Trigger Point Injections and Pelvic Rehabilitation for the Treatment of Pelvic Floor Myalgia and Sexual Pain

Assessment Of Pain Subsidence And Sexual Function Amelioration Using Either Pelvic Rehabilitation Or Trigger Point Injections

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.

Inclusion Criteria:

• pelvic pain
• pelvic floor myalgia
• dyspareunia
• female
• age > 18 years

Exclusion Criteria:

• interstitial cystitis
• vaginal lesions / ulcerations
• prior trigger point injections in the past 6 months
• prior pelvic rehabilitation in the past 6 months
• laparoscopically documented endometriosis / pelvic adhesions or adhesive disease
• documented pelvic inflammatory disease identified within the past 6 months
• documented sexually transmitted disease within the past 6 months