Recipient organisationNIHR University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre
NIHR supportRecorded as supported by this research centre
PeriodJan 2025 — Sept 2025
In plain English
AI plain-English summary
A small, battery-powered headset worn for 20 minutes a day is being tested as a way to dull the chronic pelvic pain of endometriosis without drugs or surgery. Endometriosis affects millions of women, often causing debilitating pain that standard treatments—hormones, painkillers, surgery—fail to fully control, and many come with significant side effects. This trial tests whether transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), delivered via the MHRA-registered Nettle device, can offer an alternative. The device sends a weak electrical current through electrodes on the scalp to alter brain activity in pain-processing regions. Forty women aged 18–50 with confirmed endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain will be randomly assigned to receive either active tDCS or a sham (inactive) device for 20 daily sessions at home. They will report pain levels, mood, and quality of life during treatment and for one month afterward. If the active stimulation significantly reduces pain compared to sham, tDCS could become a non-invasive, at-home option for managing endometriosis pain—potentially reducing reliance on medications and improving daily function for a condition that currently has no reliable, side-effect-free solution.
View original technical description
This study will investigate the effectiveness of a novel, non-invasive neuromodulation treatment called transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), delivered via the Nettle device, for reducing chronic pelvic pain (CPP) associated with endometriosis. Nettle is already MHRA-registered, CE-marked, and validated for the treatment of mood and pain symptoms associated with menstruation. Endometriosis affects millions of women worldwide, causing debilitating pain and severely impacting quality of life. Current treatments, including medications, hormonal therapies, and surgery, often provide insufficient relief and have significant side effects.This trial is designed as a double-blind, randomised, sham-controlled study to evaluate the efficacy of 20 days of at-home tDCS stimulation via Nettle in reducing both pain and mood-related symptoms in women suffering from endometriosis-related CPP. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the active tDCS group or a sham-control group. Pain severity will be measured using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), while secondary outcomes will assess quality of life, mood disturbances, and medication use.The study will recruit 40 women aged 18-50, diagnosed with endometriosis and experiencing CPP, from University College London Hospital (UCLH). Participants will use the Nettle device for 20-minute daily sessions over 20 days and complete questionnaires to track pain, mood, and quality of life throughout the intervention and a one-month follow-up period.The results from this trial will provide valuable insights into the potential of tDCS as an effective and patient-friendly treatment for endometriosis-related pain, aiming to improve the quality of life for women with this chronic, debilitating condition.
Plain English summaries and category classifications on this site are generated by AI and may not perfectly reflect the original research.
Is something wrong? Let us know