Researchers are looking for women who:
- Are between 18 and 80 years old
- Can read, speak and understand English
- Have no illnesses
What would we like to learn with this research study?
We are interested in understanding the role of the body’s nervous system in chronic pelvic pain. Chronic pelvic pain is pain that occurs below the belly button that lasts for at least 6 months. We would like to understand whether the brain pathways that control the body might also be able to change the response to pain. We would like to recruit healthy women who have not been diagnosed with any illnesses to serve as a control for this research study.
What would you be asked to do for this study?
You will be asked to come to University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center where you meet with a study physician who will ask you some questions and perform a brief medical exam to see if you are able to help with this research study. If you are able to help, you will be asked to complete 4 in-person visits over a period of 16 or 24 weeks, as well complete a set of tasks and an electrocardiogram (EKG) once a week at home for 4 weeks. An EKG is a test which records the electrical activity of the heart. During the in-person visits you will be asked to complete questionnaires, mobile App questions, a cold-water test, a heart rate test, a breathing test and a urine measurement test. Please contact the research study team below for more details of the study.
If you are eligible and participate in this research study, compensation is provided for your time and travel.
To learn more about this research study and to see if you qualify, please contact the MacDonald Clinical Research Unit referral line: 440-995-3810.