Who they want to contact: Women who experience symptoms of endometriosis or other forms of persistent pelvic pain (e.g., Vaginismus, Vulvodynia, Interstitial Cystitis, Painful Bladder Syndrome), aged between 18 and 47 years, and their partners.
What they want to research: The impact of endometriosis and persistent pelvic pain on intimacy and relationship wellbeing.
Dr Leesa Van Niekerk, Dr Mandy Matthewson, Ms Emma Schubert
College of Health and Medicine, School of Medicine (Division of Psychology), University of Tasmania
You and your partner can take part by completing an online survey that asks questions about general mood; diagnosis, symptoms and treatment of endometriosis or persistent pelvic pain; emotional and physical intimacy; and relationship satisfaction and goals.We are also interested in understanding how much information regarding their experience of endometriosis and persistent pelvic pain women choose to disclose to their partners.
What happens to the information?
You and your partner will be providing information that will be used to assist in understanding how endometriosis and persistent pelvic pain affects couples and specific aspects of their relationship. This information can be used to guide recommendations for effective treatment by medical, mental or allied health practitioners and ultimately improve care for women diagnosed with endometriosis and persistent pelvic pain.
Will I be told the survey results?
You and your partner can request to be kept up to date with the findings of the research, as they become available, by providing your email contact details. All research findings will be reported in a summary so that individual people cannot be identified.
How do I join the survey?
If you would like to participate in the study, you can express your interest by emailing Dr Leesa Van Niekerk at Leesa.VanNiekerk@utas.edu.au and provide an email contact for yourself and your partner (with their permission).
You will both be emailed a survey link and unique access code that will direct you to the survey.
And if I have questions?
If you have any questions about this research you can contact Dr Leesa Van Niekerk via email (Leesa.VanNiekerk@utas.edu.au) or by telephoning (03) 6226 6645. All expressions of interest and questions are welcome from either member of a couple. Please note that you will not be able to ask questions about your partners responses or access copies of completed surveys. This is to ensure the privacy of each person.