NCT07081594Active, not recruiting
Investigating the Impact of Sex Hormones in Multiple Sclerosis
Investigating the Impact of Sex Hormones on Corticospinal Excitability, Motor Learning, and Fatigue in Females With Multiple Sclerosis
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 20 Mar 2026
Brief summary (registry, in English)
Emerging evidence indicates that females with MS experience worsened symptoms during the luteal phase (post ovulation) of the menstrual cycle when progesterone levels rise and estradiol fluctuate. The rapid hormonal swings may disrupt hypothalamic regulation, leading to an increase in body temperature - a well-established trigger for MS symptom exacerbation. These hormonal changes could also affect neuromuscular function, as estradiol and progesterone receptors are present in the nervous system and skeletal muscles. Three critical aspects of motor rehabilitation are corticospinal excitability, motor learning, and fatigability. Previous research indicates that corticospinal excitability and the capacity to learn fine motor tasks fluctuate across menstrual cycles, indicating hormonal influences on neuroplasticity. However, it remains unclear how these hormonal fluctuations specifically affect corticospinal excitability, motor learning, and motor fatigability in females with MS. Understanding these relationships could significantly improve rehabilitation approaches. For example, pre-menopause females with MS may experience a more optimal state for neuroplasticity during the follicular phase of their cycles, therefore providing a potential window for greater rehabilitation efficacy.
- Status (registry)
- Active, not recruiting
- Study type
- Observational
- Enrollment
- 14 (estimated)
- First submitted
- 17 Jun 2025
- Start date
- 28 Aug 2025
- Primary completion date
- Mar 2027
- Lead sponsor
- Milap Sandhu
- Diseases
- Multiple sclerosis
- NCT number
- NCT07081594
What you commit to
- Study type: Observational
- Planned participants: 14
- From 28 Aug 2025 to the primary completion date, Mar 2027
- 1 site in 1 country
- Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them
Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.
Who cannot take part
Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.
Prior treatment
- Taking antipsychotic medications / does not pass the TMS safety checklist
Other illness
- Diagnosis of premenstrual dysphoric disorder or polycystic ovary syndrome
Other
- Another diagnosis (e.g., peripheral neuropathies or orthopedic)
- Pregnancy as confirmed by urine test
- Irregular menstrual cycles
Who the study is looking for
- Age ≥18 years
- Diagnosis of relapsing-remitting, primary progressive or secondary progressive MS with no minimum years since diagnosis
- Stable disease modifying therapies for at least 6 months
- Eumenorrheic females
Age in the registry: 18 years to - · Sex: Female · Does not accept healthy volunteers
Sites (1)
Sites in registry order. Save your city in your profile to sort them by distance.
| Site | City | Country | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Chicago | United States | Unknown status |
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.