Applications of botulinum toxin to the female pelvic floor: Botulinum toxin for genito-pelvic pain penetration disorder and chronic pelvic pain in women

Abstract

Chronic pain conditions like genito-pelvic pain penetration disorder and chronic pelvic pain cause significant morbidity in women worldwide and yet are underdiagnosed and undertreated. While the use of botulinum toxin for pain conditions has expanded, there are few randomized controlled studies of botulinum toxin for pelvic pain conditions in women. This paper provides an update on the current status and context for considering botulinum toxin treatment for these conditions to complement and expand currently available approaches. High quality clinical trials to evaluate safety and efficacy and to determine optimal doses and approaches to injection are urgently needed.

Keywords: Botulinum toxin; Chronic pelvic pain; Endometriosis; Vaginismus; Vulvodynia.