How Does Shift Work Influence Heart and Reproductive Health in Women
This study wants to learn how working at night or outside normal daytime hours affects women’s heart and reproductive health in women. We are looking for women who work night shifts, both day and night shifts, or only daytime shifts to see how different work hours may affect heart and reproductive health.
Why this Research Matters
Shift work is a hidden risk factor for heart problems and changes in reproductive health in women. A woman’s reproductive health is also important for heart health. But past studies on shift work and heart health have not focused on women or looked at reproductive health. This study looks how shift work affects both heart health and reproductive health in women.
If you join, you will have two in-person visits that are about 1-2 hours each. At the first visit, you will fill out surveys, have a urine pregnancy test, and give us a small amount of your blood from a needle in your arm. If you qualify for the study, you will be asked to come back for a second visit. At this visit, you will have another pregnancy test and your vitals will be checked. You will give us a small amount of your blood from a needle in your arm. We will also check your heart health with two different tests using a blood pressure cuff and video clips of your blood vessels using ultrasound. After this visit, you will be asked to wear two devices for 7 days. One device will record your physical activity and the other will record your sleep and exposure to light. You will also keep a record of everything you eat and drink for three days.
The study will last for about 3 months.
You may be able to join if you are a woman aged 18 to 40 who does not smoke, use hormonal contraceptives, and currently works the night shift or during the daytime.
