The purpose of this study is to evaluate which treatment option for pelvic floor pain allows for improved sexual function.
Pelvic floor pain may be treated with trigger point injections with medications (steroids and local anesthetics) that are FDA approved for injection into muscles. The alternative is a noninvasive treatment option using pelvic rehabilitation which involves vaginal muscle massage. Both treatment options have been used and reported; however, rapidity of improvement and return to normal sexual function have not been assessed. This study assigns patients to either treatment option randomly and the sexual function is assessed based on standardized sexual function questionnaires as well as pain ratings.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
36
The mixture is injected into the levator muscles, with half the volume on each side of the pelvic musculature.
Pelvic floor massage will be performed on a weekly basis by a licensed physiotherapist specialized in pelvic floor pelvic therapy
Division of Urogynecology, University of Cincinnati Medical Center
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
RECRUITINGChange in rating of pain from baseline until the end of the study according to the Iowa Pain Scale
Patients will be asked to rate their current pain prior to initiation of the treatment at the visits, at the start of the study and after the completion of the study, using the 10 point Iowa Pain scale.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 10
Change in sexual function between visit 1 and visit 10
Change in sexual function based on the female sexual function index (19 questions, one final score, maximum score of 36) where the patients fill a questionnaire prior to the first treatment session and after the completion of the treatment at week 10.
Time frame: Baseline, Week 10
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