A nationwide study led by the University of Aberdeen and NHS Grampian has begun recruiting participants for a five‑year, £2.3million programme aimed at improving pain relief for women with endometriosis. The trial will test a personalised, interdisciplinary approach that combines cognitive behavioural therapy, specialist physiotherapy, relationship guidance and medication adjustments, measuring its impact against standard care alone.
Charlotte’s lived experience
Charlotte McCann, now 27 and living in Huntly, Aberdeenshire, first felt the debilitating effects of endometriosis at age 14. By adulthood the pain had become so severe that she was forced to quit her career in corporate finance and now works as a freelance pet‑sitter when she can manage it. She describes waking in the night vomiting, being unable to sit or stand, and relying on strong opioid painkillers that leave her nauseous and underweight. Despite surgery to remove the abnormal tissue, her symptoms returned, and she now uses walking aids to cope with back pain caused by the disease.
“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,” she recalled. “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.” She added that the condition has affected her bladder and spread to other parts of her body, leaving her reliant on medication that often makes eating impossible.
What the e‑PMP trial involves
The study, formally titled the endometriosis‑specific pain management programme (e‑PMP), will run for five years and is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Once enrolled, participants will take part in a 12‑week personalised plan that includes CBT‑informed psychotherapy, specialist physiotherapy, sessions on relationships, intimacy and communication, and medication aimed at reducing side effects. Pre‑menopausal women will be randomly assigned to receive either the new programme alongside their usual standard care or standard care alone, allowing researchers to compare outcomes directly.
Recruitment will be handled through specialist clinics, with eligible patients approached by their gynaecology teams. The programme’s goal is to determine whether a tailored, non‑surgical approach can provide meaningful, long‑term improvements in quality of life for those whose pain persists after surgery or hormonal treatments.
Expert voices on the study
Consultant gynaecologist Dr Lucky Saraswat, an honorary senior lecturer at the University of Aberdeen and lead for the Aberdeen Endometriosis Centre at NHS Grampian, is heading the trial. She said: “Endometriosis is one of the most common yet under researched causes of chronic pain. Many women continue to suffer even after surgery or medication. This study will help us understand whether a tailored, interdisciplinary pain management programme can offer meaningful, long term improvements in quality of life. If effective, e‑PMP could become a vital new treatment option, particularly for women who wish to avoid repeated surgery or hormonal therapies, or who are planning a pregnancy.”
Professor Anthony Gordon, director of NIHR’s health technology assessment programme, highlighted the broader significance: “High-quality research is essential to break this cycle and deliver treatment that addresses the full, complex impact of endometriosis. By evaluating tailored, non‑surgical pain management, this trial could revolutionise care – providing desperately needed support, improving daily lives, and offering long-term relief when standard treatments haven’t worked.”
Emma Cox, chief executive of Endometriosis UK, welcomed the initiative: “Symptoms of endometriosis including chronic pelvic pain can have a significant impact on someone’s physical and mental health, and research is vital to helping improve management and treatment options. We welcome this much-needed research and look forward to working with the team to see how an endometriosis specific pain management programme could support those with the disease in the future.”
Why it Matters
This trial represents a rare, large‑scale effort to move beyond surgery and hormones toward a holistic pain management strategy that could reshape how endometriosis is treated across the UK. If the e‑PMP proves effective, it may offer a sustainable alternative for the millions of women whose lives are currently limited by relentless pain, reducing reliance on opioids, minimising repeat operations, and supporting those who wish to preserve fertility. The findings could also inform health‑economic decisions, potentially easing the long‑term burden on the NHS while giving patients a tangible hope for improved daily functioning and wellbeing.
