Understanding Intimate Relationships for Women with CPP (V1)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding Perceptions around Forming and Maintaining Intimate Relationships for Women with Chronic Pelvic Pain
IRAS ID
256574
Contact name
Rebecca Webber
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 10 months, 30 days
Research summary
It is estimated that one million women in the UK suffer with chronic pelvic pain (CPP) (pelvic pain which is persistent or recurrent for at least six months). CPP is likely to have a significant impact on intimate relationships. Guidelines about treating CPP say that healthcare professionals should help people with the difficulties in relationships which might arise because of their CPP. However, there has not been much research to find out women’s views about their CPP affects their relationships.
Within research into the wider impacts of female CPP, women have identified that CPP can contribute to relationship breakdown, feelings of guilt and inadequacy and negative impacts on sex life (Culley et al., 2013). These findings highlight that impacts on romantic relationships are relevant and important. However, both patients and healthcare professionals often have difficulty discussing such issues (Baranowski et al., 2014; Culley et al., 2013). Relatively little is therefore known about how CPP affects women’s relationships.
Therefore the researchers aim to find out more about the views and experiences of intimate romantic relationships for women with CPP. Women with CPP from the Walton Centre NHS foundation trust and associated gynaecology clinics will be asked to take part. These women will be interviewed about how CPP has affected their current and/ or past relationships, as well as their views on how it may potentially impact their future in terms of relationships. A method of qualitative analysis will be used to guide and interpret interview data, with the aim understanding why women with CPP perceive problems in forming and maintaining intimate relationships. This can be used to improve understanding of how CPP impacts women’s relationships, in order to improve psychosocial support. This project is being undertaken as part of a doctoral training course in clinical psychology.
REC name
North West - Haydock Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/NW/0287
Date of REC Opinion
28 May 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion