Painful endometriosis: could nerve fibers be the culprit?
NCT ID NCT07274956
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looked at 65 women with deep infiltrating endometriosis to see if the number of nerve fibers in their lesions is linked to how much pain they feel. Researchers measured nerve density in surgically removed tissue and compared it to pain scores reported by patients. The goal is to better understand what causes severe pain in endometriosis, which could improve treatment and surgical planning.
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 study could help doctors better understand why some women with endometriosis have severe pain, potentially leading to more personalized pain management or nerve-sparing surgery.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, completed observational study that only looks at existing tissue samples and medical records. It cannot prove that nerve density causes pain, and results may not apply to all patients.
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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65 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Feb 2022
- Finished
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Jun 2025
- Lead sponsor
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A government agency
The lead sponsor is a government body.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
Women aged 18-55 with surgically confirmed deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) treated at tertiary referral endometriosis centers during the study period. Consecutive, real-world all-comer surgical cases are included after inadequate response to medical therapy, encompassing common DIE sites (rectovaginal septum, uterosacral/cardinal ligaments, parametria, retrocervical/cervicovaginal, bowel, ureter, bladder). All participants have archived FFPE specimens suitable for histopathology/IHC and a documented preoperative pain assessment (e.g., VAS). The cohort is observational, retrospective, with no investigational intervention.
- Ages
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18 to 55 years
- Sex
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Female participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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:Female, 18-55 years of age at time of surgery Surgically treated for deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) with curative intent within the study period Histopathologic confirmation of DIE on resected specimen (e.g., rectovaginal septum, uterosacral/cardinal ligaments, parametria, bowel, ureter, bladder, retrocervical/cervicovaginal sites) Availability of archived FFPE tissue blocks adequate for H\&E and immunohistochemistry (e.g., SOX10) to quantify nerve fiber density Documented preoperative pain assessment (e.g., VAS 0-10 for dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, dyschezia, dysuria, and/or chronic pelvic pain) obtained within ≤3 months prior to index surgery Accessible clinical data in the medical record (demographics, gynecologic history, prior medical/surgical therapies) sufficient for planned analyses IRB approval in place; inclusion under written informed consent or IRB waiver applicable to retrospective data/tissue use - Exclusion Criteria:No surgical resection of DIE (e.g., diagnostic laparoscopy only) or no histopathologic confirmation of DIE Insufficient biospecimen (no/poor-quality FFPE tissue for H\&E/IHC) Missing preoperative pain assessment (no VAS data within ≤3 months before index surgery) Concomitant malignancy of the pelvis/abdominopelvic organs or malignancy treated within the past 5 years Prior pelvic radiotherapy or major pelvic/nerve ablative surgery that precludes meaningful pain attribution Acute pelvic infection at time of assessment or surgery (e.g., PID, tubo-ovarian abscess) Primary pain disorders likely to confound attribution (e.g., interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome, IBS with pain as dominant symptom, centrally mediated chronic pain syndromes) without adequate documentation to separate pain sources \-
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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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Basaksehir Cam Ve Sakura Sehir Hospital
Istanbul, 34060, Turkey (Türkiye)
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Basaksehir Cam ve Sakura City Hospital, Başakşehir Mahallesi G-434 Caddesi No: 2L Başakşehir / İSTANBUL
Istanbul, 34480, Turkey (Türkiye)