Could Oxygen Therapy Help Endometriosis Pain? Inside the HEROES Study
When pain keeps interrupting work, school, sleep or time with the people you love, news of a research study can bring hope—and plenty of questions. What is being tested? What would taking part actually involve?
The HEROES study at Sunnybrook is exploring whether adding hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to usual care can help with endometriosis-related pain. Here is a plain-language guide to the study, the practical commitment and the questions worth asking before you decide.
At a glance: a Sunnybrook research study • usual care continues in both groups • only one group receives HBOT • participation is voluntary.
What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy?
HBOT means breathing medical-grade oxygen inside a pressurized chamber. In HEROES, researchers are testing whether it adds benefit to usual endometriosis care.
This is a research question, not a promise of pain relief. HBOT’s benefit for endometriosis pain is still being investigated. The study should not be read as evidence that it cures endometriosis or replaces surgery.
What is the study hoping to learn?
The researchers are comparing usual care alone with usual care plus 40 HBOT sessions. They are looking at changes in pain, medication use and quality of life, as well as safety and how manageable participation is. The participating clinic’s research page describes follow-up over six months. [1]
Would everyone receive oxygen therapy?
No. The study uses random assignment: participants are placed into one of two groups by chance. The study materials previously shared with Endometriosis Canada describe a 50% chance of entering either group:
Usual care alone.
Usual care plus HBOT.
Usual endometriosis care continues in both groups. Before signing up, ask what each group involves and which treatments you can continue during the study.
What would taking part look like in everyday life?
For the HBOT group, the consent information previously supplied to us describes 40 appointments, five weekdays a week over about eight weeks. Each visit is described as approximately two hours. Treatment takes place at participating hyperbaric clinics, rather than at Sunnybrook.
Participation is described as lasting approximately six months, including questionnaires about pain, medication use and quality of life. Ask the team to confirm the current schedule, clinic locations and follow-up arrangements.
That is a meaningful time commitment. Before deciding, consider transport, energy levels, caregiving, work or school, and what would happen if symptoms made you miss an appointment.
Who may be considered?
The materials supplied to Endometriosis Canada describe people with endometriosis-related pain who are waiting for surgery. The research team makes the final decision about eligibility and medical suitability. A referral does not guarantee enrolment.
Restore Hyperbarics, a participating clinic, currently lists HEROES as recruiting. Places, screening requirements and referral arrangements can change, so confirm directly with the research team. [1]
What about costs and side effects?
The consent information previously shared with us states that study HBOT is provided at no charge and participants are not paid. Travel costs and time away from work may still apply; that version also describes free parking at Restore. Confirm all current costs and reimbursements before making plans.
The supplied consent information lists possible effects such as fatigue, lightheadedness, ear pressure or injury and vision changes, as well as rare serious complications. It also excludes participation during pregnancy. Ask for the latest consent form and a full explanation of risks relevant to your health.
You can ask questions, take time to decide, decline or withdraw. The supplied consent information states that your choice will not affect your current or future medical care.
Five questions to ask before saying yes
Am I eligible, and are you currently accepting referrals?
Which clinic would I attend, and how much time would each visit require?
What happens if I am assigned to usual care alone?
What are my personal risks, costs and options if I miss a session?
How would participation affect my current care and surgery plans?
Interested? Start with a conversation
The referral instructions shared with Endometriosis Canada ask your family doctor to send a referral to Dr. Grace Liu’s administrative assistant, Natasha Delaney, and specifically mention “HEROES trial.” Confirm that these instructions are still current before arranging a referral.
For study questions, the supplied consent form lists the research office at 416-480-6100 ext. 689607. You can also request the study summary and consent information from Endometriosis Canada.
Hope, with room for questions
Research can help answer questions that matter to people living with endometriosis. Taking part is a personal decision. The best next step is getting enough clear information to decide whether this study fits your health, circumstances and priorities.
Sources and study information
Participation, cost, risk and referral details above also draw on the HEROES lay abstract dated February 20, 2024; consent form Version 2.0 dated October 24, 2024; and referral instructions previously shared with Endometriosis Canada. Request current documents from the team. Principal investigators named in those materials: Dr. Fahad Alam and Dr. Grace Liu.
A detail to clarify: one sentence in the supplied consent form suggests everyone receives HBOT, while its randomization section describes two groups. The participating clinic’s current overview also describes two groups. Ask the team to explain the latest study plan before consenting.
Updated November 1, 2026 • Endometriosis Canada shares study information; Sunnybrook’s research team manages screening, consent and participation. General education, not individual medical advice. AI-generated image for illustration; it does not depict actual study participants, investigators or treatment.
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