Quantitative Sensory Testing and Central Sensitization in Endometriosis

What this study is about

Endometriosis is a gynecologic condition where there is growth of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus, leading to severe pelvic pain. Despite conventional treatment, many patients experience persistent pelvic pain due to central sensitization (CS), where the central nervous system amplifies pain signals. Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST) enables objective testing of CS. However, there are several patient-reported questionnaires that have shown promising potential as subjective proxies of CS. Therefore, in this study, our objective is to validate six patient-reported questionnaires as measures of CS by comparing them to each other and determining whether each questionnaire correlates with QST thresholds.

Who can join (things the study team will check)

✅ You may be able to join if…

• New or re-referral appointment at the BC Women's Centre for Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis.
• Consented to be contacted for future research in the centre data registry (EPPIC NCT02911090; H16-00264).
• Surgically confirmed endometriosis, current imaging diagnosis, or current clinically suspected endometriosis diagnosed at the new or re-referral appointment as coded in the registry.
• 19 to 49 years old.
• Willing and committed to completing six questionnaires about pain. QST specific criteria
• Willing and committed to QST testing.

🚫 You may not be able to join if…

• Currently pregnant or breastfeeding.
• Post-menopausal.
• Does not speak English - Patients who do not speak English will be excluded to maintain the safety and well-being of the patient, as not understanding the test and process may harm the patient and reduce the validity of the results. We do not have research funding for a translator. Additionally, patients who require a translator are not typically included in the data registry and therefore are unlikely to be in our sample. QST specific criteria
• Diabetes or neurological disease predisposing to neuropathic pain.
• Previous laparotomy (i.e. large abdominal incision)
• Physical trauma (ex., surgery, scaring) to heterotropic QST test site(s) (i.e. deltoid muscle in the shoulder, thenar eminence).

Where this trial is running

• BC Women's Hospital + Health Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada