Treatment of Vestibulodynia with Submucosal Injections of IncobotulinumtoxinA into Targeted Painful Points: An Open-Label Exploratory Study

The studies carried out to date on vulvodynia treatment with botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) have followed generic injection protocols and reported contradictory outcomes on its effects. The aim of the present study was thus to propose a protocol for injecting BoNT/A into targeted painful points, to comprehensively assess the clinical effect of BoNT/A treatment and identify the risk/protective factors for successful treatment. Thirty-five vestibulodynia patients were treated with submucosal injections of incobotulinumtoxinA and assessed 8, 12 and 24 weeks after their treatment. Their clinical and pelvic statuses were assessed from self-reported questionnaires (Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Marinoff's Dyspareunia Scale (MDS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Catastrophizing Scale (CS)), physical examinations and surface electromyography (sEMG). The patients reported a reduction in provoked vestibulodynia (FSFI, p < 0.01; Collapse

Key Words

• algometer
• botulinum toxin A
• sexual function
• surface electromyography
• vestibulodynia
• vulvodynia

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MESH Headings

• Humans
• Female
• Vulvodynia/drug therapy
• Botulinum Toxins, Type A/therapeutic use
• Pain
• Pain Threshold

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Affiliation(s)

Paula Villa-Muñoz Servicio De Ginecología Y Obstetricia, Hospital Universitari I Politècnic La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain; (P.V.-M.); (F.J.N.-A.)
Monica Albaladejo-Belmonte Centro De Investigación E Innovación En Bioingeniería (CI2B), Universitat Politècnica De València, 46022 Valencia, Spain;
Francisco J. Nohales-Alfonso Servicio De Ginecología Y Obstetricia, Hospital Universitari I Politècnic La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain; (P.V.-M.); (F.J.N.-A.)
Jose Alberola-Rubio Sonda Devices S.L., 46004 Valencia, Spain;
Javier Garcia-Casado Centro De Investigación E Innovación En Bioingeniería (CI2B), Universitat Politècnica De València, 46022 Valencia, Spain;

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