Important!

Whilst the VPS is keen to encourage women suffering with vulvodynia to actively participate in research whenever possible, we would advise that any such participation is at your own risk. Where the research is of a practical or physical nature such as the trialling of drugs or other physical therapies, we strongly urge you to consult your GP or other medical practitioner before signing up, in order to ensure your own safety and compatibility with your existing treatment plan. With online studies, the VPS cannot take any responsibility for the security of the details you provide in internet surveys, and we recommend you contact the researcher directly if you need more information about arrangements for data protection. Queries or concerns about other aspects of the studies should also be raised directly with the researcher, as they will be best placed to answer them.

More information about participating in research

For more information about the research process itself and what’s involved if you participate in a study, please visit the NHS website.

Searchable online databases of studies and clinical trials

If none of the studies listed below are suitable or of interest, you may be able to find others by searching these databases:

These databases list studies which are taking place all over the world and in various languages (including English), so do bear this in mind when you do your search.

Current studies needing participants

The studies listed below are actively looking for English-speaking participants from the UK and, in the case of the international studies, other countries as well.

*We are grateful to the National Vulvodynia Association for their permission to reproduce these studies from the NVA website.


Oxford Brookes University (Oxford, UK)

Flyer for Oxford Brookes University's study for pelvic health physiotherapists treating women with chronic pelvic pain

Read the text version of this flyer from Oxford Brookes University for their study for pelvic health physiotherapists treating chronic pelvic pain in women


University of Buckingham (Buckingham, UK)

Flyer for University of Buckingham's study on chronic pelvic pain and identity

Read the text version of this flyer from the University of Buckingham for their study on chronic pelvic pain and identity


University of Oxford (Oxford, UK)

ROSES sexual pain study flyer

Read the text version of this flyer from the University of Oxford for their study on sexual pain


Brunel University London (London, UK)

Flyer for Brunel University London study on pelvic pain

Read the text version of this flyer from Brunel University London for their study on pelvic pain


University of Stirling (Stirling, UK)

Flyer for University of Stirling study on vulvodynia research

Read the text version of this flyer from the University of Stirling for their study on vulvodynia research


University of Illinois Chicago (Chicago, Illinois, USA)

Flyer for study on vulvar and generalised pain

Read the text version of this flyer from the University of Illinois Chicago for their study on vulval and generalised pain


Maastricht University (Maastricht, The Netherlands)

Flyer for Maastricht University's genital pain study

Read the text version of this Maastricht University flyer for study on genital pain in daily life


Alleviate – creating a hub for pain research data

The Alleviate project is creating a data hub for pain research. They are looking for people in the UK living with any type of pain, or a carer of someone with pain. People who are interested to learn more about the project are invited to join the Alleviate online pain community. You can sign up to their email newsletters and learn about involvement opportunities here: http://eepurl.com/hQjfO9

Further information can be found at https://www.hdruk.ac.uk/helping-with-health-data/health-data-research-hubs/alleviate/