For Patients
Endometriosis results in severe pelvic pain and reduced fertility for millions of women worldwide. Our research in the Oxford Endometriosis CaRe Centre seeks to identify what causes this disease to help improve our understanding of its different forms and to help inform novel drug and non-invasive biomarker discovery programmes.
What is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a common condition, mostly affecting women during their reproductive life span. Although exact numbers do not exist studies suggest 176 million women around the world suffer from endometriosis. For more information on symptoms and treatments click here.
How do I get referred?
Women with suspected endometriosis can be referred to the Endometriosis Clinic at the John Radcliffe Hospital. We are a tertiary referral centre for the diagnosis and management of endometriosis. We are also a fully accredited Endometriosis Centre by the British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy (BSGE) with particular expertise in severe cases.
This service is led by Christian Becker. A weekly specialised Endometriosis Clinic runs every Monday afternoon in the outpatient area on Level 1 of the Women’s Centre of the John Radcliffe Hospital. Prior to each clinic, referral letters, outstanding results and patient histories are discussed in a endometriosis team meeting including pain specialist, gynaecologists and nurses.
GPs can refer women via the NHS e-Referral Service or via fax or telephone.
For all other patient enquiries, please email gynaeresearchoxford@wrh.ox.ac.uk.
Are there Studies I can Be Involved In?
Our research studies all focus around improving our understanding of endometriosis, working towards a non-surgical method of diagnosis and identifying new, better treatments. We have a number of research studies running that are recruiting patients. Read more...
FENOX
Aim – To identify the underlying mechanisms of endometriosis and uterine fibroids and their associated symptoms to improve the outcome of affected women.
In the FENOX study, we aim to improve our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of endometriosis and uterine fibroids and their associated symptoms by means of longitudinal observation and laboratory analyses. To achieve this, samples and clinical data are collected from women undergoing surgery. These samples are used in state-of-the-art biomedical research to improve our understanding of the underlying biology of these symptoms in women with endometriosis and/or fibroids, which will lead to a better understanding of the conditions, tailored therapies, and the development of biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment. Read more…
TRIPP
Aim - To revolutionise the understanding of endometriosis-associated pain (EAP) and bladder pain syndrome (BPS), identify meaningful subgroups of patients, develop better preclinical models and ultimately facilitate drug development.
TRiPP is focused on two specific types of chronic pain: endometriosis-associated pain and bladder pain syndrome. The main hypothesis of TRiPP is that the pain symptoms experienced by women with these conditions are generated and maintained by mechanisms similar to those found in other chronic pain conditions, but occur in combination with specific pathological lesions and symptoms. We believe that reconceptualising these conditions in the context of the multi system dysfunction known for other chronic pain conditions rather than as end-organ pathologies has the potential to revolutionise our understanding of the conditions, allow us to identify meaningful subgroups of patients, develop better preclinical models and thus ultimately facilitate drug development in this field. Read more…
Patient Organisations & Useful Links
There are a number of pain- and endometriosis-related patient organisations that are available to offer information, guidance and support.
Endometriosis UK offers a number of support groups through the UK and online. Support groups offer valuable support and information. Find out more about support groups and see upcoming support group meetings by clicking here.
In addition to support groups, Endometriosis UK runs a helpline to provide support and advice: 0808 808 2227. Find out more about the helpline and the opening hours by clicking here. Because it may be difficult to talk to someone in person or over the phone, an online community is available with thousands of members sharing their experience of endometriosis on forums. Find out more about the online community by clicking here.
If you're in distress and need someone to talk to, you can call the Samaritans' 24 hour emotional support line in full confidence: 116 123.
Below is a selection of other organisations and useful links:
- International Pelvic Pain Society
- Pelvic Pain Support Network
- World Endometriosis Research Foundation
- World Endometriosis Society
- The Endometriosis and Fertility Clinic
- Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists - Endometriosis Information Leaflet
For more information on patient organisations and useful links, click here.