Effect of Alcohol Sclerotherapy on Pelvic Pain and Quality of Life in Women With Ovarian Endometriosis
Endometrioma · Ultrasound Therapy; Complications · Quality of Life · Pelvic Pain
De qué trata este estudio
El registro indica que este estudio recluta participantes. La disponibilidad puede variar por centro.
- Tipo de estudio
- De intervención
- Fase
- No aplica
- Rango de edad
- 18 años - 45 años
- Sexo admitido
- Femenino
- Voluntarios sanos
- No aceptados
- Participantes
- 288 Estimado
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Las explicaciones y la navegación están en español. Los textos proporcionados por el registro, incluidos títulos, resúmenes y criterios, se conservan en su idioma original. Puedes pedir orientación en español a WCR.
Acerca de la investigación
The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether ultrasound-guided alcohol sclerotherapy can improve pelvic pain and quality of life in women aged 18 to 45 diagnosed with ovarian endometriomas, compared to expectant management.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
1. \- Does sclerotherapy significantly reduce pelvic pain compared to expectant management?
2. \- Does sclerotherapy improve quality of life as measured by the EHP-5 score?
Researchers will compare the sclerotherapy group to the expectant management group to determine whether the intervention leads to greater improvement in pain and quality of life.
Participants will:
- Be randomly assigned to one of two groups: (1) Sclerotherapy group: undergo ultrasound-guided puncture and alcohol sclerotherapy; (2) Control group: expectant management
- Complete quality of life and pain assessments at baseline and after 6 months
- Provide blood and urine samples for biomarker analysis (e.g., cortisol, IL-6, hsCRP, catecholamines)
- Undergo ovarian reserve assessments (AMH, antral follicle count)
- Be followed for adverse events, recurrence, fertility outcomes, and treatment-related costs
The study will follow an intention-to-treat and per-protocol analysis approach.
Leer la descripción completa
Endometriosis is a chronic gynecological disease that affects women of reproductive age, characterized by the abnormal growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity.
It affects 5-10% of women of reproductive age (Becker et al., 2022) and is associated with infertility in 40% of cases (Coccia et al., 2008). Among its clinical forms, ovarian endometrioma is the most frequent, appearing in 15-45% of patients with endometriosis (Cranney et al., 2017). In addition to its impact on fertility, the main clinical manifestation of endometriosis is pain. Chronic pelvic pain caused by endometriosis can be disabling and even lead to work absenteeism, with a significant impact on the quality of life of affected patients, who often experience delayed diagnosis, making its management even more difficult and requiring a multidisciplinary approach (Horne \& Missmer, 2022).
Currently, there is still no consensus on what should be the first-line treatment for ovarian endometrioma (Gordts \& Campo, 2019). However, cystectomy reduces ovarian reserve due to the removal of healthy ovarian tissue adjacent to the cyst wall-something that further worsens the reproductive prognosis in patients whose fertility is already diminished due to endometriosis per se (Alborzi et al., 2021; Martinez-Garcia et al., 2021). Moreover, despite surgical removal of the endometrioma, the recurrence rate is high, ranging from 15-30% (Jee, 2022).
In recent years, there has been a shift toward more conservative treatments for the management of endometrioma, such as expectant management or aspiration and sclerosis (Garcia-Tejedor et al., 2020). Various authors have shown that ultrasound-guided aspiration and alcohol sclerosis may be a promising option, as concluded in the meta-analysis by Cohen et al., which found that recurrence rates were similar to those of laparoscopic management of ovarian endometrioma, but with fewer complications. Results in assisted reproductive technology are also better compared to surgical treatment in symptomatic women, particularly in those with low ovarian reserve (Zhang et al., 2022). Furthermore, other comparative studies between surgery and aspiration-sclerosis have shown that, although recurrence rates are similar, pregnancy rates are higher in patients treated with sclerosis, with the same complication rate and significantly lower costs (Garcia-Tejedor et al., 2020; Zhang et al., 2022).
Currently, the first-line treatment in patients diagnosed with endometriosis is hormonal therapy through the use of hormonal contraceptives. However, its efficacy in managing endometrioma is lower, and therefore, there is no consensus on its indication for this specific form of endometriosis (Cranney et al., 2017). In patients with a desire for pregnancy, alternative approaches are sought that do not interfere with fertility. At present, this often involves proceeding with in vitro fertilization without treating the endometrioma first, followed by surgery if needed (Miquel et al., 2020).
In addition to reproductive outcomes in patients affected by endometriosis, symptomatology and its consequent impact on quality of life have become highly relevant factors in treatment selection. Accordingly, specific pain scales and quality-of-life questionnaires have been developed to assess the impact on women affected by this condition. One such tool is the Endometriosis Health Profile scale, available in two versions (EHP-30 and EHP-5), designed by Dr. Stephen Kennedy and his team at the University of Oxford. It is a validated scale for assessing quality of life in patients with endometriosis and has been translated into nearly all languages (Jones et al., 2023; Bourdel et al., 2019).
The main objective of this project is to conduct a comparative analysis of patients diagnosed with ovarian endometrioma who undergo alcohol aspiration and sclerosis versus patients managed expectantly.
The outcomes to be evaluated include impact on quality of life, clinical improvement, pregnancy rate, and the need for subsequent surgery.
¿Quién podría participar?
La lista siguiente contiene el texto del patrocinador. Puede incluir condiciones, tratamientos previos, resultados de pruebas y otros requisitos. Aparecer en tu búsqueda no significa que califiques.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Female sex
- Age ≥18 and ≤45 years
- Ultrasound suspicion of unilocular endometrioma or with a thin septum less than 3 mm
- Size between 30-100 mm, persistent for at least 3-6 months since diagnosis
- Ca125 marker \<300 UI/mL and HE4 \< 70 pM
- Signed informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- Age \<18 or \>45 years
- History of ovarian or uterine cancer
- Endometrioma size \<30 mm or \>100 mm
- Indication for surgical treatment of the endometrioma due to suspected severe extra-ovarian endometriosis or any other cause
- Ultrasound suspicion of dermoid cysts, anechoic cysts, or cysts with high risk of malignancy
- Ca125 \>300 UI/mL
- HE4 \>70 pM
- Pregnant women
- Patients who do not wish to participate in the study or who are mentally incapacitated
Tratamiento, grupos y participación
El registro puede describir tratamientos y duración sin incluir un calendario completo. Pide al equipo las visitas, procedimientos, riesgos, costos y alternativas. Mantén tu atención habitual salvo que tu médico te indique un cambio.
- Asignación
- Asignación al azar
- Enmascaramiento
- Sin enmascaramiento
Ultrasound-guided aspiration and alcohol sclerotherapy
US-guided alcohol sclerotherapy of endometriomas with absolute etanol during 15 minutes, followed by a posterior wash.
Procedure: Ultrasound-guided aspiration and alcohol sclerotherapy
Control group
Expectant management with standard pain management if required
Ultrasound-guided aspiration and alcohol sclerotherapy PROCEDURE
Ultrasound-guided puncture and alcohol sclerotherapy
Qué evalúan los investigadores
Estas medidas indican qué se estudia. No prueban que un tratamiento funcione.
Medidas principales
Quality of Life of patients with endometrioma
Plazo: Baseline and at 6 months
Endometriosis Health Profile-5 (EHP-5), the minimum and maximum values (1-5), higher scores mean a worse outcome.
Medidas secundarias
Pelvic pain
Plazo: Baseline and at 6 months
Visual Analog Score for pain (dysmenorrhea), the minimum and maximum values (0-10), higher scores mean a worse outcome.
Changes in pain-associated biomarkers 1
Plazo: Baseline and at 6 months
Blood: cortisol
Changes in pain-associated biomarkers 2
Plazo: Baseline and at 6 months
Blood: CRP
Changes in pain-associated biomarkers 3
Plazo: Baseline and at 6 months
Blood: IL-6
Changes in pain-associated biomarkers 4
Plazo: Baseline and at 6 months
Urine: cortisol
Changes in pain-associated biomarkers 5
Plazo: Baseline and at 6 months
Urine: adrenaline
Changes in pain-associated biomarkers 6
Plazo: Baseline and at 6 months
Urine: noradrenaline
Fertility preservation
Plazo: Baseline and at 6 months
Blood test: Antimullerian Hormone
Antral follicle
Plazo: Baseline and at 6 months
Antral follicle count by US
Pregnancy
Plazo: Through study completion, an average of 2 years
Number of spontaneous pregnancies or pregnancies achieved through assisted reproductive techniques. Time to Conception
Reduction in cyst size
Plazo: Baseline and at 6 months
Largest diameter
Adverse events and complications
Plazo: Baseline and at 6 months
Registered by Clavien-Dindo classification
Misdiagnosed cysts
Plazo: During procedure
Number of patients with alternative diagnosis
Healthcare costs
Plazo: Baseline to 6 months
Direct and indirect treatment-related costs; cost-effectiveness analysis
Revisa las tablas completas y sus limitaciones en el registro oficial.
Abrir resultados oficiales ↗Centros de investigación (26)
El estado general puede diferir del estado de un centro. Confirma la disponibilidad antes de trasladarte.
26 centros
Hospital Universitario Son EspasesPalma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands, SpainAún no recluta
Hospital Universitario Germans Trias i PujolBadalona, Barcelona, SpainAún no recluta
Consorci Sanitari de l'AnoiaIgualada, Barcelona, SpainReclutando
Consorci Sanitari IntegralL'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, SpainReclutando
Hospital Universitario de BellvitgeL'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, SpainReclutando
Hospital San Juan de Dios de MartorellMartorell, Barcelona, SpainAún no recluta
Consorci Corporació Sanitària Parc TaulíSabadell, Barcelona, SpainAún no recluta
Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de DeuSant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, SpainAún no recluta
Hospital de ViladecansViladecans, Barcelona, SpainReclutando
Hospital Universitario San PedroLogroño, La Rioja, SpainAún no recluta
Hospital de la Vega Lorenzo GuiraoCieza, Murcia, SpainAún no recluta
Hospital General Universitario Los Arcos del Mar MenorSan Javier, Murcia, SpainReclutando
Hospital Universitario de CanariasSan Cristóbal de La Laguna, Santa Cruz De Tenerife, SpainAún no recluta
Hospital Universitari Sant Joan de ReusReus, Tarragona, SpainAún no recluta
Hospital del MarBarcelona, SpainReclutando
Clínica SanabriaGranada, SpainAún no recluta
Hospital Universitario de JaénJaén, SpainAún no recluta
Hospital Universitario Arnau de VilanovaLleida, SpainAún no recluta
Hospital Universitario Ramón y CajalMadrid, SpainReclutando
Hospital Clínico San CarlosMadrid, SpainReclutando
Hospital Universitario 12 de OctubreMadrid, SpainReclutando
Hospital Universitario Joan XXIIITarragona, SpainAún no recluta
Consorcio Hospital General Universitario de ValènciaValencia, SpainAún no recluta
Hospital Recoletas Salud Campo GrandeValladolid, SpainReclutando
Hospital Clínico Universitario Lozano BlesaZaragoza, SpainAún no recluta
Hospital Universitario de Álava - TxagorritxuVitoria-Gasteiz, Álava, SpainAún no recluta
Equipo y fechas
- Patrocinador principal
- Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge
- Inicio del estudio
- 1 ene 2025 Real
- Finalización primaria
- 31 dic 2026 Estimado
- Finalización del estudio
- 31 dic 2027 Estimado
- Primera publicación
- 2 may 2025 Real
- Última actualización
- 10 nov 2026 Real
Contactos oficiales del estudio
Título oficial del estudio
Effect of US-guided Alcohol Sclerotherapy for Endometriomas on Pelvic Pain and Quality of Life
Consulta a Wellness Clinical Research
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Fuente: API v2 de ClinicalTrials.gov. Patrocinadores e investigadores envían la información. La NLM no aprueba la seguridad ni la ciencia de todos los estudios registrados. Aviso del registro.
Consultado: 12 nov 2026 · Última actualización del registro: 10 nov 2026
