NCT07603960Recruiting
Whole-Body Cryotherapy as a Non-Pharmacological Treatment to Reduce Chronic Pelvic Pain and Improve Quality of Life in People With Endometriosis
An Exploratory Clinical Trial to Determine the Impact of Whole-body Cryotherapy on Endometriosis-associated Pain
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 22 May 2026
Brief summary (registry, in English)
The aim of this study is to investigate whether whole-body cryotherapy (a brief exposure to very cold temperatures) can help reduce pain and improve quality of life in people living with endometriosis, and whether it may represent a safe, non-pharmacological approach to managing endometriosis-related symptoms. Up to 30 participants with symptomatic endometriosis (chronic pelvic pain for more than six months) will be recruited over a 12-month period. Participants will attend two study visits at the hospital, approximately four weeks apart. Between these visits, participants will undergo five whole-body cryotherapy sessions, each lasting approximately 3 minutes. During cryotherapy, participants stand in a specialised chamber where the body is briefly exposed to cold, dry air (around -120°C). During the study, will be assessed changes in systemic inflammation and biological markers using blood, saliva, urine, vaginal, and stool samples. Data will be collected using questionnaires evaluating pain and related symptoms, quality of life, sleep, fatigue, intestinal symptoms, and overall wellbeing. The active study phase lasts approximately 4-6 weeks. A final follow-up assessment at 15 weeks will be conducted remotely using questionnaires and self-collected samples.
- Status (registry)
- Recruiting
- Study type
- Interventional
- Enrollment
- 30 (estimated)
- First submitted
- 5 May 2026
- Start date
- 9 Apr 2026
- Primary completion date
- Nov 2026
- Lead sponsor
- University of Edinburgh
- Diseases
- Endometriosis
- NCT number
- NCT07603960
What you commit to
- Study type: Interventional
- Planned participants: 30
- From 9 Apr 2026 to the primary completion date, Nov 2026
- 1 site in 1 country
- Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them
Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.
Who cannot take part
Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.
Prior treatment
- Previous hysterectomy with bilateral oophorectomy
- Previous venous thromboembolism or peripheral artery occlusive disease
- Intoxication (alcohol, drugs)
Other illness
- Raynaud's Disease
- Current treatment for malignancy
- Diabetes
- Cardiovascular disease: severe hypertension (180/100, unstable angina, arrhythmia, recent (\<6months) myocardial infarction, peripheral artery disease, cardiac pacemaker, recent (\<6months) stroke or transient ischaemic attack)
- Acute kidney and urinary tract diseases
- Open wounds or ulcers, large-area bacterial and viral skin infections
- Uncontrolled seizure disorder
- Known coagulopathy (eg von Willibrand disease, haemophilia)
- Acute infections and fever
- Signs or symptoms of cold allergy
- Severe wasting diseases
- Known Hepatitis B/C and/or HIV (due to Royal Mail restrictions on biospecimen postage)
Other
- Pregnant, breastfeeding or actively trying to get pregnant
- Post-menopausal (no periods for \>12 months and not taking hormonal treatments to prevent periods, or bilateral oophorectomy performed)
- Known hypothyroidism
- Pre-existing or current diagnosis of anaemia
- Cryoglobulinemia
- Cold urticaria
- Livedo reticularis
- Severe claustrophobia
Who the study is looking for
- Women or assigned female at birth
- Aged 16 or over
- Endometriosis identified at laparoscopy or imaging, performed within the last ten years
- Chronic pelvic pain for more than six months
- Willing to comply with the treatment
- Willing to use effective contraception throughout the trial (if needed)
- Willing and able to give informed consent
Age in the registry: 16 years to - · Sex: Female · Does not accept healthy volunteers
Sites (1)
Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.
| Site | City | Country | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh and Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Edinburgh | United Kingdom | Recruiting |
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.