Global Study of Women's Health



Status:Completed
Conditions:Chronic Pain, Women's Studies, Endometriosis, Infertility
Therapuetic Areas:Musculoskeletal, Other, Reproductive
Healthy:No
Age Range:18 - 45
Updated:4/17/2018
Start Date:February 17, 2009
End Date:November 26, 2012

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Endometriosis, a condition in which the lining of the uterus grows on nearby tissues, is a
common condition that affects women of reproductive age worldwide. The diagnosis of
endometriosis is usually made at surgery. The most common symptom is pelvic pain. This pain
may occur at the same time as menstrual bleeding, at other times of the cycle, or during or
after sexual intercourse. Previous studies reveal the diagnosis of endometriosis is often
delayed between 8 and 12 years after the first symptoms. Women with chronic pelvic pain
report a lower quality of life. No studies, however, have been conducted to assess whether
women with endometriosis-related pelvic pain are affected differently than those with pelvic
pain from other or no identifiable causes.

This large-scale study is designed to gather prospective epidemiological data on the impact
of and risk factors for endometriosis across countries worldwide. A study of this scale and
scope has never been performed; it is anticipated that the study will provide novel insights
into the effects of the condition and associated symptoms on women s lives across different
countries, as well as explore differences in the effects of various potential risk factors.

This is an international study conducted at more than 20 sites worldwide and coordinated by
Oxford University in the United Kingdom. At the National Institutes of Health, 250
premenopausal women between 18 and 45 years of age who are having their first diagnostic
laparoscopy or laparoscopy for tubal sterilization will participate. None will have had a
prior diagnosis of endometriosis through surgery. Women will be informed about the study when
their laparoscopy is scheduled.

Procedures

- Patient completion of an online questionnaire before scheduled surgery. The following
will be assessed by the questionnaire:

- Quality of life

- General gynecologic and medical history

- Family history

- General information

- Use of health care services

- Risk factors

- Surgeon completion of questionnaire about surgical findings.

- Follow-up: Women who consent will be contacted every 1 2 years.

This large-scale study is designed to gather prospective epidemiological data on the impact
of and risk-factors for endometriosis across countries world-wide. A study of this scale and
scope has never been performed; it is anticipated to provide novel insights into the effects
of the condition and associated symptoms on women s lives across different countries, as well
as explore (differences in) the effects of various potential risk-factors.

Study Design: This is a clinic-based patient survey of prospectively recruited women
undergoing a laparoscopy for symptoms suggestive of endometriosis or for tubal sterilization.
Descriptive, as well as nested case-control studies will be conducted using information
collected from patients in the registry to investigate the impact of endometriosis and
associated symptoms, and test etiological hypotheses.

Primary Outcome: The primary purpose of this survey is to collect systematic, comprehensive
epidemiological information on the impact of endometriosis among women world-wide, in terms
of prevalence, diagnostic delay, quality of life, economic effect indicators, health care
utilization, and risk-factors.

Secondary Outcomes: A secondary purpose of the register is to provide a frame-work for future
follow-up studies of women diagnosed with endometriosis, allowing the investigation of
indicators of effectiveness of different treatment options; long-term quality of life issues,
as well as personal and economic (productivity) costs of endometriosis. The multi-center
nature of the study should allow variability of endometriosis illness outcomes and
associations to be assessed across participating countries.

Statistical Methods:

Basic descriptive analyses will include prevalence estimates according to different age and
demographic characteristics, across countries. The analyses of most outcomes will be
conducted by comparing women with endometriosis (cases) to those without (controls), both of
which will have been recruited through the same process. To avoid bias, cases will be matched
to controls on characteristics such as age, country of residence and clinic attended. The
analysis of the data will take into consideration this matching; in addition, adjustment for
symptoms for which the laparoscopy was indicated (pelvic pain, infertility) will be included.
Continuous variables and categorical variables will be analyzed with the appropriate
statistical tests.

Duration of Patient Participation: Women are informed about the study at the consultation
during which their laparoscopy is scheduled. If they accept to participate, they are asked to
fill in an online questionnaire any time before their scheduled surgery. Unless they consent
to being contacted sometime in the future for follow-up surveys, their active participation
in the study ends. If they wish to participate in future surveys, they will be contacted at
most every 1-2 years.

- INCLUSION CRITERIA:

A patient who meets all of the following criteria is eligible for the study:

1. Premenopausal female 18 to 45 years of age

2. Attending for her first diagnostic laparoscopy or for laparoscopy for tubal
sterilisation

3. Has no previous history of endometriosis diagnosis through surgery

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

A patient who meets any of the following criteria is ineligible for the study:

1. Already has a surgically-confirmed diagnosis of endometriosis

2. Aged less than18 or greater than 45

3. Aged 18-45 but post-menopausal
We found this trial at
1
site
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
?
mi
from
Bethesda, MD
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