Skip to content

The background image is Woman outdoors in winter.

If you have endometriosis pain — you are not alone. Women ages 18-49 with moderate to severe pain caused by endometriosis may qualify to participate in a research study at Penn State College of Medicine. The ELARIS EM-COC study is evaluating the safety and effectiveness of a medication — that is FDA approved for reducing endometriosis-associated pain — when taken with a combined oral contraceptive in premenopausal women. Penn State College of Medicine is one of 160 research centers involved in this study.

Explore this webpage to learn more about this endometriosis study and see if you are eligible.

Interested? Contact the study team today!

Study overview

Who can participate in this trial

Premenopausal women ages 18-49 who:

  • Have documented diagnosis of endometriosis
  • Have moderate-to severe pain from endometriosis
  • Willing to use nonhormonal contraception throughout the study
  • Additional criteria may apply

What will I do in the ELARIS EM-COC study?

  • For the first three months, eligible participants will be randomly assigned to receive either: the study medication and an oral contraceptive, the study medication and a placebo oral contraceptive, or a placebo medication and a placebo oral contraceptive.
  • The three-month blinded period will be followed by a 15-month “open-label” treatment period where all participants will receive active study treatment (no placebo).
  • All enrolled subjects will be expected to complete 14 in-person visits with the study team and 10 virtual visits.

Meet the team

Professional photo of Dr. Stephanie EstesStephanie Estes, MD Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Division of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility
Dr. Estes is a fertility specialist and reproductive surgeon. She has a research focus in the areas of endometriosis and uterine fibroids. Dr. Estes also has an interest in innovation and the continued growth of minimally invasive surgery options and robotic surgery.

Learn more about Dr. Stephanie Estes’ research

Contact

The background image is Woman looking at the camera.

For more information

If you have any questions or are interested in participating, please contact the study coordinator, Barbara Scheetz:

This research has been approved by the Institutional Review Board, under federal regulations at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Penn State College of Medicine as IRB #15216.