A Study Comparing Different Treatment Approaches for the Initiation of Puberty in Girls With Turner Syndrome Using a TRIFECTA-DARED Approach for Rare Diseases

Starting soon · Phase 2

Conditions studied: Turner Syndrome

In brief

Turner syndrome is a condition in which a girl's body does not make enough estrogen on its own, so doctors give estrogen to help start breast and uterine (womb) development. Hence, the goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether two different ways of giving estrogen help girls and young women with Turner syndrome go through puberty normally, and to compare how well each method works and how safe they are. The main questions the trial aims to answer are: 1. Does taking an oral estrogen tablet (Progynova) or applying an estrogen gel (Oestrogel) lead to better breast development? 2. Does one method lead to a larger uterine size as seen on ultrasound? 3. Do participants start menstrual-like (withdrawal) bleeding, and does one method cause it sooner? 4. What side effects (for example, headaches, nausea, changes in blood tests) happen with each method? Who can take part? * Girls and young women aged 11-30 years with a confirmed diagnosis of Turner syndrome and no previous estrogen treatment. * They have not yet begun puberty (no breast growth, and a small uterus on ultrasound). * They agree to adhere to the study schedule and keep a diary of any bleeding or side effects What will happen to the participants during the clinical trial? * Get assigned at random to one of two groups (1:1 ratio): 1. Gel group: Apply Oestrogel (17β-estradiol) to the skin, starting twice a week, then daily with increasing doses over 19 months. 2. Tablet group: Swallow Progynova (estradiol valerate) tablets, starting twice a week, then daily with increasing doses over 19 months. * Visit the clinic at the start of study (baseline), month 1, 7, 13, and 19 for: 1. A physical exam (including breast staging). 2. An ultrasound to measure uterine length and thickness. 3. A blood test for safety checks (triglycerides and other markers). 4. Keep a diary noting any spotting or bleeding (called withdrawal bleeding) and any side effects. Why does this matter? Girls and young women with Turner syndrome often need estrogen to begin puberty safely. This trial will show which method-gel or tablets-best mimics natural puberty (breast and uterine growth), how quickly menstrual-like bleeding begins, and which has fewer unwanted effects. The findings will help doctors choose the most effective and safe treatment for people with Turner syndrome.

Key facts

Study ID: NCT07041814
Run by: Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre
People needed: 24
Starts: 2026-02-15
Expected to finish: 2029-10-31
Last updated by the study team: 2026-02-02

Who can join

Age: 11 and older, up to 30. Sex: female. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

Females aged 11-30 years old with karyotype-verified (45, X or other similar karyotypes) and clinically confirmed Turner's syndrome prior at the time of pubertal induction
Confirmed estrogen deficiency with primary ovarian failure (high level of follicular stimulating hormone (FSH > 25 IU/L))
Patients who have not undergone pubertal development ( no breast development and underdeveloped uterus size).
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)-naive TS patients
Breast Tanner Stage of 2 or less.
Patients on Growth Hormone (GH) will be allowed entry into the study.
Consented to trial participation (from individual TS patients (if aged 18 and above) or the parents or guardians (for under-18 TS patients) with individual's assent

You may not qualify if…

Patients with signs of spontaneous puberty
Contraindications to trial products (e.g hypersensitivity to any components of the HRT) based on the most recent version of the British National Formulary (BNF 85)
Previous history of exposure to estrogen treatment.
Concomitant use of other drugs that affect the bone mineral density (BMD) of the participants (e.g. Bisphosphonates or prolonged use of systemic corticosteroids). Vitamin D supplementation and short corticosteroid usage are allowed.
Acute or chronic hepatic disease
Patients with untreated hypothyroidism
Inflammatory bowel disease (Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn's disease) and coeliac disease
Cigarette-smoking patients
Severely obese patients based on the following criteria:
For TS patients aged 11-17 years old: Based on the WHO chart with BMI > 95th percentile
For TS patients aged 18 years until 30 years: BMI of 37.5 or above based on the Malaysian Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Obesity
Unknown abnormal genital bleeding
Porphyria
Recent involvement with clinical research studies (previous 6 months) investigating new HRT formulations

Where it is running

Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz (HCTM) — Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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