Birth control study: do implants and IUDs help women handle heat, cold, and high altitude?
NCT ID NCT06909695
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looks at how long-acting reversible contraceptives (like implants or IUDs) affect iron levels and how women's bodies respond to extreme heat, cold, and high altitude. Researchers will compare women using these contraceptives to those on birth control pills. The goal is to understand if these methods impact health and performance in challenging environments.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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About 33 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Nov 2024
- Expected to finish
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Sep 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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A government agency
The lead sponsor is a US federal agency other than the NIH.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
The proposed population will be healthy and active women between the ages of 18-40. This population is suitable for the purpose of this investigation since they are the most militarily relevant population (i.e., representative of the U.S. Army active duty population).
- Ages
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18 to 40 years
- Sex
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Female participants only
- 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: * • Females, age 18-40 y * Females taking monophasic oral contraceptives or utilizing implantable contraception (intrauterine device, implantable bar) for at least one year, and be at least one year removed from the removal end point (e.g. before year 4 for a 5-year IUD) * In good health as determined by OMSO (Office of Medical Support and Oversight) * Passed most recent Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) (military volunteers only) or exercise at least 2 times per week (civilian volunteers) * Willing to not drink alcoholic beverages for 24 hours before each testing session * Willing to not consume caffeine 12 hours prior to any testing sessions * Willing to refrain from any exercise and additional moderate to strenuous physical activity 24 hours prior to testing * Willing to stay and exercise in an altitude chamber (the size of a dorm room) for \~6 hours * Supervisor approval for federal civilian employees and non-HRV active-duty military personnel stationed at NSSC. Exclusion Criteria: * • Females who are pregnant, planning to become pregnant during the study, or breastfeeding. * Taking prescription, over the counter medication, or dietary supplements, other than a contraceptive (unless approved by OMSO and Principal Investigator (PI)) * Tobacco or nicotine users, or anyone who has used tobacco or nicotine within the last four months * Physical problems/injuries (e.g., current stress fractures, musculoskeletal strains) that would affect walking or running on a treadmill * Allergy to skin adhesive * Heart, lung, kidney, muscle, endocrine, or nerve disorder(s) as determined by OMSO * History of heat intolerance or orthostatic intolerance * Diagnosed and/or treated for fluid/electrolyte imbalance within the last 30 days * History of obstructive disease of the gastrointestinal tract including (but not limited to) diverticulosis, diverticulitis and inflammatory bowel disease, peptic ulcer disease, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis. * Scheduled MRI within 2 weeks after completing a heat or cold test * Actively dieting with the intent to lose weight * History of cold injuries of any severity (e.g., frostbite, trench foot, chilblains). * Raynaud's syndrome * Cold-induced asthma/bronchospasm * Not willing to have small areas of skin on the body shaved (if deemed necessary for attachment of study instrumentation) * Born at altitudes greater than 2,100 m (7,000 ft) (e.g., Mexico City, Mexico) * Living in areas that are more than 1,200 m (4,000 ft) (e.g., Colorado Springs, CO) or have traveled to areas that are more than 1,200 m for five days or more within the last 2 months * Prior diagnosis of High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) or High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE) * Abnormal blood count in accordance with OMSO - Normal Hb women: 11.1-15.9 g·dL-1 or Normal Hct women: 34.0-48%, or presence of abnormal blood chemicals (hemoglobin S or Sickle Cell Trait) * History of pneumothorax * History of hypertension * Blood donation within 8 weeks of beginning the study * Any recent (within 4-6 weeks) and or expected history of prolonged periods of immobility or limited activity (including recent or upcoming surgery) * Evidence of apnea or sleeping disorder (narcolepsy, insomnia, etc.)
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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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US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine
RECRUITINGNatick, Massachusetts, 01760, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- Could a single implant replace the morning-after pill?