Preparatory work has begun for a new £2.3 million UK-wide study investigating a personalised pain management programme for endometriosis. The five-year study, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), is led by the University of Aberdeen and NHS Grampian.
The trial will evaluate whether a personalised endometriosis-specific pain management programme (e-PMP) can offer more effective treatment for women whose pain is not adequately controlled by surgery or medication. The 12-week programme for participants will include pain medication alongside treatments such as physiotherapy, cognitive behavioural therapy-informed psychotherapy, and guidance on relationships, intimacy, and communication.
Pre-menopausal women will either receive the new programme alongside existing standard care or existing standard care alone, with the results then compared. Consultant gynaecologist Dr Lucky Saraswat, who is heading the study, stated that many women continue to suffer even after surgery or medication, and this study aims to understand if a tailored, interdisciplinary programme can offer long-term improvements in quality of life.