Comparing Integrative Interventions for Chronic Pelvic Pain: A Pilot Randomized Trial

Launched by SARA TILL, MD, MPH · Jul 3, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying two different remote programs to help women who have chronic pelvic pain—a kind of ongoing pain in the lower belly that lasts for at least six months and affects daily life. The researchers want to see how these programs might improve pain, physical activity, sexual function, and overall quality of life. One program is a special web-based course that uses cognitive-behavioral techniques, which means it helps patients change how they think and handle their pain. The other is a physical activity app called Bend, designed to encourage gentle exercise and stretching.

Women who might join this study need to be new patients at a specific pelvic pain clinic and have moderate to severe pelvic pain that happens most days each month. They should also experience significant pain-related problems with sexual activity. Participants must have internet access, a smartphone, and be comfortable using English. If chosen, women will either use the web program or the physical activity app from home, making it easier to participate without frequent clinic visits. The study is not yet recruiting, but it aims to find out which approach works better to help women manage chronic pelvic pain and improve their daily lives.

Gender

FEMALE

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Scheduled for a new patient visit with the Chronic Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis Referral Clinic within the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Michigan for treatment of chronic pelvic pain.
• • Have chronic pelvic pain, defined as moderate to severe pelvic pain that is ≥ 4 on a 0-10 numeric rating scale (worst pain during the day) for ≥ 6-month duration, and is non-cyclic, occurring for at least 14 days of each month.
• • Report moderate to severe sexual dysfunction or sexual restriction on CPP clinic intake questionnaire. This will be defined as the patient indicating one of the following responses to a question that asks them to describe their experience relative to sexual activity: my sex life is nearly normal but is very painful, my sex life is severely restricted by pain, my sex life is nearly absent because of pain, pain prevents any self life at all.
• • Have access to internet via computer and must have a smartphone
• • Willing to download and use the Bend application on their smartphone if they are randomized to that intervention
• • English-language proficiency (current version of the My Pelvic Plan website is in English)
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Pregnancy (at time of screening visit). Participants will be allowed to continue to study if they become pregnant during the study period.
• • Severe physical impairment precluding participating in internet-based program or remote application (for example, complete blindness or deafness)
• • Medical condition that precludes low-intensity, short-duration physical activity and gentle stretching, including cerebral palsy, severe hip or knee osteoarthritis, severe heart failure, severe Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) requiring oxygen use
• • Prior care within the Chronic Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis Referral Clinic within the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Michigan for treatment of chronic pelvic pain (seen previously but meets criteria for new patient visit because \> 3 year interval since last clinic visit).