Research themes
We focus on health issues that affect women across the life course, with particular interest in reproductive health, fertility, menstrual health, gynaecological conditions, menopause and the methods needed to generate high-quality evidence in women's health.
Assisted conception is one of the most evidence-intensive areas of women's health – yet also one where the evidence base is frequently contested, commercially influenced and inconsistently applied. EVIE brings rigorous evidence synthesis and trial methodology to fertility research, with a particular focus on interventions of uncertain benefit and patient-centred outcomes.
Why this area matters
Around one in seven couples experience difficulty conceiving. IVF is effective but expensive, emotionally demanding and subject to wide variation in clinical practice. Many so-called 'add-on' interventions have been introduced without robust evidence of benefit, creating confusion for patients and clinicians alike.
Key evidence gaps
- Comparative effectiveness of different stimulation protocols and embryo transfer strategies
- Evidence standards for fertility treatment add-ons
- Long-term health outcomes for women and children following assisted conception
- Patient-centred outcomes in fertility research
Our research interests
- IVF effectiveness and safety across different patient populations
- Evaluation of add-on interventions in fertility treatment (AFFINITY research project)
- Ovarian stimulation protocols – comparative effectiveness
- Embryo transfer strategies and outcomes
- Fertility preservation – evidence and patient outcomes
- Development and validation of patient-centred outcome measures for fertility research
- Evidence standards and transparency in reproductive medicine
Endometriosis affects approximately one in ten women of reproductive age and is associated with years of diagnostic delay, significant pain, impaired fertility, and reduced quality of life. Despite its prevalence and impact, the evidence base for endometriosis treatment remains limited. EVIE is committed to improving the evidence base for endometriosis care.
Why this area matters
Women with endometriosis wait an average of seven to ten years for a diagnosis. Treatment decisions are made in the context of limited comparative effectiveness data. The patient experience of endometriosis – including pain, fertility impact, surgical risk and long-term management – is complex and poorly represented in existing evidence.
Key evidence gaps
- Earlier diagnosis – diagnostic accuracy of clinical assessment, imaging and biomarkers
- Comparative effectiveness of medical and surgical treatments for pain and fertility outcomes
- Long-term condition management strategies
- Patient-reported outcomes and core outcome sets for endometriosis research
Our research interests
- Evidence synthesis of treatment effectiveness – surgical and medical options
- Diagnostic accuracy of non-invasive tests for endometriosis
- Pain outcomes and quality-of-life measurement
- Long-term condition management and recurrence (BIP-4 research project)
- Patient experience and care pathway research
Uterine fibroids are the most common benign tumours in women of reproductive age, affecting up to 70% of women by the age of 50. Heavy menstrual bleeding is one of the most common reasons women present to gynaecology services, yet treatment decisions are frequently made without access to reliable comparative effectiveness evidence.
Key evidence gaps
- Comparative effectiveness of medical, minimally invasive and surgical treatments
- Patient-reported outcomes — pain, quality of life, anaemia, fertility
- Diagnostic pathways and clinical decision support
- Shared decision-making tools for treatment choice
Our research interests
- Systematic reviews and network meta-analyses comparing treatment options (HMB Network Meta-Analysis research project)
- Acute HMB management and cost-effectiveness (BROWNIE research project)
- Surgical vs non-surgical approaches – evidence synthesis and trial design
- Anaemia and quality-of-life outcomes
- Shared decision-making – decision aids and patient information
PMOS/PCOS is one of the most common endocrine disorders in women of reproductive age, affecting 8–13% of women worldwide. It presents with a complex and heterogeneous mix of reproductive, metabolic and psychological features. The condition has been reconceptualised as a polymetabolic endocrine ovarian syndrome, reflecting the breadth of its metabolic and systemic effects beyond the ovarian and reproductive manifestations traditionally emphasised.
Despite its prevalence, diagnosis remains inconsistent, treatment options are varied, and the long-term health risks are incompletely characterised.
Key evidence gaps
- Diagnostic criteria – optimal approach and clinical implications of different frameworks, including the PMOS reconceptualisation
- Comparative effectiveness of fertility treatments in PMOS/PCOS
- Long-term metabolic and cardiovascular outcomes
- Patient-centred management and quality of life across the heterogeneous PMOS/PCOS phenotype
Our research interests
- Diagnosis and classification – evidence synthesis and methodology, including PMOS framework
- Fertility treatment in PMOS/PCOS – ovulation induction, IVF, comparative effectiveness
- Metabolic outcomes – lifestyle, pharmacological and surgical interventions
- Long-term health risks and screening evidence
- Patient-centred management strategies (PCOS TIME training course)
EVIE is a founding partner of the HARP collaborative – an international initiative for research harmonisation in PCOS.
Premenstrual disorders, including premenstrual syndrome (PMS), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), and the menopausal transition represent important and relatively under-evidenced phases of women's health. EVIE works to improve the evidence base for managing these conditions, with attention to both symptom burden and long-term health outcomes.
Key evidence gaps
- Classification and diagnosis of PMS and PMDD – clinical criteria and assessment tools
- Comparative effectiveness of hormonal and non-hormonal treatments for menopause
- Long-term health outcomes – cardiovascular, bone, cognitive
- Workplace and social impact of menopause – evidence and intervention
Our research interests
- PMS and PMDD – evidence synthesis and treatment evaluation
- Menopause symptoms — hormonal and non-hormonal interventions
- Hormone replacement therapy — benefits, risks and evidence synthesis
- Quality of life and functional outcomes in menopause research
- Long-term health outcomes and screening strategies
EVIE engages with the annual Menopause Symposium to connect research with clinical and public education.
Improving the quality of women's health evidence requires not only better studies but better methods. EVIE contributes to the development and evaluation of research methods specifically relevant to women's health, including core outcome sets, evidence quality standards and approaches to living evidence synthesis.
Key areas
- Core outcome sets for women's health conditions – development and implementation
- Evidence quality standards in reproductive medicine and women's health
- Trial design in women's health – methodological challenges and solutions
- Inclusive research methods – ensuring diverse women's perspectives are represented
- Living evidence synthesis – methods for continuously updated reviews
- Patient-centred evidence implementation – turning findings into practice