Effect of endometriosis on bowel physiology
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Effect of deep infiltrating endometriosis on bowel physiology and bowel symptoms: a prospective study of symptoms, bowel transit, anorectal physiology and MRI defaecography
IRAS ID
290777
Contact name
Arvind Vashisht
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University College London Hospitals NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 4 months, 1 days
Research summary
Endometriosis is a disease caused by the cells which usually line the womb existing outside the womb, usually in the abdominal cavity. Deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) can invade the womb, bowel and bladder, causing severe pain and infertility, significantly impacting quality of life. It is also associated with bowel symptoms including constipation, diarrhoea, and painful bowel motions. As a result, many patients with endometriosis receive a diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It is unknown whether endometriosis and IBS are associated diseases, or if endometriosis patients tend to be misdiagnosed as having IBS. IBS shares many symptoms in common with endometriosis but does not have an identifiable cause. Surgical removal of DIE reduces bowel symptoms, but surgery does not help IBS. The diagnosis of IBS in some endometriosis patients may therefore be a misdiagnosis, which may contribute to delays in the recognition and treatment of endometriosis.
This study aims to investigate whether the presence of endometriosis has an effect on the functioning (physiology) of the bowel, and how this relates to patients' symptoms. Patients with unexplained bowel symptoms who have been referred to the gynaecology department with suspected endometriosis will be offered to participate in this study, as well as some women with bowel symptoms who are not suspected to have endometriosis.
Participants will be asked about their symptoms using questionnaires, and will undergo 3 tests of bowel physiology - MRI defaecography, anorectal physiology and bowel transit studies. Some participants will have DIE diagnosed by their MRI, and some will not. We can then compare the bowel physiology and symptoms in those who have DIE to those who don't to see what effect DIE has on bowel physiology and symptoms. Some participants may have surgery, and we will repeat these tests after surgery to see if bowel physiology and symptoms change.
REC name
West Midlands - South Birmingham Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/WM/0117
Date of REC Opinion
24 May 2022
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion