Trial Outcomes & Findings for Dyspareunia and Central Sensitization (NCT NCT03216330)

NCT ID: NCT03216330

Last Updated: 2026-04-08

Results Overview

Self reported response to the question: "In the last 24 hours, how painful was deep penetration during sexual intercourse?" on an 11-point numeric rating scale (Not applicable (no intercourse), 0= no pain, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10= worst pain imaginable). The average of the deep dyspareunia scores in the prospective 6 week period was calculated.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Target enrollment

56 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Case only: daily for 6 weeks after QST testing date

Results posted on

2026-04-08

Participant Flow

Case participants: People with endometriosis from a tertiary endometriosis care center were approached after their baseline visit with their gynecologist and recruited for the study. Control participants: People with no suspected/diagnosed endometriosis and no pelvic pain scores above 4/10 were recruited from poster advertisements, in-person information sessions, and institutional research newsletters at the BC Women's Hospital.

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Case
* Consented to participate in the Data Registry (H16-00264) prior to their physician appointment at the BC Women's Health Centre. * New or re-referred to the BC Women's Health Centre for Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis. * Endometriosis (previously surgically diagnosed, or current endometrioma, or current nodule) * Willing and committed to indicating pain scores and menstrual data on a REDCap survey every day for 6 weeks after the test date. * At least 18 years old
Control
* Reproductive aged female with no suspected or diagnosed endometriosis. * Have not experienced any sexual pain scores over 4/10 on a 11-point numeric rating scale, as determined on an online questionnaire prior to test day. * At least 18 years old
Overall Study
STARTED
37
19
Overall Study
COMPLETED
36
19
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
1
0

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Case
* Consented to participate in the Data Registry (H16-00264) prior to their physician appointment at the BC Women's Health Centre. * New or re-referred to the BC Women's Health Centre for Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis. * Endometriosis (previously surgically diagnosed, or current endometrioma, or current nodule) * Willing and committed to indicating pain scores and menstrual data on a REDCap survey every day for 6 weeks after the test date. * At least 18 years old
Control
* Reproductive aged female with no suspected or diagnosed endometriosis. * Have not experienced any sexual pain scores over 4/10 on a 11-point numeric rating scale, as determined on an online questionnaire prior to test day. * At least 18 years old
Overall Study
Withdrawal by Subject
1
0

Baseline Characteristics

Variable was collected for case participants only (people with endometriosis who are patients at the BC Women's Centre for Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis). Control participants were not patients at the Centre and did not receive a pelvic exam to assess for this variable.

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Case
n=36 Participants
* Consented to participate in the Data Registry (H16-00264) prior to their physician appointment at the BC Women's Health Centre. * New or re-referred to the BC Women's Health Centre for Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis. * Endometriosis (previously surgically diagnosed, or current endometrioma, or current nodule) * Willing and committed to indicating pain scores and menstrual data on a REDCap survey every day for 6 weeks after the test date. * At least 18 years old
Control
n=19 Participants
* Reproductive aged female with no suspected or diagnosed endometriosis. * Have not experienced any sexual pain scores over 4/10 on a 11-point numeric rating scale, as determined on an online questionnaire prior to test day. * At least 18 years old
Total
n=55 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Continuous
33 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7 • n=36 Participants
31 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 8 • n=19 Participants
32 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7 • n=55 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
36 Participants
n=36 Participants
19 Participants
n=19 Participants
55 Participants
n=55 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
0 Participants
n=36 Participants
0 Participants
n=19 Participants
0 Participants
n=55 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
White
23 Participants
n=36 Participants
13 Participants
n=19 Participants
36 Participants
n=55 Participants
Race/Ethnicity, Customized
Other
13 Participants
n=36 Participants
6 Participants
n=19 Participants
19 Participants
n=55 Participants
Pain-pressure threshold
Deltoid
15.3 Newtons
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.9 • n=36 Participants
14.6 Newtons
STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.7 • n=19 Participants
15.1 Newtons
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.5 • n=55 Participants
Pain-pressure threshold
First dorsal interosseous
14.5 Newtons
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.7 • n=36 Participants
11.9 Newtons
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.1 • n=19 Participants
13.6 Newtons
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.5 • n=55 Participants
Bladder and/or pelvic floor tenderness
Bladder and/or pelvic floor tenderness
11 Participants
n=36 Participants • Variable was collected for case participants only (people with endometriosis who are patients at the BC Women's Centre for Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis). Control participants were not patients at the Centre and did not receive a pelvic exam to assess for this variable.
0 Participants
Variable was collected for case participants only (people with endometriosis who are patients at the BC Women's Centre for Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis). Control participants were not patients at the Centre and did not receive a pelvic exam to assess for this variable.
11 Participants
n=36 Participants • Variable was collected for case participants only (people with endometriosis who are patients at the BC Women's Centre for Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis). Control participants were not patients at the Centre and did not receive a pelvic exam to assess for this variable.
Bladder and/or pelvic floor tenderness
No bladder or pelvic floor tenderness
25 Participants
n=36 Participants • Variable was collected for case participants only (people with endometriosis who are patients at the BC Women's Centre for Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis). Control participants were not patients at the Centre and did not receive a pelvic exam to assess for this variable.
0 Participants
Variable was collected for case participants only (people with endometriosis who are patients at the BC Women's Centre for Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis). Control participants were not patients at the Centre and did not receive a pelvic exam to assess for this variable.
25 Participants
n=36 Participants • Variable was collected for case participants only (people with endometriosis who are patients at the BC Women's Centre for Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis). Control participants were not patients at the Centre and did not receive a pelvic exam to assess for this variable.

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Case only: daily for 6 weeks after QST testing date

Population: 36 case participants total in the study. 6 participants did not attempt intercourse during the 6-week study period. 30 participants had dyspareunia data.

Self reported response to the question: "In the last 24 hours, how painful was deep penetration during sexual intercourse?" on an 11-point numeric rating scale (Not applicable (no intercourse), 0= no pain, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10= worst pain imaginable). The average of the deep dyspareunia scores in the prospective 6 week period was calculated.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Case
n=30 Participants
* Consented to participate in the Data Registry (H16-00264) prior to their physician appointment at the BC Women's Health Centre. * New or re-referred to the BC Women's Health Centre for Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis. * Endometriosis (previously surgically diagnosed, or current endometrioma, or current nodule) * Willing and committed to indicating pain scores and menstrual data on a REDCap survey every day for 6 weeks after the test date. * At least 18 years old
Deep Dyspareunia Score
Low (<5)
3.08 scores on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.32

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Case only: daily for 6 weeks after QST testing date

Population: 36 case participants total in the study. 6 participants did not attempt intercourse during the 6-week study period. 30 participants had dyspareunia data.

Self reported response to the question: "In the last 24 hours, how painful was initial penetration (entry) during sexual intercourse?" on an 11-point numeric rating scale (Not applicable (no intercourse), 0= no pain, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10= worst pain imaginable). The average of the superficial dyspareunia scores in the prospective 6 week period was calculated.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Case
n=30 Participants
* Consented to participate in the Data Registry (H16-00264) prior to their physician appointment at the BC Women's Health Centre. * New or re-referred to the BC Women's Health Centre for Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis. * Endometriosis (previously surgically diagnosed, or current endometrioma, or current nodule) * Willing and committed to indicating pain scores and menstrual data on a REDCap survey every day for 6 weeks after the test date. * At least 18 years old
Superficial Dyspareunia Score
2.34 scores on a scale
Standard Deviation 2.34

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Case only: daily for 6 weeks after QST testing date

Self reported response to the question: "What was your average level of pelvic pain in the last 24 hours?" on an 11-point numeric rating scale (0= no pain, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10= worst pain imaginable). The average of the chronic pelvic pain scores in the prospective 6 week period was calculated.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Case
n=36 Participants
* Consented to participate in the Data Registry (H16-00264) prior to their physician appointment at the BC Women's Health Centre. * New or re-referred to the BC Women's Health Centre for Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis. * Endometriosis (previously surgically diagnosed, or current endometrioma, or current nodule) * Willing and committed to indicating pain scores and menstrual data on a REDCap survey every day for 6 weeks after the test date. * At least 18 years old
Chronic Pelvic Pain Score
2.68 scores on a scale
Standard Deviation 1.76

Adverse Events

Case

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Control

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Paul Yong

BC Women's Hospital and University of British Columbia

Phone: 604-875-2534

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place