, use of OCPs in women in their 40's and 50's carries significant cardiovascular risks. Venous thromboembolism risk is 3-6 fold greater in OCP users, and the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) is approximately doubled in OCP users over the age of 40. This occurs at an age where the background population risk of MI begins to increase, such that the absolute number of cases rises substantially. Women with additional risk factors for cardiovascular disease have a much greater risk for MI (6-40-fold) in association with OCPs. There are also large subgroups of midlife women who are not candidates for OCP use, such a smokers and migraineurs. Moreover, the trend towards lower estrogen dosing with OCPs containing 20 micrograms of ethinyl estradiol has not led to a detectable decrease in thromboembolic risk.
Because of their increased potential risks, it is appropriate to seek alternatives to OCPs and to explore lower doses of hormones to relieve perimenopausal symptoms that occur prior to a woman's final menses. Recent evidence indicates that the hypothalamic-pituitary axis of reproductively aging women is more susceptible to suppression by sex steroids that previously believed. It is possible that hormone doses as low as 50 micrograms of transdermal estradiol (TDE) can suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary axis of midlife women. It is also tempting to speculate that the low but measurable circulating doses of levonorgestrel that are present when a woman uses the Mirena intrauterine system (IUS) can contribute to or even independently suppress the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, and reduce the hormonal fluctuations that result in worsening of perimenopausal symptoms. The combination of low dose TDE plus Mirena may therefore confer superior symptom control as well as contraceptive effectiveness, at far less risk.
| Condition | Intervention |
|---|---|
|
Perimenopausal Hormone Therapy |
Drug: Mirena Drug: Estradiol Drug: Placebo Gel |
| Study Type: | Interventional |
| Study Design: | Allocation: Randomized Endpoint Classification: Pharmacokinetics Study Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor) Primary Purpose: Treatment |
| Official Title: | Effectiveness of Perimenopausal Hormone Therapy in Suppression of Ovulation, Stabilization of Reproductive Hormones and Symptom Control |
- Ovulation Suppression [ Time Frame: Day 140 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]Ovulation will be inhibited by use of the Mirena with estradiol, but not with Mirena alone.
- Suppression of Ovulation In Older Reproductive Aged Women [ Time Frame: Day 140 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]Ovulation will be partially inhibited by Mirena alone in older reproductive aged/perimenopausal women
- Relief of Perimenopausal Symptoms [ Time Frame: Days 90 and 140 ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]Mirena plus transdermal estradiol will be a well tolerated method for alleviating perimenopausal symptoms by causing relative suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis in perimenopausal women and providing symptom control.
| Estimated Enrollment: | 62 |
| Study Start Date: | April 2012 |
| Estimated Study Completion Date: | December 2013 |
| Estimated Primary Completion Date: | June 2013 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure) |
| Arms | Assigned Interventions |
|---|---|
| Active Comparator: Mirena + Estradiol Gel |
Drug: Mirena
Mirena (levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system), 52 mg (20 mcg/day), 5 year duration (study duration 6 months).
Drug: Estradiol
Topical, .06%, Applied once daily for 50 days.
|
| Placebo Comparator: Mirena + Placebo Gel |
Drug: Mirena
Mirena (levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system), 52 mg (20 mcg/day), 5 year duration (study duration 6 months).
Drug: Placebo Gel
Topical Gel, Applied once daily for 50 days, Placebo comparator.
|
Detailed Description:
The Specific Aims of the present proposal are therefore as follows:
Aim 1: To test the hypothesis that low dose estrogen therapy in concert with the low doses of levonorgestrel that circulate when Mirena is used will suppress ovulation in perimenopausal women.
Aim 2: To examine ovulation rates and symptom control with Mirena alone, and to assess the tolerability of combined estrogen therapy plus the Mirena IUS as a treatment option for symptomatic perimenopausal women.
The proposed pilot study is designed to test the feasibility and tolerability of the proposed regimens: Mirena alone or Mirena plus low-dose TDE in treating symptoms in perimenopausal women and to provide the preliminary data for a larger, comparative effectiveness study of optimal symptom control and provision of long term contraception for midlife women within 5 years of their final menstrual period.
Eligibility| Ages Eligible for Study: | 40 Years to 52 Years |
| Genders Eligible for Study: | Female |
| Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age 40-52
- History of regular menstrual cycles every 20-35 days in mid-reproductive life (20-35 years of age)
- At least 1 period within the past 3 months
- BMI less than 35 kg/m2
Presence of at least one of the following perimenopausal symptoms:
- Hot flashes (vasomotor symptoms)
- Cyclical headache, bloating or adverse mood
- Self-reported poor quality of sleep
Exclusion Criteria:
- Age < 40 years
- Hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy
- Cigarette smoking
- Signs or symptoms of restless leg syndrome or sleep apnea
- Any chronic renal or hepatic disease that might interfere with excretion of gonadotropins or sex steroids
- Moderate/vigorous aerobic exercise > 4 hours per week
- Inability to read/write English
- Pregnant Women
- Prisoners
- Decisionally challenged subjects
- Any medical condition that makes use of Topical estradiol or Mirena contraindicated.
- Sex hormone use within the past 30 days
- History of cancer, blood clots or blood clotting disorder
Contacts and Locations| Contact: Christina S Gavito, BA | 303-724-5559 | christina.gavito@ucdenver.edu |
| Contact: Cricket McHugh, BS | 303-724-5733 | cricket.mchugh@ucdenver.edu |
| United States, Colorado | |
| University of Colorado | Recruiting |
| Aurora, Colorado, United States, 80045 | |
| Principal Investigator: Nanette Santoro, MD | |
| Principal Investigator: | Nanette Santoro, MD | University of Colorado, Denver |
More Information
No publications provided
| Responsible Party: | University of Colorado, Denver |
| ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT01613131 History of Changes |
| Other Study ID Numbers: | 11-1711 |
| Study First Received: | June 4, 2012 |
| Last Updated: | February 7, 2013 |
| Health Authority: | United States: Institutional Review Board |
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
|
Estradiol Polyestradiol phosphate Estradiol valerate Estradiol 3-benzoate Estradiol 17 beta-cypionate Levonorgestrel Estrogens Hormones Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists |
Physiological Effects of Drugs Pharmacologic Actions Contraceptive Agents Reproductive Control Agents Therapeutic Uses Contraceptive Agents, Female Contraceptives, Oral, Synthetic Contraceptives, Oral |
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on May 16, 2013