Whole-body thermal therapies for symptom management and well-being in people assigned female at birth with chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhoea, endometriosis or adenomyosis: a scoping review protocol

Introduction: Dysmenorrhoea is one of the most frequent manifestations of chronic pelvic pain. Endometriosis and adenomyosis are among the most common pathological causes of secondary dysmenorrhoea. Symptoms often persist despite treatment, so individuals frequently engage in self-management strategies. One self-management approach that may have potential benefits for chronic pain is whole-body thermal therapy, which involves exposure to heat or cold stimuli inducing systemic physiological responses. The aim of this scoping review is to map and synthesise the available literature on the use and reported benefits of whole-body thermal therapies in individuals assigned female at birth (AFAB) with chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhoea, endometriosis and adenomyosis.

Methods and analysis: The proposed scoping review will adhere to the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis, Extension for Scoping Reviews) checklist. We will search the Embase, Scopus, Medline, American Psychological Association (APA) PsycINFO, Web of Science and CINAHL Ultimate electronic databases for primary studies published in English from the year 2000. All articles will be independently assessed by two reviewers for eligibility. Data will be synthesised using framework synthesis and findings will be presented descriptively in tabular and narrative format.

Ethics and dissemination: The proposed study does not require ethical approval as it is a scoping review of the existing literature and will only describe and synthesise previously published data. We will consult with an established patient and public involvement (PPI) panel who will assist in interpreting and disseminating the findings. We will produce and disseminate creative outputs (eg, visual illustrations) that capture discussions during PPI panel meetings. Findings will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal, at conferences and via webinars with relevant networks.