Hormone boost may shield soldiers from training injuries
NCT ID NCT06455969
First seen Aug 18, 2026 · Last updated Aug 19, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial tests whether altering sex hormone levels can make muscles, tendons, and bones more resilient to the physical and mental stress of military-style training. Healthy adults aged 18-40 will undergo a 4-week training program, with some receiving goserelin to suppress hormones and others also getting testosterone replacement. Researchers will measure changes in tissue structure, body composition, and performance to see if this hormonal approach could prevent common training injuries.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- goserelin (Zoladex) and testosterone gel (AndroGel)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could lead to new ways to protect military personnel from training-related injuries, improving readiness and reducing medical costs.
- What could go wrong
- This is a Phase 4 trial with 120 participants, so results may not apply broadly. Hormonal interventions can have side effects, and the study's specific setting may limit generalizability.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 4
Runs after approval, following long-term safety and how well the treatment works in everyday use.
- Participants
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About 120 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Jul 2024
- Expected to finish
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Aug 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 40 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age 18-40 years 2. body mass index (BMI) 18-30 kg/m2 3. weight stable (±10 lbs) in past 2 months 4. takes part in moderate physical activity for at least 150 minutes/week 5. currently free of upper or lower body /extremity injury or impairment 6. able to commit to study duration 7. agrees to adhere to study requirements 8. not taking prescription medications or be willing to refrain from medication prior to and throughout the study period, unless approved by study physician 9. in women, eumenorrheic (cycles of 26-35 days) OR using monophasic oral contraceptive pills with norethindrone acetate (e.g., first generation progestin) for previous 3 months 1\) Current smoker 2) current clinical diagnosis of an eating disorder 3) use of medication incompatible with measurement of reproductive and metabolic hormones or which may interfere with any of the study outcomes; with the exception of approved contraceptives for the contraceptive STRESS \& CONTROL groups 4) current oligo/amenorrhea in women 5) any metabolic or endocrine disease 6) has been diagnosed with a medical condition, physical or psychological, that currently prevents potential subjects from exercising 7) currently pregnant or becomes pregnant during the study 8) history of heart condition OR high blood pressure 9) treating physician requires subject participates in medically supervised physical activity only 10) history of drug addiction, or regular use of recreational drugs 11) currently undergoing treatment for or have a history of mental health conditions 12) Current diagnoses of disorders known to affect bone metabolism including hyperthyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, osteomalacia, Cushing's, diabetes mellitus or renal insufficiency 13) Current use of medications known to affect bone metabolism including estrogens, androgens, anti-estrogens, bisphosphonates (oral bisphosphonates within one year of the baseline visit or IV bisphosphonates within three years of the baseline visit), calcitonin, fluoride, oral or inhaled glucocorticoids, suppressive doses of thyroxine, lithium, pharmacological doses of vitamin D (greater than 2000 IU/day), anti-convulsants, depot medroxyprogesterone within 6 months; with the exception of approved contraceptives for the contraceptive STRESS \& CONTROL groups 14) History of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, or clotting disorders. 15) History of stroke or myocardial infarction 16) Fracture within the last 6 months. 17) Systolic blood pressure \> 160 or diastolic blood pressure \> 95 18) Active substance abuse 19) History of hereditary angioedema 20) History of chest pain at rest, during daily activities of living, or when performing physical activity 21) Musculoskeletal injury removing subject from physical activity for more than a month within the past 2 years 22) Recreational drug use more than 2 times per month in each of the previous 6 months 23) Self-reported vision is worse than 20/20. 24) Personal history or history of a first-degree relative with breast cancer 25) Participated and taken investigational drug in any other clinical trial (including bioequivalence study) within six months prior to study drug administration 26) Diagnosed with eating disorder 27) Have food allergies, intolerance, restriction, or special diet needs 28) History of endometriosis 29) Current diagnosis of reproductive health issues, such as ovarian cysts, PCOS, pelvic lesions, undiagnosed ovarian enlargement 30) Have undiagnosed abnormal vaginal bleeding 31) Currently breastfeeding or within 2 months after stopping breastfeeding 32) Frequent headaches accompanied by vision changes (indicative of possible pituitary pathology) For SUPPRESS and REPLACE: 1-32 listed above 33) PSA \>3 ng/mL) 34) Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D \< 20 ng/mL 35) Thyroid dysfunction 36) Serum creatinine \> 2 mg/dL 37) Personal history or history of a first-degree relative with breast cancer 38) Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) \> 2x the upper limit of normal 39) Serum bilirubin \> 2 mg/dL 40) Serum alkaline phosphatase \> 150 U/L 41) Plasma hemoglobin \< 10 gm/dL 42) Hematocrit \> 50 43) In men, Serum testosterone level \< 270 or \> 1070 ng/dL (\< 9 or \> 37 nmol/ L) 44) Triglycerides \> 150 fasting
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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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Neuromuscular Research Laboratory
RECRUITINGPittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15203, United States
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