title: Botulinum toxin for the treatment of genital pain syndromes.
abstract: Our purpose was to test the effect of botulinum toxin injections on hypertonic pelvic floor muscles of patients suffering from genital pain syndromes. We report two cases of women complaining of a genital pain syndrome resistant to pharmacological therapies and rehabilitation exercises associated with a documented involuntary tonic contraction of the levator ani muscle as a defense reaction triggered by vulvar pain. We performed botulinum toxin injections into the levator ani with the intent to relieve pelvic muscular spasms. Within a few days after the injections both the patients reported a complete resolution of the painful symptomatology, lasting for several months. Our experience suggests that botulinum injections are indicated in patients with genital pain syndrome with documented pelvic muscle hyperactivity, whose symptoms arise not only from genital inflammation and lesions, but also, and sometimes chiefly, from levator ani myalgia.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Neurologiche e della Visione, Sez. di Neurologia, Università di Verona, Verona, Italia.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Romito
authors.forename: Mara
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bottanelli
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pellegrini
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vicentini
authors.forename: Niccolò
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rizzuto
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bertolasi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001905:Botulinum Toxins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000150:complications; D004841:Episiotomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017773:Pelvic Floor; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D013035:Spasm / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D013577:Syndrome; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D001905:Botulinum Toxins