Can Botox Ease Chronic Pelvic Pain?
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By
November 14, 2024
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3 min
A recent double-blind, randomized controlled trial assessed the efficacy of Botulinum Toxin A injections in conjunction with pelvic floor muscle therapy for women with chronic pelvic pain and high pelvic floor muscle tone. The study revealed that only 33% of women receiving Botulinum Toxin A injections experienced a 33% reduction in pain scores compared to 20% receiving placebo. While the BTA group demonstrated a significant reduction in pelvic floor resting muscle activity, this did not correlate with a significant reduction in pain intensity or improvement in quality-of-life metrics, leading to the conclusion that the findings do not support the use of BTA injections in the management of CPP in women.
1. Only 33% of women receiving Botulinum Toxin A injections for chronic pelvic pain experienced a 33% reduction in pain scores compared to 20% receiving placebo.2. The study included 94 women who had previously undergone pelvic floor muscle therapy without adequate improvement.3. Both groups showed similar rates of perceived improvement, with 17% reporting substantial improvement in each group.4. The findings do not support the use of BTA injections in the management of chronic pelvic pain in women.5. Adverse events were generally mild, with immediate post-treatment bleeding occurring in 4% of both groups.6. Constipation occurred in 6% of the BTA group versus 0% in the placebo group.7. The study faced limitations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, further research could identify patient subgroups that may respond to BTA treatment.
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