Dyspareunia and Central Sensitization

Sponsor
BC Women's Hospital & Health Centre
Study ID
NCT03216330
Status
Completed

Conditions

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
FEMALE
Age
18 Years - 49 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Accepted

Interventions

  • No Intervention — OTHER
    There is no treatment intervention. We are assigning measurement tools such as the Electronic Thimble Algometer for QST and questionnaires to both groups.

Study Details

Background: Endometriosis affects 10% of reproductive aged females, and can have a negative impact on sexual quality of life. Endometriosis can cause pelvic pain with deep penetration during intercourse, as well as other sexual and non-sexual pains. This study will allow us to determine if an increase in sexual pain is related to central sensitization. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine if there is an association between the severity of sexual pain and central sensitization in women with endometriosis. Measurement tools: Data will be collected from the Clinic's Data Registry, an online questionnaire, a quantitative sensory test (QST) to measure pain-pressure threshold (PPT) as a marker of central sensitization, and daily entry to an online survey. Primary Hypothesis: Central sensitization (measured by lower pain-pressure threshold) will be associated with an increased severity of deep dyspareunia, as well as a tenderness of the bladder/pelvic floor and depression, in women with endometriosis.

Key Dates

Start date
Jul 19, 2017
Status verified
Mar 2026
Primary completion
Apr 1, 2019
Completion
Apr 1, 2019

Study Design

Enrollment
56 participants (actual)

Arms

  • Arm: Case
    * Consented to participate in the Data Registry (H16-00264) prior to their physician appointment at the BC Women's Health Centre. * New or re-referred to the BC Women's Health Centre for Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis. * Endometriosis (previously surgically diagnosed, or current endometrioma, or current nodule) * Willing and committed to indicating pain scores and menstrual data on a REDCap survey every day for 6 weeks after the test date. * At least 18 years old
  • Arm: Control
    * Reproductive aged female with no suspected or diagnosed endometriosis. * Have not experienced any sexual pain scores over 4/10 on a 11-point numeric rating scale, as determined on an online questionnaire prior to test day. * At least 18 years old

Primary Outcome Measure

Deep Dyspareunia Score [ Time Frame: Case only: daily for 6 weeks after QST testing date ]

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