Predicting who will get less pain after endometriosis surgery
Official title: Predicting the Pain Outcome of Surgery for Endometriosis
Run by University of Oxford · NCT07313345 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will use brain scans and questionnaires to try to see if we can predict which people with severe endometriosis will have less pelvic pain after surgery.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 50 Years |
| Sex | Women only |
| Enrollment | 100 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Oxford Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Oxford, Oxfordshire) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | December 2025 |
| Main results expected | August 2028 |
| Study ends | August 2028 |
| Registry record updated | December 31, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07313345 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults aged 18–50 who are female or were born female, have stage III–IV endometriosis confirmed by imaging or prior surgery, report pelvic pain of at least 4/10, plan to undergo surgical treatment, can have an MRI, and can complete English-language questionnaires are the intended participants.
✕Probably not a fit
People with milder (stage I–II) endometriosis, those who cannot undergo MRI, are pregnant or planning pregnancy, or who have low baseline pelvic pain are unlikely to be eligible or to gain direct benefit from this study's findings.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This observational study enrolls adults with stage III or IV endometriosis who are scheduled for surgical treatment. Participants will undergo preoperative brain imaging (fMRI) and complete standardized patient-reported outcome measures about pain and function, with clinical follow-up after surgery. Investigators will analyze imaging and questionnaire data against post-surgical pain changes to identify patterns that predict who benefits from surgery. The approach uses neuroimaging biomarkers to boost predictive power and may require fewer participants than questionnaire-only methods.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help clinicians predict which patients are likely to experience pain relief from surgery and avoid unnecessary operations.
How similar studies have gone: Prior trials have explored surgical outcomes and some research has linked brain imaging to chronic pain states, but using fMRI specifically to predict who will benefit from surgery for severe endometriosis is relatively novel and not yet established.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * willing and able to give informed consent * aged between 18 and 50 years of age * female or born female * diagnosed with stage III or IV endometriosis by scan (MRI or USS) or previous surgery * surgical treatment of severe endometriosis planned (surgical procedure at discretion of operating surgeon) * reports pelvic pain of ≥4/10 (measured using a 0 - 10 numerical rating scale asking about the participant's worst pelvic pain associated with their endometriosis) * reasonably fluent in English * in the Investigator's opinion, is able and willing to comply with all study requirements * willing to allow his or her General Practitioner and consultant to be notified of participation in the study Exclusion Criteria: * pregnant, lactating or planning pregnancy during the course of the study * contraindication to MRI
Where it's running
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Oxford University Hospitals Foundation Trust
Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Katy Vincent — University of Oxford
- Study coordinator: Katy Vincent, DPhil, FRCOG
- Email: katy.vincent@wrh.ox.ac.uk
- Phone: 00 44 1865 220024
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
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Comparing different techniques to treat endometriosis
This study is testing different methods to treat endometriosis, like laser and heat techniques, to see which one works best for relieving pain in women who are already having surgery for the condition.
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Postoperative Pain Trajectories After Endometriosis Surgery
This study tests how pain changes after endometriosis surgery and whether perioperative pain testing can predict who will have ongoing pain.
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Imaging endometriosis with a special PET tracer in adult women
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Fiber supplement for digestive symptoms in endometriosis
A fiber-based supplement is being tested to see if it is safe and helps with gut and vaginal microbiomes and digestive symptoms in women with endometriosis.
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Stellate ganglion block and dexmedetomidine for better sleep after gynecologic laparoscopy
The study tests whether giving a preoperative stellate ganglion block plus intraoperative dexmedetomidine improves sleep after laparoscopic gynecologic surgery in women.
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Atypical Endometriosis: Histology, Immunophenotype and Molecular Features
Researchers will look at how endometriotic tissue that looks atypical under the microscope relates to clinical features and ultrasound findings to better separate benign from potentially atypical lesions.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.