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RecruitingAccepts healthy volunteersPhase 4

Oral Contraceptive Pill (OCP) Pharmacogenomics

Yale University · with Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) · NCT06334315

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Opens the official ClinicalTrials.gov record, with the study team’s contacts. Bored Studies doesn’t enroll anyone.

Key facts

Compensation
Not posted. Ask the study team before screening.
Who can join
Ages 18–45 · Women only
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Study type
Interventional · Phase 4
Target enrollment
700
US sites recruiting
2
Study start
October 29, 2024
Record last updated
July 16, 2026

Status re-checked against ClinicalTrials.gov within the last 12 hours.

What the study is about

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate how differences in specific parts of our DNA can influence how individual bodies break down the hormones contained within oral contraceptive pills, which could affect how well these birth control pills work to prevent pregnancy. The investigators are also interested in exploring how these differences in our DNA can also explain why patients taking the exact same formulation of birth control pill will experience very different side effects. The main questions it aims to answer are:

  • Do individuals with the CYP3A7*1C variant have increased metabolism of both desogestrel and ethinyl estradiol when taking a combined oral contraceptive pill?
  • Do individuals with the CYP3A7*1C variant experience higher rates of breakthrough ovulation while taking a desogestrel/ethinyl estradiol combined oral contraceptive pill?
  • What novel genetic loci are associated with alterations in steroid hormone pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics among a larger cohort of combined oral contraceptive pill users?

Participants will take a specific formulation of combined oral contraceptive pill (desogestrel/ethinyl estradiol) and undergo the following procedures:

  • Blood draw to measure the amount of progestin and estrogen in their system from the combined oral contraceptive pill
  • Questionnaires to assess side effects possibly caused by the combined oral contraceptive pill
  • Blood draw to measure endogenous hormone levels and biomarkers that may be affected by the combined oral contraceptive pill
  • A transvaginal ultrasound to measure any ovarian follicles (optional procedure)

Being studied: Desogestrel / Ethinyl Estradiol Pill

Conditions: Contraception; Pharmacogenomic Drug Interaction

Eligibility criteria

Copied from the official record. The study team makes the final decision at screening.

Show full criteria

Inclusion Criteria

  • Provision of signed and dated informed consent form
  • Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study
  • Female, aged 18-45 years old
  • In good general health as evidenced by medical history and no need for regular intensive medical interventions (e.g., inpatient admissions, surgical treatments). The Principal Investigator will be responsible for determining good general health for potential participants with complicated medical histories.
  • Ability to take oral medication and be willing to adhere to the oral contraceptive pill (DSG/EE) regimen
  • Body-mass index ≥18.5kg/m2
  • Willing to abstain from medications and supplements known to induce/inhibit CYP3A (e.g., rifampin, carbamazepine, ketoconazole, St. John's wort) during the study
  • Normal blood pressure measurement at study screening
  • Negative urine pregnancy test at study screening

Exclusion Criteria

  • Currently taking any known CYP3A inducers/inhibitors (e.g., rifampin, carbamazepine, ketoconazole, St. John's wort)43
  • Any medical conditions that affect liver function (e.g., hepatitis, cirrhosis)
  • Contraindications to estrogen-containing contraception (based on category 3 or 4 recommendations in the CDC MEC guidelines42)
  • Current breast cancer or personal history of breast cancer
  • Severe decompensated cirrhosis
  • Personal history of deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism
  • Recent major surgery with prolonged immobilization
  • Diabetes with nephropathy, retinopathy, neuropathy, or other vascular disease
  • Current gallbladder disease
  • Migraine headaches with aura
  • History of malabsorptive bariatric surgery
  • History of cholestasis due to past oral contraceptive pill use
  • Personal history of hypertension
  • Personal history of ischemic heart disease
  • Known thrombogenic mutations
  • Personal history of focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver, hepatocellular adenoma, or malignant hepatoma
  • Multiple sclerosis with prolonged immobility
  • History of peripartum cardiomyopathy
  • Current tobacco smoker and age ≥35 years
  • History of complicated solid organ transplantation
  • Personal history of stroke
  • Personal history of superficial venous thrombosis
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus with positive or unknown antiphospholipid antibodies
  • Complicated valvular heart disease
  • Current use of fosamprenavir or lamotrigine
  • Use of injectable contraceptive method within 6 months or current use of an ENG implant
  • Childbirth within 6 months

Recruiting US locations

  • University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

    Aurora, CO 80045

    Site contact: Araceli Cortez · 303-501-4157 · ARACELI.2.CORTEZ@CUANSCHUTZ.EDU

  • Yale University

    New Haven, CT 06520

    Site contact: AmberJean Hansen · 203-737-7962 · BirthControlGene@yale.edu

Study contacts (from the official record)

  • Aaron M Lazorwitz, MD, PhD · 2037854688 · aaron.lazorwitz@yale.edu
All women’s health studies in Colorado →
Oral Contraceptive Pill (OCP) Pharmacogenomics (NCT06334315) | Bored Studies