Researchers at the University of Aberdeen have secured a £2.3 million grant to lead a major UK-wide trial investigating a remotely delivered pain management programme for endometriosis. The five-year study aims to evaluate whether the bespoke digital intervention can improve quality of life for women whose chronic pelvic pain persists despite surgery or hormonal treatment.
Endometriosis affects one in ten women, manifesting as a systemic inflammatory disease where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows outside the uterus. The condition causes persistent pelvic pain and chronic fatigue, yet standard options like surgery and hormonal therapies often offer only temporary relief. Data shows that pain returns in up to 50 percent of cases within five years following surgery, leaving many patients searching for sustainable alternatives.
University of Aberdeen and NHS Grampian Launch NIHR-Funded Trial
The five-year project, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, is being spearheaded by the University of Aberdeen alongside NHS Grampian. Investigators will evaluate a 12-week intervention known as an endometriosis-specific Pain Management Programme. The study is open to premenopausal women who continue to experience chronic pelvic pain despite previous medical or surgical interventions.
Participants in the trial will be recruited directly by their medical specialists. Women enrolled in the study will either receive the new remote programme alongside their existing standard care or continue with standard care alone, allowing researchers to directly compare clinical outcomes between the two groups. In addition to patient quality of life, the evaluation will measure cost-effectiveness to help guide future NHS resource allocation and clinical guidelines.
What the Endometriosis Pain Management Programme Entails
The structured 12-week program is tailored specifically to address the complex symptoms of endometriosis. Rather than focusing solely on pelvic discomfort, the curriculum tackles the multifaceted toll the disease takes on physical and mental well-being.
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy-informed psychotherapy designed to help patients process chronic pain.
- Specialist physiotherapy aimed at improving mobility and pelvic floor health.
- Practical guidance on relationships, intimacy, and communication.
- Modules covering self-compassion and medication optimisation to minimize debilitating side effects.
Dr Lucky Saraswat, an honorary senior lecturer at the university, consultant gynaecologist, and lead for the Aberdeen Endometriosis Centre in NHS Grampian, emphasized the scope of the problem when discussing the launch of the research.
“Endometriosis is one of the most common yet under researched causes of chronic pain. Many women continue to suffer even after surgery or medication.”
Dr Lucky Saraswat, Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University
Saraswat added that if the trial proves successful, the programme could emerge as a vital alternative for patients who want to avoid repeated surgeries, sidestep hormonal therapies, or preserve their fertility options.
Personal Impact and the Reality of Living With Stage 4 Endometriosis
For patients navigating advanced stages of the disease, the trial represents a much-needed shift in clinical focus. Charlotte McCann, a 27-year-old living in Huntly, Aberdeenshire, has battled stage four endometriosis since her symptoms began at age 14. Her condition eventually forced her to abandon a career in corporate finance, leaving her to work as a freelance pet-sitter on days when her health permits according to published accounts.
“I would wake up in the night vomiting and I was always worried that maybe my appendix had burst or I had a kidney infection or something like that. The pain would come on so strong, I wouldn’t be able to even sit up straight, I wouldn’t be able to stand up.”
Charlotte McCann, Study Participant and Endometriosis Patient
McCann endured years of waiting lists and diagnostic uncertainty before an MRI scan confirmed stage four endometriosis at the beginning of the year. The disease has since spread to her bladder and other parts of her body.
Emma Cox, CEO of Endometriosis UK, welcomed the initiative, noting that chronic pelvic pain inflicts a heavy toll on both physical and mental health. Professor Anthony Gordon, director of NIHR’s Health Technology Assessment Programme, echoed the need for targeted research to break the cycle of ineffective treatments and offer lasting options for patients facing years of distress.
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