Grant: Project Grant

Endometriosis affects ~1 million individuals in Canada. It is defined as tissue, which resembles tissue from inside the uterus (womb), growing outside of the uterus in other parts of the body. Endometriosis is associated with pelvic pain (including pain with sexual activity), infertility, and complications during pregnancy. It accounts for approximately $2 billion in annual costs to Canadian society, primarily due to impact on healthcare costs and work/productivity. Standard treatments for endometriosis are hormonal medication and surgery. However, up to half of patients will require a repeat surgery (re-operation) within 5 years of an initial surgery. Little is known about which patients respond well to surgery in the long-term, and which patients do not and experience persistent symptoms. In this proposal, we will examine which factors predict response after surgery for endometriosis. These include clinical and biomarker factors that measure aspects of the nervous system. We will then develop a tool to help patients and surgeons make a decision about whether to operate or not, and disseminate this tool via our website for endometriosis pain. This tool will improve the pre-operative counselling of patients with endometriosis about potential future outcomes. The goal is to avoid unnecessary surgeries and to provide precision surgical care for people with endometriosis.