University of Canberra researchers are investigating how people with endometriosis experience and process pain – and this ongoing study could lead to a new treatment for the debilitating chronic condition, reports SUZANNE LAZAROO.

A lab-based study running at the University of Canberra, takes participants – with and without endometriosis – through a series of stimuli, to see how they react to pain.

Affecting almost a million Australian women, endometriosis is a disease in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows in other parts of the body. Symptoms are variable and commonly include significant pelvic pain.

Tino Toufexis, UC Research Institute for Sport and Exercise PhD candidate, is leading the study, as part of his larger body of research into how people who suffer chronic pain think about the future.

Mr Toufexis’ thinking posits pain beyond its physiological parameters and looks into the psychological and cognitive aspects of pain.

“There’s a lot of research into how pain influences psychology, but comparatively little understanding as to how pain might influence someone’s thoughts around their personal future,” he said.

“In turn, this may impact various behaviours and activities that they may engage with in the future.

“Bridging this knowledge gap of how people experience pain, and how that affects how they think about the future, will mean better evidence-based, informed strategies and therapies to mitigate pain.

Senior lecturer Dr Andrew Flood said: “In our team’s previous pain-related studies, Tino included measures around thinking about the future – and there seemed to be a difference in the way that people with endometriosis experienced pain and perceived the future.

“By working with participants in a laboratory setting, we’re able to more accurately measure and understand participants’ pain.”

After assessing their responses to the pain stimuli, Mr Toufexis then takes the participants with endometriosis through additional targeted sessions of brain stimulation.

“Brain stimulation can manipulate descending pain pathways within the brain, as well as on cognitive pathways that relate to how we think about the future – in this way, we have the potential to manipulate both their pain and future thinking,” he said.

Brain stimulation is a technique for influencing pain processing, which has been investigated on various pain disorders. However, there is currently no research into how it may help those with endometriosis, making this study the first of its kind.

Study participant Kira Robertson has had to deal with debilitating pain and other endometriosis symptoms since she was 14; in 2021, a laparoscopic diagnosis confirmed the condition.

Now 23, Kira initially signed up for the study because of its focus on endometriosis, and her desire to help further understanding of the condition in any way she could.

“As I went through the study and learned more, my interest in the cognitive aspect of pain really grew,” she says.

“While my pain reduced somewhat for four years, it has started returning in the last year… and I think that this work to help understand chronic pain faced by so many people is really crucial.”

The research team is looking for more participants for the study. To participate email [email protected]. 

Suzanne Lazaroo is the UC communications manager.

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