The Endometriosis & Chronic Pelvic Pain (E&CPP) Research Centre is dedicated to improving understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain—conditions that affect millions of people worldwide. By combining clinical care with research and innovation, the Centre aims to reduce pain and enhance quality of life for patients while helping shape better standards of care for the future.
The E&CPP program first launched in 2021 as an interdisciplinary clinic at IWK Health. From the outset, it was designed to approach pelvic pain differently. Instead of treating symptoms in isolation, the clinic brought together specialists from gynecology, pain medicine, physiotherapy, and mental health to provide coordinated care. This integrated model recognizes that pelvic pain is complex and often affects multiple aspects of a person’s physical and emotional well-being.
As the program expanded, clinicians and researchers recognized the potential for the clinic’s approach to influence pelvic pain care more broadly. With philanthropic support, the program evolved into the E&CPP Research Centre, formally integrating research and data collection into everyday clinical practice. As a research centre, the team not only treats patients but also studies outcomes, tracks patient experiences, and continuously evaluates how care can be improved.
A key initiative supporting this work is PEARL-NS, which stands for Pelvic Pain & Endometriosis: Assessment and Registry for Longitudinal Outcomes – Nova Scotia. This patient registry places patient voices at the centre of both care and research. Individuals enrolled in the program complete detailed questionnaires during their first visit and again each year. These questionnaires use internationally validated measurement tools to track pain levels, physical function, mental health, and quality of life.
By following patients over time, the registry allows researchers and clinicians to better understand how symptoms develop, how treatments affect outcomes, and how pelvic pain influences everyday life. The project was inspired by a similar registry at the Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis Centre at BC Women’s Hospital and developed with guidance from leading researchers in the field. Aligning the registry with national and international standards ensures that findings are rigorous and can contribute to broader scientific knowledge.
Although participation in the registry does not necessarily change a patient’s immediate treatment plan, it provides valuable long-term benefits. The data collected will help identify patterns in pelvic pain, evaluate the effectiveness of interdisciplinary care, and guide the development of more personalized treatment approaches. Patients who participate contribute directly to research that may improve care for future generations.
The Research Centre also supports clinicians and trainees by creating an environment where care, education, and research work together. Physicians, physiotherapists, and mental health professionals can use patient-reported data to evaluate and refine their practices. At the same time, medical students, residents, and graduate trainees gain valuable experience in a field that has historically received limited attention in medical training.
Beyond individual patients and clinicians, the Centre aims to strengthen women’s health care more broadly. Endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain have long been under-recognized and under-studied. By generating real-world evidence, evaluating interdisciplinary models of care, and fostering collaboration with other research institutions, the E&CPP Research Centre is helping raise awareness and reduce stigma surrounding pelvic pain.
Ultimately, the Centre represents a long-term commitment to change. What began as an innovative clinic has grown into a research hub where patients, clinicians, researchers, and trainees work together toward a shared goal: ensuring that pelvic pain is better understood, validated, and treated with the scientific rigor and compassion it deserves.
March is Endometriosis Awareness Month.