Plain-English translation of NCT04685148 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated · Translation generated · How we translate trials
Read our Major Depressive Disorder research guide →Phase 1/2 — A combined trial that checks safety and dosing while also starting to look at whether the treatment works.
This trial is testing whether estradiol patches—a form of the hormone estrogen—can prevent postpartum depression in women who have had it before. Researchers believe that the rapid drop in estrogen after childbirth may trigger depression in some women, and providing a gradual replacement of this hormone for a few weeks might protect against it. You would wear the medication patch for three weeks after giving birth and be monitored for mood and wellbeing.
Postpartum depression affects 1 in 7 to 1 in 10 new mothers and is particularly likely to recur in women who have experienced it before. Current treatments for depression aren't specific enough for this vulnerable time, so researchers are testing whether this targeted, short-term hormone treatment could prevent depression before it starts.
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After you give birth, you will be randomly assigned to wear either an estrogen patch or a placebo patch for the first three weeks postpartum. You'll come in for visits to check on your mental health, physical health, and how well the treatment is working. The study team will monitor you closely during this early postpartum period and follow up to see whether the treatment helped prevent depression.
AI-generated summary from trial data · Jul 17, 2026 · Not medical advice
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