Hormone rollercoaster mimics postpartum depression in lab
NCT ID NCT00001481
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study enrolled 74 women with a history of postpartum depression to see if the sudden drop in hormones after childbirth causes mood symptoms. Researchers used hormone medications to simulate pregnancy and delivery in a controlled setting. The goal was to understand whether it's the withdrawal of hormones or the prolonged exposure that leads to depression.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- estradiol, progesterone, leuprolide acetate
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could help identify why some women develop postpartum depression and point toward prevention strategies.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase study that creates a temporary hormone state, not a treatment trial. Results may not apply to real-world postpartum depression.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States
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