Light at the end of the tunnel for pelvic pain diagnosis?
NCT ID NCT07181447
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Sep 16, 2026 · Updated 5 times
Summary
This study is testing a new device that uses near-infrared light to measure pelvic floor muscle fitness in women with myofascial pelvic pain, a condition that affects up to 26% of women. The goal is to create a simple, non-invasive diagnostic tool that could replace the need for internal exams by specialists. Researchers will enroll 110 women to see if the device can accurately diagnose the condition and predict effective treatments.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could provide a simple, non-invasive tool to diagnose myofascial pelvic pain more accurately and affordably, reducing the need for internal exams.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-stage study focused on developing and validating the device, not yet proving it works in practice. The results may not lead to a widely available diagnostic tool.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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110 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jan 2025
- Finished
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Sep 2026
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
The control subjects (cohort 1) will be adult 18 (\>18 years of age) who lack pelvic pain or other genitourinary symptoms. The MPP cohort (cohort 2) will consist of adult women \>18 years of age with pelvic floor muscle pain or tender points.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Female participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Women between 18 and 100 years of age * Pelvic pain for more than 6 months duration * Report an average daily pain intensity score of at least 4 (on a 0 to 10 scale) * Palpable trigger/tender points in internal pelvic floor muscles on standardized myofascial pelvic floor exam * Willing to refrain from new clinical treatments that may affect pain during the study period Exclusion Criteria: * Inability to participate in clinic visits * Prior invasive pelvic procedures for pain (e.g., prior pelvic surgery, sacral neuromodulation, intradetrusor Botox®) * Active UTI or vaginal infection * Pregnancy, childbirth during the previous 12 months, currently planning pregnancy * Illicit Drug addiction/regular use of controlled substances * Malignancy or other serious medical condition (e.g., poorly controlled diabetes \[HgA1c \> 8\], neurologic or rheumatic disease) * Diagnosed with an alternate cause of pelvic pain (e.g., interstitial cystitis, vestibulodynia, vulvar dermatoses dysmenorrhea) * Urinary retention * Greater than stage 3 pelvic organ prolapse * Indwelling vaginal devices (e.g., pessary, contraceptive ring) * Inability to sign an informed consent, fill out questionnaires, or complete study interviews
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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UCLA Center for Women's Pelvic Health
Los Angeles, California, 90095, United States
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