Neuroscientist Kevin Hellman initially came to Endeavor Health’s Evanston Hospital to research chronic pain in the brain stem. In 2013, he collaborated with researchers from the Gynecology Research Lab to produce a paper revealing menstrual pain as one of the biggest risk factors for developing chronic pelvic pain. The research study began in April and is expected to run until July 2030. Tu estimates that pelvic pain disorders affect “as many as 25% of women” in the U.S. during their reproductive years. NSAID HEAL is specifically testing whether taking Aleve, an NSAID containing naproxen sodium, before one’s period begins can reduce menstrual pain long-term.