Translational Research in Pelvic Pain

This study aims to better understand the pathways leading to pain in women with two types of pelvic pain condition (endometriosis-associated pain and bladder pain syndrome) and determine whether these pathways can be used to subgroup patients.

Chronic pelvic pain is as common as asthma, migraine and back pain and has a very significant impact on quality of life. However, it is still poorly understood and the available treatments are limited and often not successful. This project focuses on two causes of chronic pelvic pain: endometriosis and interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome. Endometriosis (the presence of tissue resembling the lining of the womb outside of the womb) is very common, affecting \~1 in 10 women, and is associated with often disabling pelvic pain symptoms including painful periods, pain throughout the month, and pain associated with sex, passing urine and opening bowels. Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome is much less common but dramatically reduces quality of life with many women planning their day around trips to the toilet. This multi-centre study will be carried out at 3 sites in Europe and 1 in the U.S.. Rather than focusing on the pelvis, the investigators will approach these conditions in the context of other chronic pain conditions with which they share many features and thus consider the many different systems that might contribute to generating and maintaining pain. The investigators will combine detailed clinical and questionnaire data with tests of the function of a variety of systems (including nerve function, stress response and psychology) and the results of analyses of different body fluids and tissues (including blood, urine, endometriosis lesions). No study treatment or intervention will be given during TRiPP. The aim is to identify pathways responsible for pain in these women and determine whether they can be divided into subgroups on the basis of different pain pathways that might therefore respond to different treatments. Ultimately the investigators hope to identify new targets for treatment and contribute to the design of more personalised treatment plans.