Examining the effect of cold water immersion on endometriosis pain

The Wilson Foundation is partnering with the University of Adelaide to deliver a pilot trial to test the efficacy of cold water immersion as a treatment for the pain associated with endometriosis.

Professor Mark Hutchinson from the School of Biomedicine will lead this 12-month trial. He and his team undertake cutting-edge research into persistent pain, how it is created and maintained, and how the mind and body interact during pain episodes.

“During our 12-month trial we will gather data on the efficacy of cold water immersion in people with endometriosis and its impact on outcomes relating to pelvic pain, psychological status, endometriosis lesion characteristics, autonomic nervous system and endocrine system responses, and innate immune responses. We also aim to determine the feasibility of investigating cold water immersion in a larger clinical trial, and at its conclusion, its safety for patients suffering with endometriosis.”

Professor Mark Hutchinson, School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide

Endometriosis is a condition in which cells like those found in the lining of the uterus grow elsewhere causing symptoms such as period pain, pelvic pain, infertility and fatigue. Currently there are a range of medical, surgical and complementary treatments available that may significantly reduce symptoms for some people. For some patients, there is no relief from any treatment in which case symptom control and other investigations may then be necessary.

The trial’s cold water immersion protocol is based on the Wim Hof Method (WHM) which is a combination of breathing exercises, cold exposure training and meditation developed by the “Ice Man”, Wim Hof.

The Method, which has gained popularity and increasing science-based evidence in recent years, is thought to have benefits including improved recovery, mental resilience, and energy, as well as heightened focus and a reduction in stress.

“Crucial to our trial will be an objective quantification of the molecular and cellular effects that the WHM has in women with endometriosis. We will quantify how engaging in the WHM practices of breathing exercises, meditation and cold water changes the molecular events in the patients’ bodies.”

Professor Mark Hutchinson, School of Biomedicine, University of Adelaide

The trial will examine each element of the Method, as well as a whole, and assess how effective it is at controlling pain associated with endometriosis.