Women’s health research in Chicago covers many important areas, from pregnancy and fertility to menopause, menstrual pain, fibroids, endometriosis, diabetes, and breast cancer prevention. Clinical trials help researchers test new treatments, screening methods, supplements, and care strategies that may improve health outcomes for women at different stages of life.
In this article, we highlight 10 women’s health clinical trials in Chicago. Each section explains the condition, common symptoms, and a related study that may be worth exploring for eligible participants.
Clinical trials are research studies. They are not a guarantee of treatment benefit, and eligibility depends on each study’s criteria. Anyone interested in joining a study should review the details carefully and speak with the study team or their healthcare provider.
Explore Women’s Health Clinical Trials in Chicago
Find women’s health clinical trials in Chicago for conditions like pregnancy, menopause, fibroids, endometriosis, infertility, breast cancer prevention, and menstrual pain. Review study details and see whether you may qualify.
1. Pregnancy and Prenatal Nutrition
Pregnancy increases the body’s need for nutrients such as iron, folate, and other vitamins. Prenatal nutrition is important because both the pregnant person and the developing baby rely on adequate vitamin and mineral levels throughout pregnancy.
Low iron during pregnancy can contribute to anemia. Common symptoms of anemia may include fatigue, weakness, dizziness, shortness of breath, headaches, pale skin, and trouble concentrating. Some pregnant women may not notice symptoms at first, which is why prenatal care and lab testing are important.
Recommended study: NCT07226414 — Pregnancy Supplement Study in Healthy Pregnant Women This study compares a prenatal capsule supplement with a prenatal gummy supplement in healthy pregnant women. Researchers are looking at whether the two supplement formats affect markers such as iron levels after 12 weeks of daily use.
Check Eligibility2. Breast Cancer Screening
Breast cancer screening is used to help detect breast cancer earlier, sometimes before symptoms appear. Screening may be especially important for women with certain risk factors, such as family history, dense breast tissue, or genetic risk.
Common symptoms of breast cancer can include a new lump in the breast or underarm, breast swelling, skin dimpling, nipple changes, nipple discharge, redness, flaky skin around the nipple, or breast pain. However, many breast cancers do not cause symptoms in the early stages.
Recommended study: NCT02620852 — WISDOM Study The WISDOM study compares routine annual breast cancer screening with a risk-based screening approach. Instead of using the same mammogram schedule for everyone, the study looks at whether screening can be personalized based on a woman’s individual breast cancer risk.
Check Eligibility3. Type 2 Diabetes and Preconception Care
Type 2 diabetes can affect women’s health before and during pregnancy. For women who may become pregnant, diabetes management is especially important because blood sugar levels before and during pregnancy can affect both maternal and baby health.
Common symptoms of type 2 diabetes may include frequent urination, increased thirst, increased hunger, fatigue, blurry vision, slow-healing wounds, frequent infections, unexplained weight changes, and numbness or tingling in the hands or feet.
Recommended study: NCT04976881 — Promoting Preconception Care and Diabetes Self-Management This study focuses on reproductive-aged women with type 2 diabetes. It evaluates a technology-based strategy designed to improve preconception care, diabetes self-management, reproductive planning, and patient knowledge.
Check Eligibility4. Uterine Fibroids
Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths that develop in or around the uterus. They are common, and some women may have fibroids without knowing it. Others may experience symptoms that affect daily life, periods, fertility, or pregnancy.
Common symptoms of uterine fibroids can include heavy menstrual bleeding, longer periods, pelvic pressure, pelvic pain, frequent urination, constipation, lower back pain, pain during sex, and bloating or abdominal fullness.
Recommended study: NCT05862272 — Relugolix Combination Tablet Study This Phase 3B study evaluates long-term use of relugolix combination therapy in women with uterine fibroids or endometriosis. For fibroids, the study focuses on women with heavy menstrual bleeding and monitors bone mineral density during long-term treatment.
Check Eligibility5. Gastroschisis in Pregnancy
Gastroschisis is a birth defect in which a baby’s intestines develop outside the body through an opening near the belly button. It is usually diagnosed during pregnancy by ultrasound or prenatal testing. The pregnant person usually does not feel specific symptoms from the baby’s gastroschisis.
Because gastroschisis affects the baby, symptoms are usually seen after birth or on imaging. Findings may include intestines outside the baby’s body, swollen intestines, or complications related to bowel function. Pregnancies affected by gastroschisis are considered high-risk and require specialized monitoring.
Recommended study: NCT02774746 — Gastroschisis Outcomes of Delivery Study This study looks at the timing of delivery for pregnancies affected by fetal gastroschisis. Participants may be randomized around 33 weeks to planned delivery at 35 weeks or observation with a goal of delivery closer to 38 weeks.
Check Eligibility6. Menopause and Emotional Wellbeing
Menopause is the stage of life when menstrual periods stop. The transition into menopause can begin years before the final period and may bring physical, emotional, and mental changes. Some women experience mild symptoms, while others have symptoms that affect sleep, mood, work, and daily comfort.
Common menopause symptoms can include hot flashes, night sweats, sleep problems, mood changes, irritability, anxiety, brain fog, vaginal dryness, changes in sexual comfort, and irregular periods during the transition.
Recommended study: NCT07146321 — Menopause Health Study This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigates whether a multivitamin and multi-nutrient supplement can improve mental and emotional wellbeing in healthy women experiencing menopause-related changes.
Check Eligibility7. Endometriosis and Infertility
Endometriosis happens when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. This tissue can cause inflammation, scarring, pain, and fertility problems. Some women are diagnosed only after years of symptoms, especially when pelvic pain or infertility leads to further evaluation.
Common symptoms of endometriosis may include painful periods, pelvic pain, pain during sex, pain with bowel movements or urination, heavy menstrual bleeding, bleeding between periods, fatigue, and difficulty getting pregnant.
Recommended study: NCT06375811 — Pre-IVF Treatment With a GnRH Antagonist This Phase 3 trial studies whether pretreatment with an oral GnRH antagonist before IVF can improve live birth rates in women with endometriosis. The study is designed for women with endometriosis who are undergoing in vitro fertilization.
Check Eligibility8. Breast Cancer Prevention in High-Risk Premenopausal Women
Some women have a higher risk of developing breast cancer due to family history, genetic risk, previous breast findings, or other medical factors. Prevention studies are designed for people who may not have cancer but are considered at increased risk.
Breast cancer may cause symptoms such as a lump, breast swelling, skin dimpling, nipple changes, nipple discharge, redness, flaky skin, or breast pain. However, prevention trials often focus on women before cancer develops, so participants may not have symptoms.
Recommended study: NCT05941520 — Acolbifene Versus Low-Dose Tamoxifen This Phase IIA trial compares acolbifene with low-dose tamoxifen for breast cancer prevention in premenopausal women at high risk of developing breast cancer. The study focuses on prevention rather than treatment of existing cancer.
Check Eligibility9. Endometriosis-Related Pain
Endometriosis-related pain can affect daily life, work, relationships, and fertility. Pain may occur before or during periods, during sex, during bowel movements, or throughout the month. For some women, symptoms become chronic and require long-term management.
Common symptoms include severe menstrual cramps, pelvic pain, pain during sex, painful bowel movements, painful urination, heavy bleeding, bleeding between periods, bloating, fatigue, and infertility.
Recommended study: NCT05862272 — Relugolix Combination Tablet Study The same relugolix combination tablet study also includes women with moderate to severe endometriosis pain. The study evaluates long-term treatment and tracks bone mineral density over time, which is important because hormonal treatments for endometriosis may affect bone health.
Check Eligibility10. Menstrual Pain and Chronic Pelvic Pain
Menstrual pain, also called dysmenorrhea, is pain or cramping that happens before or during a period. Mild cramps are common, but severe menstrual pain can interfere with school, work, sleep, and daily activities. In some cases, menstrual pain may be linked with chronic pelvic pain.
Common symptoms can include lower abdominal cramps, pelvic pain, lower back pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, fatigue, and pain that spreads to the thighs. Chronic pelvic pain may continue outside of the menstrual period and may need further evaluation.
Recommended study: NCT06861920 — NSAID Use for Treating Dysmenorrhea and Preventing Chronic Pelvic Pain This study looks at whether NSAIDs, such as naproxen sodium, can treat menstrual pain and help prevent the development of chronic pelvic pain in menstruating adults with painful periods. The study also examines whether response to NSAIDs during menstrual pain can help predict later pelvic pain outcomes.
Check EligibilityConclusion
Clinical trials give women in Chicago access to research opportunities across many areas of health, including reproductive care, pregnancy, cancer prevention, menopause, and chronic pelvic pain. While joining a clinical trial is a personal decision, learning about available studies can help patients better understand their options and take a more active role in their healthcare.
Anyone interested in a study should review the trial details, check eligibility requirements, and speak with the research team or their healthcare provider before participating.
Q&A About Women’s Health Clinical Trials in Chicago
What is a women’s health clinical trial?
A women’s health clinical trial is a research study focused on conditions, treatments, screenings, or health concerns that affect women. These may include pregnancy, fertility, menopause, gynecologic conditions, menstrual pain, diabetes, and breast cancer.
Are clinical trials only for people who are sick?
No. Some clinical trials enroll people with a specific condition, while others include healthy volunteers or people at higher risk for a condition. For example, a prevention study may enroll people who do not currently have cancer but have a higher risk of developing it.
Do I need to live in Chicago to join one of these studies?
Not always, but many studies require in-person visits at a Chicago research site, hospital, or clinic. The study team can explain location, travel, appointment, and visit requirements.
Are clinical trials safe?
Clinical trials follow research protocols and safety rules, but every study has possible risks and benefits. Before enrolling, participants should review the informed consent form and ask the study team questions about possible side effects, time commitment, procedures, and alternatives.
How do I know if I qualify for a study?
Each study has eligibility criteria. These may include age, diagnosis, health history, pregnancy status, medications, prior treatments, lab results, or location. The study team will screen interested participants to see if they qualify.
Can I leave a clinical trial after joining?
Yes. Participation is voluntary, and people can usually leave a clinical trial at any time. It is best to speak with the research team before stopping so they can explain any safety steps or follow-up care.
Should I talk to my doctor before joining?
Yes. Speaking with a healthcare provider can help you understand whether a clinical trial fits your health needs, current treatment plan, and personal preferences.