Hormonal Effects on Pain Perception

Completed

• Conditions: Pregnancy Associated Analgesia; Pregnancy; Progesterone Levels

• Registration Number: NCT00699595
• Lead Sponsor: University of Alabama at Birmingham

Brief Summary

To investigate if labor pain is affected by mother's hormone levels.

The hormonal effects of pregnancy are well documented. Although differences in pain sensitivity between women and men are partly attributable to social conditioning and to psychosocial factors, many laboratory studies of humans have described sex differences in sensitivity to noxious stimuli, suggesting that biological mechanisms underlie such differences. Some animal studies have suggested that sensitivity to pain decreases during pregnancy because of the progressive activation of endogenous pain inhibitory systems. This effect may be mediated by pregnancy-associated hormones, in particular progesterone.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2008-06-13
• Study First Submitted QC: 2008-06-13
• Study First Posted: 2008-06-18
• Study Start: 2008-09
• Status Verified: 2014-11
• Primary Completion: 2014-11
• Study Completion: 2014-11
• Last Update Submitted: 2014-11-08
• Last Update Posted: 2014-11-11

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 50

Inclusion Criteria

• healthy pregnant women at term (>37GA)

Exclusion Criteria

• chronic pain
• regular analgesic medication
• severe cardiopulmonary problems
• very difficult intravenous access
• advanced labor
• precipitous delivery

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in heat pain threshold and tolerance	1 month

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Alabama at Birmingham; 🇺🇸 Birmingham, Alabama, United States