Whole-Body Cryotherapy as a Non-Pharmacological Treatment to Reduce Chronic Pelvic Pain and Improve Quality of Life in People With Endometriosis

Sponsor
University of Edinburgh
Study ID
NCT07603960
Status
Recruiting
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Conditions

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
FEMALE
Age
16 Years - N/A
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • Whole-Body Cryotherapy — PROCEDURE
    Whole-body cryotherapy is a non-pharmacological intervention involving brief exposure of the body to extremely cold, dry air (typically around -110°C to -140°C) in a specialised cryotherapy chamber. Each session lasts approximately 2-3 minutes and is conducted under controlled conditions. The intervention is designed to induce physiological responses including vasoconstriction, modulation of inflammatory pathways, and potential analgesic effects.

Study Details

The aim of this study is to investigate whether whole-body cryotherapy (a brief exposure to very cold temperatures) can help reduce pain and improve quality of life in people living with endometriosis, and whether it may represent a safe, non-pharmacological approach to managing endometriosis-related symptoms. Up to 30 participants with symptomatic endometriosis (chronic pelvic pain for more than six months) will be recruited over a 12-month period. Participants will attend two study visits at the hospital, approximately four weeks apart. Between these visits, participants will undergo five whole-body cryotherapy sessions, each lasting approximately 3 minutes. During cryotherapy, participants stand in a specialised chamber where the body is briefly exposed to cold, dry air (around -120°C). During the study, will be assessed changes in systemic inflammation and biological markers using blood, saliva, urine, vaginal, and stool samples. Data will be collected using questionnaires evaluating pain and related symptoms, quality of life, sleep, fatigue, intestinal symptoms, and overall wellbeing. The active study phase lasts approximately 4-6 weeks. A final follow-up assessment at 15 weeks will be conducted remotely using questionnaires and self-collected samples.

Key Dates

First listed
May 22, 2026
Start date
Apr 9, 2026
Status verified
Apr 2026
Primary completion
Nov 30, 2026
Completion
May 31, 2027

Study Design

Enrollment
30 participants (estimated)
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT

Arms

  • Experimental: Whole-Body Cryotherapy in Endometriosis
    Participants with symptomatic endometriosis will undergo a structured course of whole-body cryotherapy consisting of five sessions over approximately two weeks. Each session involves brief exposure (approximately 3 minutes) to extremely cold, dry air (around -120°C) in a specialised cryotherapy chamber. Clinical and biological assessments will be conducted before and after the intervention period.

Primary Outcome Measure

Change in average pain over the preceding week measured by an 11-point Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) [ Time Frame: From baseline to 4 weeks post-intervention ]

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