CTR Makes Women’s Health Research a Priority
Like many women, Tamara Alton felt trapped by her menopause symptoms and was unable to function during hot flashes. But everything changed when the working mother of four took a chance and enrolled in a research study through Clinical Trials Research (CTR).
“Before, she would come in and she’d be sluggish. She would have a hard time concentrating; she was depressed,” said CTR Nurse Practitioner Robin Lawrie. “Now, because she’s feeling better, there’s a sparkle in her eye. There’s a jump in her step.”
Tamara is just one of many women finding comfort and relief through menopausal research studies at CTR, thanks to state-of-the-art medication and a caring staff to help her understand her symptoms.
“One of the things I’ve been very happy about here at Clinical Trials Research is that we do so many women’s health studies,” said Lawrie.
CTR’s Principal Investigator, Dr. Jeff Wayne, and his team have worked on over 260 clinical trials and helped more than 1,000 patients during those research studies by providing medications and education.
“There is a lot of research being done right now in the vasomotor symptoms – or hot flashes – that people experience, and all of the other things that go along with them,” said Lawrie.
The small but mighty team at CTR has helped patients receive relief from chronic diseases, including insomnia, high blood pressure and diabetes, and women’s health studies are always a priority for the Sacramento-based staff.
Managing Menopause
Even given all the advances in modern medicine, women today still don’t have a lot of treatment options when it comes to menopause. But CTR’s research studies give them the chance to live easier lives by helping to approve relief medications.
After she turned 51, Tamara’s menopause got progressively worse. “Night sweats, waking up in the middle of the night, not being able to sleep,” she said. “I was freezing out my kids – they were like, ‘It’s really cold in here,’ and I would just be hot all the time.”
But ever since joining not one but two different menopause studies at CTR, Tamara can feel a difference in her work as a therapist and in her personal life as well.
“I don’t know if [my menopause] would be the same without the study,” said Tamara. And she’s not the only one.
“Patients tell us that they are not having hot flashes; their lives are being turned around,” said Lawrie. “They have a higher quality of life, they feel better and they’re better functioning.”
Individualized Clinical Research Studies
CTR takes time to prepare every patient before clinical trials, so that the men and women who come to one of the company’s two offices feel comfortable and educated about the process before it even begins. They also take the time to educate patients about their disease or symptoms, giving patients a better understanding of what is going on with their bodies.
“I’m more aware about what’s going on with me,” said Tamara, who in addition to medication treatment has also received educational materials about menopause and how to deal with the stress that goes along with it. “Before, I didn’t understand a lot of it.”
The patients who come to CTR benefit greatly from the clinical research studies, but the outcomes also have a positive effect on the researchers themselves.
“If we can make a difference in somebody’s life, so they can have control over their life and make better choices – then I think we’ve done our job,” said Lawrie. “I know that what we do here is important.”
To learn more about CTR’s menopause studies, or about what other research opportunities are available, head to https://www.ctrsites.com/.