Understanding the causes of uterine pain to improve treatment for menstrual cramps
Official title: Mechanistic Characterization of Uterine Pain (M-CUP) to improve diagnosis and treatment for dysmenorrhea
Funded at Endeavor Health Clinical Operations · NIH-10692599 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how menstrual cramps happen and what causes the pain, using special MRI tools to see what's going on in the uterus during those painful times, with the hope of finding better treatments for women who experience severe cramps.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Endeavor Health Clinical Operations NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Evanston, United States) |
| Project start | September 6, 2019 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $422,567 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD098193-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10692599 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are women suffering from severe menstrual cramps that do not respond to over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not experience menstrual pain or those whose pain is effectively managed with current treatments may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the underlying mechanisms of menstrual cramping pain associated with conditions like primary dysmenorrhea and secondary dysmenorrhea, which includes issues such as endometriosis and adenomyosis. By utilizing advanced MRI-based tools, the study aims to noninvasively measure uterine contractions, blood flow, and oxygen levels during menstrual pain episodes. The goal is to identify how these factors contribute to pain, which could lead to more effective and personalized treatment options for women suffering from severe menstrual cramps.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved diagnosis and treatment options for women experiencing debilitating menstrual pain.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using MRI to study uterine physiology is innovative, similar methodologies have shown promise in other areas of pain research, indicating potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
Endeavor Health Clinical Operations
Evanston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hellman, Kevin — Endeavor Health Clinical Operations
- Study coordinator: Hellman, Kevin
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Decoding Dysmenorrhea: Longitudinal Pain Phenotypes in Adolescents and Young Adults
A study on how menstrual pain develops over time in teenagers and young adults, exploring brain and behavior to understand why some have ongoing pain.
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Gut microbiome and multisensory sensitivity in teen menstrual pain
A study in adolescent girls with moderate-to-severe menstrual pain will explore how gut bacteria relate to their pain and sensitivity to different senses.
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AI-powered, person-centered chatbot to help manage menstrual pain
A patient-friendly AI chatbot called PeriodPal will provide evidence-based, personalized tips to help manage dysmenorrhea and reduce days missed from work or school.
-
Vaginal microbiome and bodily signals linked to menstrual pain phenotypes
This research will look at how the vaginal microbiome, inflammatory signals, hormones, and natural metabolites relate to different patterns of menstrual pain in diverse teens and young women.
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Investigating the role of vaginal microbiome in menstrual pain
This study is looking at how the bacteria in the vagina might influence menstrual pain, or dysmenorrhea, in women aged 14-39, to help find better ways to treat those who experience different levels of pain during their periods.
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Understanding how menstrual pain can lead to chronic pelvic pain
This study is looking at how painful periods might lead to long-term pelvic pain and how inflammation and nerve changes play a role, so we can find better ways to help women manage their pain and prevent it from getting worse.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.