Around 833,000 Australians deal with chronic pain, fatigue and often poor mental health due to endometriosis.

The HaPPI study is an eight-week program in which we test whether yoga or cognitive behaviour therapy can improve quality of life for people with endometriosis.

Continuum of Care

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What is endometriosis and how is it treated?

Endometriosis causes tissue similar to the lining of the uterus to grow outside of it. People with endometriosis can have debilitating pain and fatigue, which can prevent them from participating in life the way they want to. There is no cure. More than half of people with endometriosis also experience anxiety and depression.

Endometriosis affects around 833,000 Australians. Around 35,000 hospitalisations annually are related to endometriosis.

Yet treatment options are limited. Endometriosis is usually treated with hormones and pain medications. But many patients find they aren’t very effective or have problematic side effects, and stop using the drugs. Even surgery can fail to prevent symptoms from recurring. Over half of patients have a repeat laparoscopic surgery within five years.

We need innovative, high-quality research to improve the quality of life of Australians living with this debilitating chronic condition.

Our minds can strongly influence our physical health. Pilot studies suggest that programs that use this connection might help people with endometriosis – but so far, results are limited.

Yoga or cognitive behaviour therapy could help

In the HaPPI study, we test the effectiveness of yoga and cognitive behaviour therapy to improve the quality of life of over 18-year-old Australians with diagnosed endometriosis compared to endometriosis education.

The HaPPI study is a randomised controlled trial. After making sure participants are eligible, we randomly allocate them to one of three options:

  1. endometriosis education
  2. a yoga program
  3. a cognitive behaviour therapy program.

All programs take place online over eight weeks.

The trial investigates what effect each of the three options has on participants’ quality of life, and also on their pain, fatigue and mental health at 8 weeks, and then 6 and 12 months.

Trial recruitment began in April 2021. You can register your interest in taking part in the trial by contacting thehappistudy@deakin.edu.au.

Meet the team

The HaPPI study is conducted as part of Deakin University’s SEED Lifespan Mental Health Care in Priority Populations stream and Mind-Body Research in Health laboratory in collaboration with Barwon Health and Monash Health.

SEED conducts world-leading research on social development and its origins in early emotional life. The Loss and Recovery stream advances our understanding of medical and relational trauma, and promotes long-term pathways to recovery, adaptation, growth and emotional health.

The study is funded until 2025 by a Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) grant.

Chief investigators: