UH MacDonald Women’s Hospital Research Opportunity

Researchers are looking for women who:

• Are between 18 and 80 years old
• Have been diagnosed with Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome (IC/BPS) or Myofascial Pelvic Pain (MPP)
• Are able to commute to University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center (UHCMC) several times over a 6-month period

What would we like to learn with this research study? We would like to recruit women who have been diagnosed with IC/BPS and/or MPP to participate in this research study looking at the role of the Autonomic Nervous System in Chronic Pelvic Pain. We would like to understand whether the brain circuits that control your body might also be able to alter the response to pain. What would you be asked to do for this research study? You will be asked to come to UHCMC where you meet with a research study Physician who will ask you some questions and perform a brief medical exam to see if you are able to help with this study. If you are able to help, you will be asked to complete 5 in-person visits over a period of 6 months, as well as complete a set of tasks and ECG recording once a week at home for 24 weeks. During the in-person visits you will be asked to complete questionnaires, mobile App questions, a cold-water test, a heart rate test, a breathing test and a uroflow measurement (amount of urine). There will be a drug or placebo intervention period while enrolled in this research study. Please contact the research team below for more details of the study. If you are eligible and participate in this research study, compensation is provided for your time and travel. To learn more about this research study and to see if you qualify, please contact the MacDonald Clinical Research Unit referral line: 440-995-3810.