Endometrial Blood Flow using Doppler: Acceptability & Reproducibility

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Measuring Endometrial Blood Flow using laser Doppler: Acceptability & Reproducibility (EMBeD)

  • IRAS ID

    250444

  • Contact name

    Mary Martha Eyo

  • Contact email

    henshaw2012@gmail.com

  • Sponsor organisation

    Birmingham Women's and Children's Hospital

  • Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

    n/a, n/a

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    1 years, 0 months, 0 days

  • Research summary

    The aim of our research is to test whether laser doppler is a more accurate way of measuring blood flow, of the womb lining, than ultrasound. We also aim to test whether it is acceptable to patients.

    Laser doppler is a thin plastic tube that fits through the womb opening and measures the blood flow to the womb lining. It does this by shining visible light onto it and measuring how much is reflected back by the blood that is moving. A previous study showed that this is more accurate than ultrasound.
    To find out if a larger and more expensive study should be carried out, to investigate whether this test can tell when the womb is in the ideal condition for pregnancy, we must investigate whether:
    1) Women are happy to have their womb measured by laser doppler;
    2) Doctors can use laser doppler to give reliable results;
    3) We are able to do everything needed to design a bigger study.

    This study would ask women to have their womb lining blood flow measured during a scheduled outpatient hysteroscopy appointment that they are already having for a medical reason that has already been identified. They will then be asked to complete a questionnaire, asking about their experience having the procedure. We will calculate whether the blood flow measurements taken are reliable.

    If we complete this study to answer these questions, and the answers suggest that a larger study could be done, we will have the information to design the next study, making it a lower risk and more likely to be successful.

  • REC name

    Wales REC 4

  • REC reference

    19/WA/0038

  • Date of REC Opinion

    13 Feb 2019

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion