Dietary Intervention to Reduce Pain in People with Endometriosis
Researchers at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center are studying how a healthy diet may help relieve the burden of endometriosis.
Fast Facts
Diagnosed With Endometriosis
18-45 Years Old
Premenopausal & Not Pregnant
Conducted Remotely
Study Background
Researchers at Fred Hutch want to understand the effects of healthy eating on endometriosis.
Pelvic pain from endometriosis can be a huge disruption to your life. Though some treatment options are available, many people still report pain even after treatment. In this research study, we want to investigate whether a dietary intervention could help to reduce pain and improve quality of life for people with endometriosis.
We will have two groups of participants for this study. The two groups will receive different levels of dietary advice and support at different time points during the study. We’ll then compare the results between the two groups. This is how we hope to find out if eating a healthy diet influences pain symptoms, quality of life, and inflammatory markers.
As a study participant, you can feel good about contributing to health research, which will be used to try to understand how diet can influence endometriosis. You may observe improvements to your endometriosis symptoms by following the recommended dietary pattern, and you may also learn information that will help you to consume a healthy diet even after the study is over.
Study Background
Researchers at Fred Hutch want to understand the effects of healthy eating on endometriosis.
Pelvic pain from endometriosis can be a huge disruption to your life. Though some treatment options are available, many people still report pain even after treatment. In this research study, we want to investigate whether a dietary intervention could help to reduce pain and improve quality of life for people with endometriosis.
We will have two groups of participants for this study. The two groups will receive different levels of dietary advice and support at different time points during the study. We’ll then compare the results between the two groups. This is how we hope to find out if eating a healthy diet influences pain symptoms, quality of life, and inflammatory markers.
As a study participant, you can feel good about contributing to health research, which will be used to try to understand how diet can influence endometriosis. You may observe improvements to your endometriosis symptoms by following the recommended dietary pattern, and you may also learn information that will help you to consume a healthy diet even after the study is over.
Additional Information
We are conducting a dietary intervention study to examine if a dietary pattern, based on a set of dietary guidelines on healthy eating, impacts pain levels and quality of life for people with endometriosis. We’ll be looking specifically at outcomes like pain levels, medication use, overall health and well-being, and sleep quality.
You may qualify for a study if you meet the following criteria.
Inclusion Criteria:
- 18-45 years old
- Diagnosed with endometriosis
- Moderate to severe pain levels in the last 3 months
- Have not gone through menopause
Exclusion Criteria:
- Pregnancy
- Chronic conditions that impact the gastrointestinal tract (celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, cystic fibrosis)
- History of kidney stones
- Cancer (except non-melanoma skin cancer)
- Diabetes
Please note: You do not have to stop taking any of your medications during the 12 weeks of the study, except for dietary supplements.
If you choose to participate, you will be asked to do the following:
- Complete questionnaires about your dietary intake, endometriosis symptoms and treatments, and quality of life at 6 different timepoints.
- One group of participants will receive dietitian counseling and be asked to consume a healthy diet for 12 weeks. During the first 4 weeks, we will ship you up to 1 meal and 1 snack/day for you to eat. During the last 8 weeks, we will provide you with a 14-day meal plan.
- One group of participants will receive one dietary counseling session and study materials after the first 12 weeks of the study is completed. This includes a virtual visit with the study dietician and a 14-day meal plan.
Participants living in the Seattle metro area attend appointments at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center’s Prevention Center to have their blood drawn. In-area participants also have the option to join one or both of our sub-studies collecting saliva and stool samples. However, if you live outside the Seattle metro area, you can still participate from anywhere in the continental U.S.
If you are in the intervention group, you will receive:
- Weekly dietary counseling sessions with the study dietician
- 4 weeks of prepared meals shipped to your home
- 8 weeks of meal plans and guidelines for implementing the dietary pattern
If you are in the group following your usual diet, you will receive:
- $100
- 1 dietary counseling session with the study dietician
- All dietary intervention study materials after the 12-week study period is over
There is no cost for you to participate in our research study. The meal deliveries and all other materials are provided to you free of charge.
